Results 4,081-4,100 of 14,127 for speaker:David Stanton

National Minimum Wage (Protection of Employee Tips) Bill 2017: Second Stage [Private Members] (18 Jun 2019)

David Stanton: I have listened carefully to the debate. I commend Sinn Féin and Senator Gavan for bringing forward this legislation. It has been a very good, important and interesting debate. There is no doubt that we all want to assist low paid workers. The Government has a strong record in that regard. There are, however, ways and means of achieving that aim and, unfortunately, this Bill is not...

Gaming and Lotteries (Amendment) Bill 2019: Second Stage (18 Jun 2019)

David Stanton: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am very pleased to have this opportunity to move Second Stage of the Gaming and Lotteries (Amendment) Bill 2019. The Bill seeks to address certain deficiencies with regard to the conduct of gaming and lottery activities regulated under the Gaming and Lotteries Act 1956. Deputies will agree that the provisions of that Act are, for the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision Data (18 Jun 2019)

David Stanton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 255 and 257 to 260, inclusive, together. The information the Deputy has requested refers to persons residing in accommodation provided by the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) in the Kildare area. Although there are a certain number of people residing in accommodation centres that have some sort of status or permission to remain, for the most part people...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision Data (18 Jun 2019)

David Stanton: The statistical data requested by the Deputy is contained in the following tabular statement:

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision Data (18 Jun 2019)

David Stanton: Since September 2018, due to insufficient capacity within the Reception and Integration Agency's (RIA) accommodation portfolio, RIA has contracted for the use of emergency accommodation in hotels and guest houses. Due to commercial sensitivities with suppliers, many of which are operating as hotels and guest houses concurrently with accommodating applicants for international protection, and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Applications Data (18 Jun 2019)

David Stanton: While an international protection claim is being examined, the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) offer accommodation and related services to anyone without means. This includes all meals, and utilities. A weekly personal allowance is paid to each person and the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection cover exceptional needs. The Department of Education and Skills...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (18 Jun 2019)

David Stanton: The improvements to living conditions for residents in accommodation provided by the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) of my Department have been significant in recent years. These include the implementation of self- or communal catering arrangements in a number of accommodation centres. In addition, there have been significant improvements to recreation opportunities. Friends of the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Irish Youth Justice Service (18 Jun 2019)

David Stanton: The Deputy will be aware that the Irish Youth Justice Service is comprised of co-located staff of my Department and the Department of Children and Youth Affairs. My Department currently funds some 106 local Garda Youth Diversion Projects and the following table sets out the position in relation to these specific projects as sought by the Deputy. Funding provided for Garda Youth Diversion...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (18 Jun 2019)

David Stanton: I refer the Deputy to my previous answer on 11 June 2019. As I indicated in that answer, crime prevention and investigation, including in relation to the involvement of children in crime, are operational matters for An Garda Síochána in the first instance. That being said, I share the Deputy's concern that we do all that we can to prevent children and young people from coming...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (13 Jun 2019)

David Stanton: The Deputy has raised a number of issues. I do not have time to go through all of them. I will correspond with the Deputy directly.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Parental Leave (13 Jun 2019)

David Stanton: As the Deputy will be aware, the Parental Leave Act 1998 provides that a parent who completes one year of continuous employment shall be entitled to maximum of 18 weeks of parental leave. Section 7(2)(a)(i) of the Act provides that where a parent works on a pro-rata basis, the amount of parental leave available to the employee shall be equivalent to the number of hours worked by...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Legislative Reviews (12 Jun 2019)

David Stanton: I thank Senator McFadden for raising this important issue. I also congratulate her on the presentation she has just made. It was very measured but very well researched and strong. Safety, fairness and inclusion are at the heart of the work of the Department of Justice and Equality. The Minister and I are committed to ensuring that Ireland is a safe and secure country for everyone. This...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Legislative Reviews (12 Jun 2019)

David Stanton: I thank the Senator for her remarks and for the opportunity to discuss this very important matter. Hate crime means that vulnerable groups and individuals are targeted simply for who they are. The impacts of hate crime and hate speech are especially serious because they have a ripple effect that spreads far beyond the individual victim. If not dealt with, this can lead to a divided society...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Juvenile Offenders (12 Jun 2019)

David Stanton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 119 and 120 together. The statutory basis for the Garda Diversion programme is contained in Part 4 of the Children Act 2001 (as amended). Under Section 24 of that Act, decisions on whether to admit particular cases to the Diversion Programme lie with the Director of the Diversion Programme, who is a member of An Garda Síochána not below the rank of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Youth Diversion Projects (12 Jun 2019)

David Stanton: The table details the position in relation to staffing and funding of Garda Youth Diversion Projects (GYDPs) in Cork for the year 2019. In relation to the broader development of these services, my Department is pursuing an Action Research Project (ARP), supported by the Research Evidence into Policy Programmes and Practice project (REPPP) in the University of Limerick, and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (12 Jun 2019)

David Stanton: My Department was made aware of the circumstances surrounding the death and burial of the person concerned.  I want to express my deepest sympathies and condolences to that person's friends and colleagues on their loss. It is a matter of profound regret to me, and to the Department, that her friends heard of her burial after the event. This must have been deeply...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Firearms Licences (12 Jun 2019)

David Stanton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 145 and 146 together. I wish to advise the Deputy that I have requested a report on the matter from the Garda Commissioner and I will write further to the Deputy once this report has been received.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Irish Prison Service (11 Jun 2019)

David Stanton: I thank the Deputy for raising these very serious issues this evening. I also wish to convey the apologies of the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Flanagan, who cannot be here because he is dealing with the Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017 in the Seanad as we speak. However, he will note with great interest what the Deputy has just said. As the Deputy will be aware, the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Irish Prison Service (11 Jun 2019)

David Stanton: I will bring these matters to the attention of the Minister and assure the Deputy that he will treat them as seriously as he is treating the report he received from the Inspector of Prisons recently. He intends to publish that report as soon as possible. I am advised that there are policies and processes in place to deal with many of the issues raised by the Deputy. The financial...

Seanad: Gaming and Lotteries (Amendment) Bill 2019: Report and Final Stages (11 Jun 2019)

David Stanton: I am a bit surprised that this amendment has been proposed. I do not recall the amendment being proposed or even discussed on Committee Stage. Normally it would be raised on Committee Stage and would then be debated on Report Stage. I am a bit perplexed by that. I recall some discussion, not all of it approving, of the fact that gambling is increasingly moving online from traditional...