Results 4,981-5,000 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Leaders' Questions (29 Sep 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The issue of the rent allowance was raised by the GRA and was a key demand made by it, particularly relating to new recruits. Contrary to what the Deputy said, I am quite sure the rent allowance will be welcomed for new recruits. It was an important support for new recruits in terms of finance. That was something the GRA put on the table. We were able to negotiate to a point where it was...

Leaders' Questions (29 Sep 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am no doubt about the seriousness of the situation. That is why my Department has engaged very intensively with the GRA and it is absolutely open, as am I, to meeting to resolve the outstanding issues. It is in the interest of everybody in the country. It is in the interest of An Garda Síochána, as the Deputy rightly said, and of the legal system across the board. Of course,...

Leaders' Questions (29 Sep 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have made it clear that both I and the Department want to re-engage. After many hours of discussions we concluded the negotiations late last Friday evening with an agreement, as we understood it. That was with the leadership but it was not accepted by the broader group, as has been obvious through media reports and interviews in the past number of days. We have not heard anything formally...

Leaders' Questions (29 Sep 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I agree that members of An Garda Síochána are essential and pivotal to civilised living in this country. They protect individuals in communities and never know the day or the hour when they may be exposed to violence or asked to make the ultimate sacrifice. The Government views An Garda Síochána as a key strand in Irish life and is committed to supporting it in every way...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Station Closures (29 Sep 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 52 and 55 together. The Deputy will be aware that the programme of replacement of Garda accommodation around the country is progressed by the Garda authorities working in close co-operation with the Office of Public Works, which has primary responsibility for the provision of Garda accommodation and I, as Minster, have no direct role in these matters. ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Support Services (29 Sep 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I refer the Deputy to my response to Parliamentary Question No. 114 of 27 September 2016 which details the progress to date on the implementation of the recommendations of the McMahon report on Improvements to the Protection Process, including Direct Provision and Supports to Asylum Seekers. The Programme for a Partnership Government contains a commitment to reform the Direct Provision...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: European Arrest Warrant (29 Sep 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The information sought by the Deputy is set out in a table. Year No. of warrants received by Ireland No. of warrants issued by Ireland 2004 28 18 2005 67 29 2006 127 43 2007 173 35 2008 198 40 2009 326 33 2010 374 51 2011 384 71 2012 313 88 2013 224 70 2014 183 79 Section 6(6) of the European Arrest Warrant Act 2003 provides that the Central authority for the EAW shall prepare an...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Independent Review Mechanism (29 Sep 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The matter to which the Deputy refers was considered by the Independent Review Mechanism (IRM) set up by the Government to review complaints of Garda misconduct which had been made to the Taoiseach and myself. Counsel on the panel of the IRM recommended that an inquiry be set up to consider this complaint. I accepted counsel's recommendation and decided to establish an inquiry under...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Agencies Board Appointments (29 Sep 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The formal letters seeking nominations for membership of the new Legal Services Regulatory Authority were issued by my Department to the Bar Council and to the nine other nominating bodies prescribed under the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015 on 14 January 2016. Under these letters nominations were sought on or before Thursday 28 January 2016. A reply was received at my Department from...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Investigations (29 Sep 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Garda Commissioner wrote to me on 19 May 2016 asking that I use the legal powers available to me to request the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) to investigate matters alleged to have occurred in relation to a meeting in Mullingar involving certain Garda officers. On 16 June 2016, having consulted with the Attorney General and having sought additional information...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Investigations (29 Sep 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can advise the Deputy that I have very recently received correspondence expressing concerns in relation to the case referred to by him and have, in the first instance, sought the views of the Garda Commissioner on the issues raised, following receipt of which I will be in a position to consider this matter further.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Eligibility (29 Sep 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the processing of the application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to by the Deputy is ongoing and will be submitted to me for decision as expeditiously as possible. No further information is required from the person at this time. As the Deputy will appreciate, the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (29 Sep 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that this person should be informed to make an application in writing to the Residence Division in INIS in reference to their immigration status in the State. Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to the INIS by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Eligibility (29 Sep 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the processing of the application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to by the Deputy is ongoing and will be submitted to me for decision as expeditiously as possible. As the Deputy will appreciate, the granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Deportation Orders Re-examination (29 Sep 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the persons concerned are a husband and wife who are the subjects of deportation orders made on 11th March, 2005. Both persons were deported from the State some years ago; however, according to information received from their legal representatives, they returned to this State the year after they...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Investigations (29 Sep 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I assume that the Deputy is referring to media reports claiming that a senior Garda Official had written a report for my attention on matters relating to a Garda whistleblower. In the first instance, I must point out that the preparation of reports under section 41 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 is a matter for the Garda Commissioner and, accordingly, the question of my...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Aid Applications (29 Sep 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will be aware that the Legal Aid Board provides civil legal aid and advice pursuant to the Civil Legal Aid Act 1995 and Regulations made thereunder. The Act provides that the Board is independent of the Minister in the performance of its functions. The Deputy will appreciate as a result that I am not in a position to make a decision on whether civil legal aid is granted in...

Other Questions: Garda Recruitment (28 Sep 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: There is no manipulation. The Deputy can send me the details and I will follow up on it.

Other Questions: Garda Deployment (28 Sep 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The issue of divisions and operational responsibility is one the Garda is currently examining. I ask the Deputy to write to me on the points he has made and I will bring them to the attention of the Commissioner. I will get some information for him on the new approaches that are being recommended on divisional operational responsibilities, which I think address the point he is making about...

Other Questions: Inner City Initiatives (28 Sep 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy is aware, arising from discussions with community representatives from Dublin north-east inner city involving the Taoiseach, myself and other Ministers, a ministerial task force, chaired by the Taoiseach, has been established with a focus on the economic and social regeneration of the area. Mr. Kieran Mulvey has been appointed to prepare a report to inform the work of the task...