Results 3,221-3,240 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Applications (7 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the person referred to had his applications for asylum and subsidiary protection fully considered, following which they were refused, and he is now the subject of a Deportation Order made on 16 December 2010 and therefore has no entitlement to residency in the State. Representations were received...

Committee Report on Garda Oversight and Accountability: Motion (2 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I thank all Members for their contributions to what has been a very balanced debate. I also take the opportunity, as Deputy Jim O'Callaghan did, to welcome Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring, with Mr. Toland and other representatives of GSOC. I thank them publicly for their work and leadership. As everyone has agreed, oversight and accountability are extremely important. Equally, members of An...

Committee Report on Garda Oversight and Accountability: Motion (2 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: December.

Committee Report on Garda Oversight and Accountability: Motion (2 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I welcome the report on Garda oversight and accountability, which is a critically important area. The report was published by the joint committee. It represents a significant contribution to the ongoing debate on policing in this country. I thank Deputy Ó Caoláin, who chaired the committee, and the committee members for the production of the report in such a timely way. It will...

Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (2 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: As I said, a report has to be done after a year anyway, and that report will go to the justice committee. I am very happy to put on the record of the House that I will come back at the end of a two-year period with the most up to date information, including all the information we have on the impact in so far as we have it at that point. The formal review, however, would be after three years...

Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (2 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Everybody has said there should be a review of the legislation and I agree. Three years is the appropriate time to begin to see the impact; that is the right approach. I point out to Deputy Bríd Smith that the offence of loitering has been removed from the Bill. We build in reviews to legislation all the time. We do not define in legislation all the different aspects of the...

Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (2 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I move amendment No. 17:In page 20, between lines 13 and 14, to insert the following:“Report on operation of Act 27. (1) The Minister for Justice and Equality shall, not later than 3 years after the commencement of this Part, cause a report to be prepared on the operation of section 7A of the Act of 1993 and shall cause copies of the report to be laid before each House of the...

Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (2 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am introducing amendment No. 17 to provide for a review of the operation of the new provision contained in section 25 of the Bill to criminalise the purchase of sexual services. A number of amendments have been tabled by Deputies proposing similar provisions and that are alternatives to amendment No. 17. I am referring to those tabled by Deputy Coppinger and the Anti-Austerity Alliance,...

Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (2 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Yes.

Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (2 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I move amendment No. 12:In page 19, to delete lines 27 to 30 and substitute the following:"(d) in section 9, by the substitution of the following subparagraphs for subparagraphs (i) and (ii):"(i) on summary conviction to a class A fine or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or both, or (ii) on conviction on indictment to a fine or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years or...

Pensions (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2017: First Stage (2 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: No.

European Communities (Brexit) Bill 2017: First Stage (2 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: No.

Questions on Promised Legislation (2 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: It is absolutely unacceptable to all of us that hundreds of patients are on trolleys for long periods of time, especially patients who are elderly and vulnerable. It also means extremely difficult working conditions for front-line staff. We heard comments this morning from the Irish Association for Emergency Medicine. The trolley numbers for January are lower this year than last year....

Questions on Promised Legislation (2 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Action is under way-----

Questions on Promised Legislation (2 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am answering the Deputy's specific question.

Questions on Promised Legislation (2 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: That is what is new.

Questions on Promised Legislation (2 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: In order to break the cycle, we have to deal with those three issues. There is an action plan in place-----

Questions on Promised Legislation (2 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: -----with regard to each of them. It will not happen overnight-----

Questions on Promised Legislation (2 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: -----but it is what is needed to break the cycle many Governments attempted to break in the past. To deal with this issue we have to act on each of those areas, and the Minister is doing that.

Questions on Promised Legislation (2 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have made it clear that we should await the publication of the Committee of Public Accounts report in the first instance. The Taoiseach engaged with all leaders when the issue came up first. I have no doubt that the Minister, Deputy Noonan, will address the issue again. As the Deputy said, there was detailed discussion here yesterday.