Results 3,081-3,100 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald
- Commission of Investigation relating to disclosures by members of An Garda Síochána: Statements (9 Feb 2017)
Frances Fitzgerald: I want, first of all, to thank Members of this House for agreeing to statements being taken on this important matter in the House today. As the House will be aware - Deputy Howlin has just asked about it - I have laid whatever material I can before the House. I also have put before the House the full recommendations of Mr. Justice O'Neill, as well as the conclusions and terms of reference....
- Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Feb 2017)
Frances Fitzgerald: I understand the matter will be before the Cabinet in the next couple of weeks.
- Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Feb 2017)
Frances Fitzgerald: I will ask the Minister of State, Deputy Doyle, who is responsible for this area, to link directly with Deputy Fitzmaurice on this issue.
- Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Feb 2017)
Frances Fitzgerald: There has been a significant increase in the take-up by farmers of various training courses in recent years. I welcome this increase in demand. I do not doubt that the Minister, Deputy Creed, will seek to ensure that demand is met and courses are available. I do not know the circumstances of the particular course that has been mentioned by the Deputy. I am sure the Minister will be in a...
- Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Feb 2017)
Frances Fitzgerald: The Government has to consider that recommendation from the Constitutional Convention.
- Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Feb 2017)
Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy knows, the Minister of State, Deputy Finian McGrath, is dealing with that issue. I believe the matter will be dealt with in the near immediate future.
- Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Feb 2017)
Frances Fitzgerald: These top-line topics have arisen at every meeting the other Ministers and I have been involved in. We have made our priorities very clear at each of those meetings. I said to the Home Secretary that our priority is for things to continue as they are as much as possible. That is our goal because the current situation is working well. The UK has decided to leave the EU and so-----
- Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Feb 2017)
Frances Fitzgerald: I am referring to the current situation in terms of free movement and the common travel area. Clearly, we are satisfied with the situation as it is at present. The UK has decided-----
- Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Feb 2017)
Frances Fitzgerald: Yes, exactly.
- Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Feb 2017)
Frances Fitzgerald: The point I am making is that any departure from that is problematic. The UK has decided to leave the EU. Therefore, we have to consider what the new situation will be. We are very clear on our priorities. I raised those again with the Home Secretary. This process is at an early stage. Article 50 has not yet been triggered. The UK authorities do not have very detailed proposals at this...
- Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Feb 2017)
Frances Fitzgerald: They will be developing such proposals.
- Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2017)
Frances Fitzgerald: I have already made the point but it bears repeating that in my and the Government's approach to this, and on taking legal advice on it, I have had to consider our general constitutional obligations to protect the good names and reputations of persons who may be the subject of untested allegations. Allegations have been made in the recent past in this House which on detailed examination by...
- Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Feb 2017)
Frances Fitzgerald: The Minister of State, Deputy Stanton, has initiated a general process review of regulation of the gambling sector in Ireland. This is a priority area for him. He recently met stakeholders to examine what action can be taken. We are considering the current programme to see if there are particular areas of pressing concern, intended to be dealt with in the gambling control Bill, which could...
- Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Feb 2017)
Frances Fitzgerald: The Taoiseach has made clear, and is doing so today in Poland, the absolute priorities of the Government in respect of Brexit, as indeed I did in meetings with the Home Secretary last week and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. Of course that will be to the fore in the Taoiseach's discussions on Brexit.
- Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Feb 2017)
Frances Fitzgerald: Over the past few weeks I took serious legal advice and spent a lot of time examining what precisely could be published. The legal advice is that what has been circulated, that is, the conclusions, terms of reference and the recommendations, are the part of the report that I can circulate. This is to do with protected disclosures, it is legislation Deputy Howlin brought in, the key element...
- Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Feb 2017)
Frances Fitzgerald: This is a very important Bill. I agree with both Deputies. It is absolutely critical that we move forward on this from a public health point of view. It is on Committee Stage in the Seanad and the Government wants to ensure that it is passed this term and I hope the discussions can continue again very soon. The Minister of State has been considering some elements of the Bill. I am not in...
- Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2017)
Frances Fitzgerald: 1 o’clock I want to put on the record of the House that when Judge McMahon did his report, which we launched some time ago, the big concern was the length of time people were spending in direct provision. The reality is that those numbers have dramatically decreased since the report was launched. There are very few people left in the system who have been here longer than the...
- Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2017)
Frances Fitzgerald: Regarding Templemore college, the Deputy referenced a story which I think appeared in The Sunday Times. That was in the public arena, and questions were answered on it in the justice committee well before it was. Detailed information was put on the record about the audit and the actions that were being taken internally to deal with what had been uncovered by the audit of the college. That...
- Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2017)
Frances Fitzgerald: Let me repeat what I have said, and the Deputy referred to common sense. What I have said is that I believe the interests of justice in this country are better served by the process that I have outlined. Of course, I would want to put on the record that if allegations of wrongdoing are found to be true, that would be likely to have very serious consequences, but I repeat that it would be...
- Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2017)
Frances Fitzgerald: In other words, the Deputy is talking about An Garda Síochána initiating contact with our other agencies.