Results 4,261-4,280 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Other Questions: Garda Misconduct Allegations (15 Nov 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: It is important that I follow the law and follow the procedures outlined for the investigation of such issues-----

Other Questions: Garda Misconduct Allegations (15 Nov 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: -----and that is what I have done. I am saying to the Deputy that I have referred the various issues that arose to GSOC. I have said previously that it would not be appropriate for me to comment on the purported transcripts leaked from the O'Higgins commission. For the reasons I have explained, I do not have access to the details of all that happened at the commission, and neither does the...

Other Questions: Garda Misconduct Allegations (15 Nov 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: There are procedures to be followed in regard to that, as I said to the Deputy. The person who had access to everything that happened at the commission and who heard all the evidence was Mr. Justice O'Higgins, and it was entirely a matter for him as to what he would choose to include in his report. He did not make criticisms of the kind being made by Deputy Wallace.

Other Questions: Garda Misconduct Allegations (15 Nov 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Government fully accepts the commission's findings. I do not believe that when this House establishes commissions of investigation we can adopt an à la carteapproach to their findings.

Other Questions: Garda Deployment (15 Nov 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: As I have said to other Deputies, for ease of reference I have provided a breakdown of the detailed information requested on the number of Garda stations and the number of gardaí assigned to the DMR south division and the DMR south central division on 31 October 2010 and 30 September 2016, the latest date for which figures are readily available. There is quite a lot of detail in that...

Other Questions: Garda Deployment (15 Nov 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I agree with the Deputy that the challenge is ongoing with regard to criminal activity. We are also seeing increased levels of cyber crime, and gardaí are having to put more resources into dealing with that. A national conference was held on that today. That is a significant threat, both in Ireland and internationally, and we have to increase the resources and provide the technical...

Other Questions: Garda Resources (15 Nov 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have already made it clear that not all Garda stations are PULSE-enabled but that 92% of the recording of crime by An Garda Síochána is done in the national centre in Castlebar. It is very important to note that. Not having access to PULSE in the local Garda station does not mean that a crime incident will not be recorded because before gardaí finish their shift every...

Other Questions: Garda Resources (15 Nov 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: It remains challenging to deal with criminal activity in every society, including Ireland. That is the reality, but I wish to reference something else which is relevant to what the Deputy said in terms of victims of crime in this country. The CSO first carried out a survey in 2010 on crime and victimisation and the most recent survey was published on 19 October 2016. People were surveyed...

Other Questions: Garda Misconduct Allegations (15 Nov 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: At the outset it is important to correct what might be a misunderstanding in the Deputy's question. In depositing the evidence and documents with the specified Minister in this case, there was no question of my having authority to access that evidence or those documents. The purpose of depositing documentation with the relevant Minister is for safeguarding it. It would be unthinkable that...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Garda Stations (15 Nov 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I will put some statistics on the record. There are 564 Garda stations in the State. This compares very favourably with comparable jurisdictions. For example, in Northern Ireland in 2012, there were 86 police stations providing policing services to a population of €1.5 million. In Scotland, the ratio is approximately 340 stations to 5.2 million people. We have to bear that in mind...

Other Questions: Garda Resources (15 Nov 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: Crime statistics are compiled by the Central Statistics Office, CSO, based on PULSE data. The statistics for the Galway Garda division reflect all crime incidents recorded by An Garda Síochána for that county. The Deputy will be aware that in the most recent CSO figures, for the second quarter of 2016, there were decreases in many crime categories. This reflects the success of...

Other Questions: Garda Resources (15 Nov 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have two points to make on that. The CSO's analysis concluded that, notwithstanding the issues identified by the inspectorate, the data available on PULSE was of sufficient quality to allow publication. That is really important and came from the CSO itself. On the question of PULSE access for Garda stations, quite a number of Deputies have sought similar information in relation to...

Other Questions: Garda Resources (15 Nov 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: There has been a Government decision to allocate almost €300 million to upgrading technology. There is a very big programme in that regard. That money will also be used to make sure that we have interoperability of databases, for example, in security and terrorism, and that we can work effectively with other countries. The money will also be used on mobile technology and on...

Other Questions: Garda Resources (15 Nov 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am supplying that information in tabular form. I do not have the time to go through the detail of that in the House, but it will be supplied to the Deputies who ask the question about the number of stations with the PULSE system. Crime statistics are compiled by the CSO, based on PULSE data. The statistics for Westmeath Garda division reflect all crime incidents recorded by An Garda...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Garda College (15 Nov 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: There is a budget in place to continue the fire safety work and the upgrading of accommodation in five of the seven blocks. There is further work to be done on the additional classrooms and I envisage that this will go ahead. In respect of the long-term training needs and the improvements that need to be made within the existing campus boundary, in the first instance we must work with the...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Garda Stations (15 Nov 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is primarily responsible for the distribution of Garda resources in the State and, as Minister, I have no direct role in the matter. I have, however, been informed by the Garda authorities that Garda personnel assigned throughout the country, together with overall policing arrangements and operational strategy, are continually...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Garda Stations (15 Nov 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The pilot would inform the other aspect of the work that is being done by the Garda Inspectorate. It will be in a position to inform the broader review. I agree with the Deputy and think it is extremely important that the Garda Inspectorate is examining in detail the dispersal and use of resources available to the Garda Síochána in the delivery of policing services to local...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Proposed Legislation (15 Nov 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: That is in committee this week so it depends on the progress within the committee. I would certainly share the Deputy's wish it is completed as quickly as possible but that will be up to the members of the committee in the first instance. It has already been through the Seanad and, if there are amendments, it will have to return to the Seanad. I hope we can make speedy progress. It is a...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Judicial Council (15 Nov 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Government and I continue to be committed to progressing that legislation as speedily as possible. While it has been regarded by Governments, including the previous Fianna Fáil Government, as a priority, over time it gave way to other pressing and urgent legislative requirements, some of which arose from our troika commitments and some of which concerned important social and...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Judicial Council (15 Nov 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: Let me reassure the Deputy I continue to work on all of the issues of relevance that are central to the Department of Justice and Equality. I have already said I believe this country has been very well served by the Judiciary and that has been recognised internationally in GRECO report after GRECO report. It is my own belief and it is certainly the belief of the Government that we have been...