Results 3,801-3,820 of 9,052 for speaker:Hildegarde Naughton

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (21 Oct 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: The Sex Offenders (Amendment) Bill has completed drafting and I intend to bring it to my Government colleagues for approval to publish in the coming weeks. As the Deputy will be aware, the purpose of the Bill is to enhance current systems for the assessment and management of convicted sex offenders and to put those systems on a statutory footing. 

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (20 Oct 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: The operation of the Driver Testing Service is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority (RSA). The protocol for scheduling appointments is an operational matter for the Road Safety Authority, and one in which I have no role. I am therefore passing the Deputy's question to the Road Safety Authority for direct reply.  If a reply has not been received within 10 working...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (20 Oct 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: As the Deputy will be aware, the Office of the Inspector of Prisons is a statutory body, independent in its work, set up under the Prisons Act 2007. The Inspector's key role is to carry out regular inspections of prisons. The Office is required to inspect the twelve prisons in Ireland to examine the treatment and conditions of prisoners and staff. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (20 Oct 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: I hope you can appreciate that it would not be appropriate for me to comment on individual prisoner cases. However, I can assure the Deputy that the return of the prisoner in question to custody is now being actively pursued by the Gardaí and I can advise that the Irish Prison Service has commenced an internal review of the circumstances of his absconding with a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (20 Oct 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 191 and 192 together. I can advise the Deputy that the Irish Prison Service provides a wide range of rehabilitative supports and services to prisoners. These include education, employment, work training, healthcare, psychiatric, psychological, counselling, welfare and chaplaincy services, some of which are intended to provide purposeful activity while in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence (20 Oct 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: The information requested by the Deputy is currently being compiled and I will write to him directly when it is available.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service (20 Oct 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: I want to assure the Deputy that I am very conscious of how harmful the consequences of crime can be for victims and ensuring victims are better supported by the criminal justice system is a priority for me. Through the implementation of ‘Supporting a Victim’s Journey’, I am reforming our criminal justice system to ensure that victims are supported, informed and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence (20 Oct 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: I would like to thank the Deputy for raising this issue and to assure him that tackling domestic violence in Ireland is a key priority for this Government. This is reflected in the Programme for Government where we committed to a number of actions in this area, such as the development of a third national strategy on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV) and the audit of...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Marine Accidents (19 Oct 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: First of all, I wish to acknowledge what a tragedy the Whiddy Island disaster was and to express my deepest sympathies to those who died and the families they left behind.  As the Deputy is aware the report of the Tribunal of Inquiry into the Whiddy Disaster considered the role of the terminal operator, ship operator and several Government Departments and Authorities as well as the role...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Wildlife Protection (19 Oct 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: Measures in relation to the protection of marine animals are a matter for the National Parks and Wildlife service under the remit of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and I have no role in the formulation or enforcement of those measures. I understand that such measures under that Department's remit include: - The Wildlife Acts 1976 to 2018, which states all cetaceans...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Industrial Disputes (19 Oct 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: The matters being referred to by the Deputy are industrial relations matters and therefore, a matter for the Company, the employees and the trade unions concerned. In response to the severe impacts of COVID-19 on the daa, in 2020 the Company embarked on a restructuring of the business and the introduction of new work practices. It has reached agreements on new ways of working with...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Coast Guard Service (19 Oct 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: The volunteers at the 17 cliff rescue units within the Irish Coast Guard train regularly in the TAG 07 system and this training is verified within the Training & Certification section of the unit's annual Operational Readiness Audit (ORA). The Coast Guard Units & Support section of the Irish Coast Guard, who manage the volunteer units, introduced various control measures...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Coast Guard Service (19 Oct 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: The Coast Guard withdrew the services of its in-shore rescue boats stationed at 23 locations around the coast on Friday 15th of November 2019 due to safety concerns identified with the Rescue 400 lifejacket. This action was taken following a reported malfunction of a number of these lifejackets which are a key piece of personal protective equipment.  A procurement process was commenced...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tax Collection (19 Oct 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: The EU Payments Services Directive 2 (PSD2) require Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) to be used for all electronic transactions. The Directive requires all online service providers to capture additional transaction information pertaining to the cardholder and to send this to the cardholder’s bank. The cardholder’s banks use this data to verify the cardholder, with the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tax Data (19 Oct 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: Motor tax is payable on an annual, half-yearly or quarterly basis.  The rates applicable to the half-yearly and quarterly options are 55.5% and 28.25% of the annual charge, respectively. These relativities have remained generally consistent since the 1960's. Of the 4,960,487 motor tax discs issued in 2020, 1,985,929 were annual, 730,453 were bi-annual and 2,244,104 were quarterly. Of the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (19 Oct 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: Under legislation, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) is the body responsible for the operation of the Theory Test. This is an operational matter for the Road Safety Authority and the Theory Test provider. This question is therefore being referred to the Authority for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Coast Guard Service (19 Oct 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: Irish Coast Guard (IRCG) helicopters, on a request and availability basis, provide aeromedical support to the HSE. Services include inter-hospital transfers, Island Medevacs, Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) and UK Paediatric transfers. The Aero Medical desk at NEOC is responsible for assessing the requirements for aeromedical services. The majority of mission requests...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Air Services (19 Oct 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: I am aware of the media reports to which the Deputy’s question refers. The 1944 Chicago Convention is the main treaty governing international civil aviation. Ireland, Ethiopia, and Eritrea are all parties to this Convention. Article 35 of the Convention relates to the carriage of munitions of war or implements of war on civil aircraft engaged in international...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Marine Accidents (19 Oct 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: Clinchmaritime submitted a report on the review of the organisational structures underpinning marine casualty investigation in Ireland earlier this year in July.  My Department is currently assessing the report and has also sought legal advice in relation to certain aspects of it from the Office of the Attorney General.  This legal advice will inform the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licences (19 Oct 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: Ireland currently has driving licence exchange agreements with 12 countries and six of the 10 provinces of Canada. These countries are known as recognised states for the purposes of exchanging driving licences. Five of the agreements also recognise categories for trucks and buses. Officials in my Department and the Road Safety Authority, as the licensing authority in Ireland, are already...