Results 4,401-4,420 of 14,127 for speaker:David Stanton

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: EU Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund: Motion (5 Dec 2018)

David Stanton: We can revise our national programme. I will take the Deputy's viewpoint back to the Minister.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: EU Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund: Motion (5 Dec 2018)

David Stanton: Deputy Wallace is correct. We have been very proactive in working to find accommodation. There are certain times of the year when families find it better to move, such as at the end of a school term. We have provided funding to the Jesuit Refugee Service and the Peter McVerry Trust under the fund that we are discussing today. The PATHS Project also provides asylum seekers in transition...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: EU Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund: Motion (5 Dec 2018)

David Stanton: The direct provision system has changed a great deal in recent years. I invite colleagues to look at the changes that have been made. We continue to change, improve and upgrade the area. There is a fair bit of pressure due to the increase in people looking for international protection, and therefore we have to find accommodation for them. When someone comes into Dublin Airport tonight...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: EU Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund: Motion (5 Dec 2018)

David Stanton: If the Deputy would send me that in writing, I would be very interested.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: EU Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund: Motion (5 Dec 2018)

David Stanton: If other Deputies have instances of this, we would be anxious to learn about them, investigate and see what is behind this, and give whatever support and assistance that we can. There are often two sides to every story. Let us see what is going on here.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: EU Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund: Motion (5 Dec 2018)

David Stanton: Discussion about the Defence Forces is going outside my remit. The Minister of State, Deputy Kehoe might discuss that with the committee. I know that the navy has done an enormous amount work in the Mediterranean and has saved many lives. Thousands of people have been rescued by our naval service and I have met some of the personnel involved. Some of what they have gone through has also...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: EU Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund: Motion (5 Dec 2018)

David Stanton: I do not know. My understanding is that they did not want to have what they would call extraterritorial security services operating on their territory. We wanted to do this in a quiet way - the gardaí would not be in uniform. It would have allowed us to carry out security checks as we did in Greece and Lebanon where it works well. That would allow me to come in here and confirm that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: EU Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund: Motion (5 Dec 2018)

David Stanton: I agree that the accommodation centres have improved quite a bit. We continually strive to find new ways to improve the centres by, for example, opening crèches that children in the locality and children in the centres can use. That also facilitates integration. Another approach is through funding various sporting bodies that include asylum seekers from the centres in sport. Last...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: EU Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund: Motion (5 Dec 2018)

David Stanton: At certain times we have many people in the protection system looking for protection and at other times the number can reduce. We do not want to have centres that are closed and not needed. There is flexibility in what we are doing at the moment. I take the Senator's point. We are exploring how we might use State-owned facilities and augment those to provide more and better accommodation...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: EU Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund: Motion (5 Dec 2018)

David Stanton: I answered a parliamentary question on this last week. I will get the information relating to that parliamentary question for the Chairman. He is correct. Our major concern is that people seeking international protection do not end up on the street. There is a great deal of pressure on the accommodation centres that are under contract. There have been times when they have been full. At...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: EU Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund: Motion (5 Dec 2018)

David Stanton: I have the figures for the Chairman so I can give them to him now. As of 2 December 2018, there were 184 people seeking international protection in emergency accommodation beds. The intention is that these beds will be used for a short period, perhaps one or two nights, before we can relocate them and offer them accommodation in one of the other permanent centres. Rather than having people...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: EU Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund: Motion (5 Dec 2018)

David Stanton: I agree fully with the Chairman that location is important. I would love, as I am sure we all would, to have asylum seekers and those looking for international protection to be accommodated near city centres and near the centres of large towns. That would be ideal. Unfortunately, when we look for accommodation, we do not get people from the centre of Dublin, Cork or other places offering...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: EU Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund: Motion (5 Dec 2018)

David Stanton: I can do that.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Gender Equality (4 Dec 2018)

David Stanton: Various commitments have been made in the Programme for a Partnership Government with a view to empowering women in the area of employment. These include reducing the gender pay gap, assisting the return of women to the labour market and promoting female entrepreneurship. Many of these commitments are being progressed under the National Strategy for Women and Girls 2017-2020, which is being...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (4 Dec 2018)

David Stanton: In January and again in September of this year, the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) of my Department published a call for expressions of interest in the national press for premises to meet the increasing demand for accommodation for persons in the protection process. This accommodation is for those seeking international protection, namely asylum seekers. This call sought...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Gambling Sector (4 Dec 2018)

David Stanton: My Department has no role in respect of the licensing and regulation of gaming machines. All lawful gaming in amusement and gaming arcades in Ireland is confined to areas in respect of which Part III of the Gaming and Lotteries Act 1956 is in force. Part III is only in force where a resolution has been passed by the relevant local authority. In the case of amusement and gaming...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Contracts Data (4 Dec 2018)

David Stanton: I wish to confirm to the Deputy that the information sought cannot be provided in the time allowed. As soon as the information has been collated I will write to the Deputy on the matter.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Refugee Resettlement Programme (4 Dec 2018)

David Stanton: In January and again in September of this year, the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) of my Department published a call for expressions of interest in the national press for premises to meet the increasing demand for accommodation for persons in the protection process. It is worth noting that refugees are persons who have already been granted international protection status in Ireland....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision Data (4 Dec 2018)

David Stanton: At the end of 2017, 2524 single persons resided in accommodation provided by the Reception and Integration Agency, Department of Justice and Equality; 599 females and 1925 males.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Gambling Legislation (4 Dec 2018)

David Stanton: I note this question relates to the current review of the General Scheme of the Gambling Control Bill 2013. I am happy to update the Deputy on developments in this regard. The Deputy will be aware that the Government granted permission to review the 2013 General Scheme by way of Decision of 10 January 2018. To advance this review, I chaired an Inter-Departmental Working Group on...