Results 4,761-4,780 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Financial Resolutions 2017 - Financial Resolution No. 2: General (Resumed) (12 Oct 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am sharing time with the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Shane Ross. The budget is another stepping stone in our plan to build a strong economy and one that will work primarily to create a fair and compassionate society in which everyone is given the opportunity to succeed and nobody is left behind. It continues the prudent management of the public finances,...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments and Threatened Industrial Action by An Garda Síochána: Statements (12 Oct 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I thank Senators for making time available to address these important matters in the House. As Senators are aware, there is a commitment in the current programme for Government to reform the judicial appointments process and to introduce legislation for the establishment of a new judicial appointments commission. The judicial appointments Bill involves complex legal and constitutional...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments and Threatened Industrial Action by An Garda Síochána: Statements (12 Oct 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I thank Senators for their contributions to this debate. I will address the issue of Garda pay, on which the House focused, first. We want to negotiate and use every opportunity possible to deal with the concerns that have been raised by the GRA and AGSI. In a ballot of AGSI members several weeks ago, the ratio was 70:30 in favour of accepting the work done by officials on the Lansdowne...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (12 Oct 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that there is no current application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to by the Deputy. Previous applications have been refused for reasons provided to the person concerned, the most recent in a letter issued on 7 October 2013 advising of the decision. It is open to any...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Peace Commissioners (12 Oct 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: Peace Commissioners are appointed by the Minister for Justice and Equality under Section 88 of the Courts of Justice Act, 1924. It is an honorary position and a Peace Commissioner receives no remuneration or compensation from public funds. Before appointment applicants are informed that they are not entitled to charge or receive for their own benefit, any fee for performing the duties...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Wards of Court (11 Oct 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy may be aware, jurisdiction in Wards of Court matters is vested in the High Court. Section 4(3) of the Courts Service Act 1998 provides that the Courts Service is independent in the performance of its functions, including the management of the Courts. Court funds which are held for the benefit of Wards of Court are private funds under the control of the Courts Service which,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (11 Oct 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: India is one of two countries that benefit from the British Irish Visa Scheme which enables short-stay visitors to move freely within the Common Travel Area on a single visa granted by either Ireland or the UK depending on the first port of arrival. This involves certain procedures and processes being carried out including biometric checks for all visa applicants. To facilitate this and to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Wards of Court (11 Oct 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 and 18 together. The Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 was signed into law by the President on 30 December 2015 but has not yet been commenced. The Act provides a modern statutory framework to support decision-making by adults with capacity difficulties. Once the relevant provisions of the Act have been commenced, each ward of court who...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Probate Applications (11 Oct 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: There are 14 District Probate Registries located outside Dublin which are attached to Circuit Court Offices under the control of County Registrars who also carry out the function of District Probate Registrar. As the Deputy will be aware, the County Registrar for County Westmeath retired in April 2016 and since then I have approved a proposal to fill the County Registrar vacancy. Sanction...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigrant Investor Programme Administration (11 Oct 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 19 and 20 together. I am informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the applications for the Immigrant Investor Programme are evaluated by an Independent Evaluation Committee, with experts from Government Departments and relevant State Agencies. To issue a formal pre-approval without the application having...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Staff (11 Oct 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: As indicated to the Deputy previously, the management of staff and issues arising is a matter for my Department's Secretary General and his officials. I do not have a role in this regard. However, I am advised by my officials that they have been in correspondence with the individual concerned and their legal representative and have responded in relation to the matters at issue.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Probate Applications (11 Oct 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Probate Office is an office of the High Court and management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service which is independent in exercising its functions under the Courts Service Act 1998. However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and the Courts Service has informed me that the current waiting time for Grants of Representation is 16...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (11 Oct 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that INIS wrote to the person concerned on 4 October 2016 informing them that, following detailed consideration of the complex circumstances pertaining to their case, it has been decided to grant them, as an exceptional measure, permission to reside in the state for 1 year. The permission is under Stamp...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Cross-Border Co-operation (11 Oct 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Joint Agency Task Force was one of the important commitments under the 'Fresh Start' Agreement to tackle cross-border organised crime, including that linked to paramilitarism. The Joint Agency Task Force is led by the police and revenue services and brings together the relevant law enforcement agencies to better co-ordinate strategic and operational actions against cross-border organised...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (11 Oct 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I understand the Deputy's question may refer to applications for a certificate of naturalisation rather than visas. The fees to be paid by an applicant for a certificate of naturalisation are governed by the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Regulations 2011 (S.I. No. 569 of 2011). The application fee, stipulated as €175, is payable on application for a certificate...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Remit (11 Oct 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) has a hugely important role in ensuring that public confidence in the Garda Síochána is safeguarded, and has extensive powers under the 2005 Act to enable it to carry out its responsibilities. Significant changes were made to the powers of GSOC in the last two years including making GSOC a designated body for receiving...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Community Alert Programme (11 Oct 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: As part of its Community Policing ethos, An Garda Síochána engages with a wide range of local groups including in excess of 3,700 Neighbourhood Watch and Community Alert groups countrywide. The Garda Text Alert Scheme is a particularly successful example of Community Policing in action with over 960 local groups in operation, involving in excess of 164,000 subscribers. I...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Controls (11 Oct 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: Section 11 of the Immigration Act 2004 provides for the requirement that a person landing in the State shall be in possession of a valid passport or other equivalent document and that they shall furnish to an immigration officer such information as the immigration officer may reasonably require. This section also applies to any non-EEA national travelling within the Common Travel Area. ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (11 Oct 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that, in response to a notification pursuant to the provisions of Section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended), written representations have been submitted on behalf of the person concerned. These representations, together with all other information and documentation on file, will be fully...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Liquor Licensing Laws (11 Oct 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will appreciate, I am not in a position in my capacity as Minister for Justice and Equality to provide legal advice in relation to such a matter in response to a Parliamentary Question. I can, however, confirm that the sale or supply of intoxicating liquor without an appropriate licence under the Licensing Acts is generally an offence. And while a bona fidegift may not amount...