Results 4,281-4,300 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

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

Frances Fitzgerald: Let us be very clear. This legislation will be published shortly. The Government is committed to it and, as the Deputy said, the Judiciary wants to see a judicial council. There are issues that can be dealt with in terms of the performance of judges and continuing the work judges do to make sure they have a judicial council that will be a support to that work. As I said, we have made it...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will be aware the Garda College was re-opened following the lifting of the moratorium on Garda recruitment. Since then, 1,200 trainee gardaí have passed through the college and it is envisaged, as the Deputy said, that 800 new recruits will enter in 2017. Since the college re-opened, 534 recruits have been attested as members of An Garda Síochána and have been...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: It would be misleading to talk about cutting back on investment in resources. We have to await the outcome of the ballots. When that is known, if the proposals are accepted the cost of the proposed settlement will be addressed in discussions between the Department of Justice and Equality and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. The Deputy will agree that as Minister for Justice...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: As I have said, it is important to allow the process that has been put in place to run its course. I believe that is the priority right now. I want to ensure every member of the Garda is aware of the details of the recommendations that have been made by the Labour Court. The associations will make sure of this. It is very important that those details are circulated so that members of An...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy is aware, following intensive negotiations between the Government, the GRA and the AGSI, facilitated by the Workplace Relations Commission, the Labour Court issued a recommendation. In the case of individual members, the recommendation for the GRA and AGSI would provide extra remuneration of approximately €4,000 on average to a member of the service over the next 12...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Suspended Sentences of Imprisonment) Bill 2016: Second Stage (15 Nov 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am bringing forward this relatively short but technical Bill to address Mr. Justice Moriarty’s High Court judgment of 19 April which found certain provisions of section 99 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006, which provides for the suspension and subsequent revocation of sentences, to be unconstitutional. Suspended sentences are an integral part of the judicial sentencing regime and...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Suspended Sentences of Imprisonment) Bill 2016: Second Stage (15 Nov 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I thank Senators for their support for the Bill. As several speakers noted, it is short but important legislation, which specifically addresses the High Court finding of unconstitutionality in respect of certain provisions relating to the revocation of suspended prison sentences. It does so by explicitly ensuring there is an opportunity for an appeal against conviction or sentence for a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Levels (15 Nov 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: Crime statistics are compiled by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) based on PULSE data and the statistics for Laois/Offaly Garda Division reflect all crime incidents recorded by An Garda Síochána for those counties. The Deputy will be aware that in the most recent CSO figures, for Quarter 2 of 2016, there were decreases in many crime categories. This reflects the success of the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Levels (15 Nov 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: Crime statistics are compiled by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) based on PULSE data and the statistics for the D.M.R. Northern Garda Division reflect all crime incidents recorded by An Garda Síochána for that area. The Deputy will be aware that in the most recent CSO figures, for Quarter 2 of 2016, there were decreases in many crime categories. This reflects the success of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Road Traffic Offences Data (15 Nov 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will be aware, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service. Section 4(3) of the 1998 Act provides that the Courts Service is independent in the performance of its functions, which includes the provision of information on the courts system. However, to be of assistance I have made inquires with the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (15 Nov 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: This Government is committed to ensuring a strong and visible police presence throughout the country in order to maintain and strengthen community engagement, provide reassurance to citizens and deter crime and the Deputy will be aware that in the most recent CSO figures, for Quarter 2 of 2016, there were decreases in many crime categories, including for example a 26% reduction in burglaries....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Estimates Publication (15 Nov 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will be aware, following intensive negotiations between the Government, the Garda Representative Association (GRA) and Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) facilitated by the Workplace Relations Commission, the Labour Court issued a recommendation on 3 November last in relation to the dispute. In the case of individual members, the recommendation for the GRA and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Levels (15 Nov 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: Crime statistics are compiled by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) based on PULSE data and the statistics for Kerry Garda Division reflect all crime incidents recorded by An Garda Síochána for that area. The Deputy will be aware that in the most recent CSO figures, for Quarter 2 of 2016, there were decreases in many crime categories. This reflects the success of the concerted...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence (15 Nov 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: Domestic violence is a social evil and the protection of members of society from domestic violence remains a priority for me and my Department. Drafting of the Domestic Violence Bill is at an advanced stage. It is my intention that the Bill will be submitted for Government approval and published during the current Dáil session. The Second National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Protected Disclosures (15 Nov 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: As I have advised the Deputy previously, there has been significant change in the procedures for members of the Gardaí who wish to report allegations of wrongdoing. The Protected Disclosures 2014 Act was part of the then Government's comprehensive approach to enhancing the protections available to whistleblowers, including members of the Garda Síochána. Under the Act, the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Recruitment (15 Nov 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: This Government is committed to ensuring a strong and visible police presence throughout the country in order to maintain and strengthen community engagement, provide reassurance to citizens and deter crime and the Deputy will be aware that in the most recent CSO figures, for Quarter 2 of 2016, there were decreases in many crime categories, including for example a 26% reduction in burglaries....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Levels (15 Nov 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: Crime statistics are compiled by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) based on PULSE data and the statistics for Louth Garda Division reflect all crime incidents recorded by An Garda Síochána for that area. The Deputy will be aware that in the most recent CSO figures, for Quarter 2 of 2016, there were decreases in many crime categories. This reflects the success of the concerted...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Court Sittings (15 Nov 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will be aware that the scheduling of court cases and the allocation of court business is a matter for the respective Presidents of the courts and the presiding judge who are, under the Constitution, independent in the exercise of their judicial functions. The Presidents monitor waiting times across all court lists and seek to ensure the optimum use of court time. Available...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Compensation Schemes (15 Nov 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I wish to advise the Deputy that the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal, which has responsibility for the administration of the Scheme of Compensation for Personal Injuries Criminally Inflicted and the Scheme of Compensation for Personal Injuries Criminally Inflicted on Prison Officers, is independent in the matter of applications under the Scheme. However, to be of assistance to the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (15 Nov 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Interdepartmental Committee on the UN Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was reconvened in September 2014, and met four times to identify all barriers to Ireland’s ratification of the Convention and agree on legislative measures to overcome them. The result of this work was a roadmap to ratification, which was published on 21 October 2015 and which outlines the...