Results 4,821-4,840 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Questions on Proposed Legislation (6 Oct 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: Under the new procedures I will ask the appropriate Minister, Deputy Naughten, to respond to the questions.

Questions on Proposed Legislation (6 Oct 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: That is not promised legislation.

Questions on Proposed Legislation (6 Oct 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: Page 100 of the programme for Government does not mention legislation but it refers to various other mechanisms that must be introduced. In terms of change, civilianisation and rostering, all of that is happening currently and there will be more, budget permitting, next year. With regard to legislation and accountability, I said I will consider the comments of Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring on...

Leaders' Questions (6 Oct 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: Certainly, I agree with the Deputy. For example, she mentioned housing becoming available in respect of the fair deal scheme. That is certainly an initiative that can be looked at by the Departments of Health and Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government. I take the Deputy's point that if there are other short-term measures which can be identified and which would make a difference...

Leaders' Questions (6 Oct 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I recognise, as does the Government, the seriousness of the housing situation, and that is why it is a priority and will be over the coming years. I recognise what the Deputy said about there being short-term and long-term issues, and that the short-term situation, particularly regarding renting in our urban centres, is at crisis point. This is why the programme the Minister, Deputy Simon...

Leaders' Questions (6 Oct 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I did receive a letter from the Deputy, to which I replied. I have the letter here. In my response to the Deputy, I asked him to give me some important detail on protected disclosures, which I would need if I were to follow up the points he made. He did not respond to me.

Leaders' Questions (6 Oct 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: It was sent to the Deputy here in Dáil Éireann.

Leaders' Questions (6 Oct 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I did not get a reply from the Deputy with the information I asked the Deputy for. I will send my request to the Deputy again. On the point the Deputy made about the classification of crime, it is clearly a concern. As I explained to the justice committee yesterday, I have been working. The CSO has been examining these issues. I met the CSO. I invited its representatives to meet me....

Leaders' Questions (6 Oct 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy has made a number of comments. I will repeat what I said. I believe - the Deputy may not - that due process is important. I believe the law should be used carefully in these circumstances. I do not believe in making a decision before the evidence has been heard. What we have is a body of allegations which have been brought forward. I have said to the House that I believe they...

Leaders' Questions (6 Oct 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have said there are no other protected disclosures on my desk.

Leaders' Questions (6 Oct 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: It was what I was asked. I am replying to the question. On the media reports, which the Deputy quoted, I am setting in place a procedure. I got these reports on Monday and I have to consider the legal options and the various pathways through which I can investigate this issue. That is precisely what I have done. It will be done in a very timely way and as soon as possible. On the...

Leaders' Questions (6 Oct 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: Deputy McDonald appears to think that the protections of the law with respect to the presumption of innocence and the requirement for due process can be applied selectively. If she decides that something is the case, we can dispense with the principle of justice and the laws of the land. I certainly will not do that as Minister for Justice and Equality. I ask the Deputy and other Members...

Leaders' Questions (6 Oct 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: Let me be very clear - no, I do not have any other protected disclosures. Clearly, a small number of protected disclosures have been made, both to GSOC and to myself, and these are in the public realm. Details relating to disclosures are published, for example, in the annual report of GSOC. Therefore, the relevant figures are publicly available. There is nothing that is there that-----

Leaders' Questions (6 Oct 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I do not believe that it is right for anyone to rush to judgment about these matters. It offends all the principles of fairness for conclusions to be drawn on the basis of claims against persons which have not been properly tested or where those who have had claims made against them have not had a chance to tell their side of the story.

Leaders' Questions (6 Oct 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have seen the reports in the media about the points Deputy McConalogue has made but what I put on the record of the House are the facts that I have received. I received the protected disclosure notices on Monday. The Government has not yet made a decision in relation to the precise process we will follow. As I speak, it is being considered urgently. It will be done in a timely way....

Leaders' Questions (6 Oct 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: It may be helpful if I attempt to put in context the events of recent days. I agree with what the Deputy said about the importance of the role of An Garda Síochána. Its members confront many challenges, as has been discussed in this House on many occasions, and it is extremely important that nothing undermines their ability to keep our communities safe. It is right to acknowledge...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Unaccompanied Minors and Separated Children (6 Oct 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I refer the Deputy to my response to Parliamentary Question No. 76 of 5 October 2016 in which I set out the position on unaccompanied minors in Calais.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Rehabilitation Programmes (6 Oct 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy may be aware, funding is provided by my Department through the Probation Service to a range of Community Based Organisations (CBO's) to develop and deliver services for offenders in their communities. The services provided include training and education, offender management programmes, residential accommodation and drug and alcohol abuse treatment programmes. The CBO's offer a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (6 Oct 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the person concerned made an application for a residence card, under the provisions of the European Communities (Free Movement of Persons) Regulations 2015 on 9 June, 2016. I am further informed that INIS has experienced an unprecedented and sustained increase in such applications since 2015....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Investigations (6 Oct 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The bombing at Belturbet, Co. Cavan in December 1972 took the lives of two innocent young people. It was an appalling and utterly unjustified act of violence that, like so many others, characterised a dark period in the history of this island. My deepest sympathies go to the families who were bereaved by this atrocity. I am informed by the Garda Authorities that the bombing at...