Results 4,821-4,840 of 14,127 for speaker:David Stanton

Topical Issue Debate: Garda Deployment (8 Feb 2018)

David Stanton: I thank the Deputies for raising this important matter. They are passionate and serious about it, which I appreciate. I am taking the issue on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Flanagan, who cannot be here this evening and who sends his apologies. The distribution of gardaí is exclusively the statutory responsibility of the Garda Commissioner. That said, I am aware that the Minister...

Topical Issue Debate: Garda Deployment (8 Feb 2018)

David Stanton: Even though the Deputy does not like me saying that, I will say it anyway. It was closed by the then-Government because of the severe and catastrophic economic crisis that the country was plunged into. The closure of the college and the moratorium imposed at that time has obviously had an impact on numbers in An Garda Síochána and it would be disingenuous to attribute the decline...

Topical Issue Debate: Garda Deployment (8 Feb 2018)

David Stanton: The Deputies opposite do not like hearing this, but it is a fact.

Topical Issue Debate: Garda Deployment (8 Feb 2018)

David Stanton: I thank the Acting Chairman for his protection. When the last Government came into office, the initial focus was on stabilising the public finances and returning the country to growth. Once that had been achieved, one of the Government's first actions was to reopen the Garda College in Templemore.

Topical Issue Debate: Garda Deployment (8 Feb 2018)

David Stanton: Since the reopening in September 2014, just under 1,600 recruits have attested as members of An Garda Síochána and have been assigned to mainstream duties nationwide. Of these, 719, or 45%, have been assigned to the Dublin metropolitan region. I am aware that while Garda strength in the DMR east, north and north central divisions shows an increase, albeit slight, between 2015 and...

Topical Issue Debate: Child Protection (7 Feb 2018)

David Stanton: I will certainly pass on that particular comment to my colleague, the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. I am sure she will be interested in taking it on board. Obviously it is important that any information we can get out there should be put out there. In general terms, the processing system as we know it is working well. The vetting system is working well and the Garda...

Topical Issue Debate: Child Protection (7 Feb 2018)

David Stanton: I am responding on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Flanagan. I thank Deputy Burton for raising this important and interesting issue. As we all know, vetting in respect of certain employment is carried out by An Garda Síochána, primarily in accordance with the provisions of the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (7 Feb 2018)

David Stanton: My Department was made aware of complaints in relation to the accommodation centre in question. These complaints were forwarded onto the contractor and the response has been received. It is worth noting that not all of the accommodation centre in question is used for accommodation and the unused section is blocked off to residents. The contractor has confirmed that 12 of the 20...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: National LGBTI Strategy (6 Feb 2018)

David Stanton: Like all sides of the House, I want to build on Ireland’s favourable record in LGBTI equality matters in recent years and to harness momentum from the Marriage Equality Campaign. Some preliminary work has commenced in my Department in relation to the development of a National LGBTI Strategy but I do not have an indicative timescale yet. Officials of my...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Refugee Resettlement Programme (6 Feb 2018)

David Stanton: I wish to inform the Deputy that while the Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP) is overseen at national level by my Department, all service provision is mainstreamed.   The Department of Education and Skills has put in place, through local Education and Training Boards (ETB), interim arrangements for education.  This includes, for example, English Language training for...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Disabilities Data (6 Feb 2018)

David Stanton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 241 to 245, inclusive, together. The Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities 2015 – 2024 was launched in October 2015. The strategy sets out a ten-year approach to ensuring that people with disabilities who are able to and want to work are supported and enabled to do so. It is underpinned by a cross-government approach that...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Child Care Services Provision (6 Feb 2018)

David Stanton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 246 and 247 together. I wish to inform the Deputy that as no appropriate childcare facilities are available in the Ballaghaderreen area, a new childcare facility is being developed at Abbeyfield Emergency Reception and Orientation Centre to provide a childcare service for to the significant number of children living with their parents in the Centre. My...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Applications Data (6 Feb 2018)

David Stanton: I wish to inform the Deputy that the number of persons admitted to Ireland under the EU asylum seeker relocation programme in each year from 2015 to 2017 is as set out in the following table: Year  Number 2015 0 2016 240 2017 515 A further 259 asylum seekers will arrive from Greece under the relocation programme in the first three months of 2018.  It should also be...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Refugee Data (1 Feb 2018)

David Stanton: I wish to inform the Deputy that under the Irish Refugee Protection Programme, refugees have been allocated to individual counties pro-rata based on the overall population of the county in order to ensure equity in terms of distribution. Under this system 90 refugees have been allocated to Monaghan County Council for resettlement. This number comprises 22 women, 46 children and 19 men. A...

Report of the Joint Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution: Statements (Resumed) (25 Jan 2018)

David Stanton: This was to be the closing speech and it may yet be the closing speech. Certainly, I am somewhat confused on matters. I heard it said earlier that there might not be time next week, the following week or the week after that again. Looking at the business schedule for today, it states: "Statements re. Report the Joint Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution (resumed, if not...

Report of the Joint Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution: Statements (Resumed) (25 Jan 2018)

David Stanton: I thank the Members of the Dáil who have contributed to the debate today. I recognise that there are deeply held views on all sides of the Oireachtas and throughout the country. In taking the next steps as a Parliament and as a Government, we must respect and hear them all. That is what most people have said here. It is most important that we accept that no matter what divides us,...

Report of the Joint Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution: Statements (Resumed) (25 Jan 2018)

David Stanton: My job this evening was to wrap up the debate and there are no other speakers offering. I am at a loss to know when the debate is to conclude or how we decide when the statements conclude. There will not be time scheduled next week for statements - perhaps the week after, I do not know. To be helpful, I will give my wrap-up speech now so that people will know the Government's position in...

Report of the Joint Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution: Statements (Resumed) (25 Jan 2018)

David Stanton: On a point of order, and not to be in any way argumentative, which is not my forte, how will we know when the debate is concluded?

Report of the Joint Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution: Statements (Resumed) (25 Jan 2018)

David Stanton: There are three hours of speaking time left this evening and 80 people have spoken so far during 17 hours of debate. I have waited here to sum up the debate and if there are no more speakers, the normal way to do business is for the Minister to sum up. I do not understand why people are not here and have made arrangements to come back next week when they feel like it. That is not good...

Report of the Joint Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution: Statements (Resumed) (25 Jan 2018)

David Stanton: It is only 5.45 p.m..