Results 5,401-5,420 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Historical Conflicts (21 Jul 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I express my sympathy to the families of the families bereaved by the bombing at Belturbet in December 1972. It was a senseless and unjustifiable act of violence which tragically took the lives of two innocent young people. I am informed by the Garda Authorities that the bombing and two murders in Belturbet were the subject of a thorough investigation at the time by An Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Freedom of Information Data (21 Jul 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I wish to advise the Deputy that the information sought is set out in the following table: No of requests Refused in full Part granted 1099 207 288 The available statistics are from 1 January up to and including 30 June 2016.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Ministerial Remuneration (21 Jul 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The following expenses have been paid to date in 2016 in accordance with the relevant procedures: Tánaiste Frances Fitzgerald: €2,579.03 paid in January 2016. The expenses in question relate to the period May 2014 to December 2015. No mileage related costs were claimed. Former Minister of State Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: paid €2,879.99 in mileage expenses in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Ministerial Advisers (21 Jul 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The information requested in relation to my special advisors is set out as follows: Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality Post Name Salary Special Advisor Marion Mannion €93,297 Special Advisor Stephen O'Shea €79,401 Special Advisor Matthew Lynch €79,401 Following my appointment as Tánaiste, sanction was sought and secured from the Department of...

Proceeds of Crime (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (20 Jul 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: This amendment would apply proceeds of crime legislation to conduct which, as it stands, is not criminal. Under current law, neither payment for sexual services nor the receipt of payment for providing such services is a criminal offence. I understand that the intention is to provide in the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015 for an offence of payment for sexual activity with a...

Proceeds of Crime (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (20 Jul 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: Deputy Howlin was at serious risk of really upsetting his former colleague, the Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan, talking about ringfencing funding for certain projects, as I am sure he is well aware.

Proceeds of Crime (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (20 Jul 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: He knows what the reaction is. The point behind the amendment is to have a redistribution in certain communities but I hope to get this Bill through tonight and that is one reason not to accept amendments. I would not rule out a medium-term review of this legislation to consider all of its implications. I invite the Deputy to make a submission on that point because it is worth considering,...

Proceeds of Crime (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (20 Jul 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: We have consulted on and given consideration to this matter. The Bill, as initiated, contains sufficient safeguards for affected persons against any potential abuse of the new seizure and detention powers. In the context of justice being seen to be done quickly, I understand where Deputy is coming from but, as I said on Second Stage, persons can apply to the court to have an authorisation...

Proceeds of Crime (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (20 Jul 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: It does not have to wait for 21 days, it can go earlier. Deputy Howlin's amendment would make it statutory and the bureau would be obliged to go. However, it can already do this.

Proceeds of Crime (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (20 Jul 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: Yes, it can do so at present. That is correct. As the Deputy has acknowledged to the nth degree, criminals convicted of some of the most heinous crimes have used the Proceeds of Crime Act to litigate against the State, at considerable expense to the taxpayer. The High Court and the Supreme Court have, quite correctly, been tied up for long periods in respect of that legislation. That is...

Housing Strategy: Statements (Resumed) (20 Jul 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: Say it again.

Housing Strategy: Statements (Resumed) (20 Jul 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: Well done.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Waiver Programme (20 Jul 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The requirements for which countries are visa required to come to Ireland are kept under regular review in consultation with my colleague, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade. The Government is pursuing a strategy of greater co-ordination and co-operation on visa issues with the United Kingdom in the context of the Common Travel Area (CTA). This is exemplified by the operation...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Drugs Crime (20 Jul 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau continues to lead out the policing strategy for tackling drugs supply working closely with the local Divisional Drug Units across the State including in the Border, Midlands, West Region area. This approach allows for the co-ordinated use of Garda resources in tackling all forms of organised crime, including illicit drug activity nationwide. As...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (20 Jul 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 78 and 79 together. As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of resources, including personnel, among the various Garda Divisions and Districts. Garda management keeps this distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the optimum...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Property Services Regulation (20 Jul 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The position is that the Multi-Unit Developments Act 2011 was enacted with the primary purposes of reforming the law relating to the ownership and management of common areas of multi-unit developments and facilitating the fair, efficient and effective management of owners' management companies (OMCs). These are companies registered under the Companies Act, the members of which are the owners...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Valuation Office (20 Jul 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can inform the Deputy that the Commissioner of Valuation has responsibility under the Valuation Acts 2001 to 2015 to maintain a valuation list for each Local Authority, of all commercial properties in that Local Authority area, which is used to calculate the rates due from individual ratepayers. Section 9(10) of the Act provides that the Commissioner is independent in the performance of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Proceedings (20 Jul 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Central Statistics Office (CSO), as the national statistical agency, is responsible for the compilation and publication of the official recorded crime statistics, and the CSO has established a dedicated unit for this purpose. I understand that while statistics in relation to fraud offences generally are produced, the breakdown in relation to insurance fraud requested by the Deputy is not...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Strength (20 Jul 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 83 and 85 together. This Government is committed to ensuring a strong and visible police presence throughout the country in order to maintain and strengthen community engagement, provide reassurance to citizens and deter crime. I have been informed that as of the 31 May 2016, the latest date for which figures are readily available there were 12,801 members of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Gangland Crime (20 Jul 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can assure the Deputy that tackling organised crime activity is a key ongoing priority for both the Government and An Garda Síochána. An Garda Síochána's Policing Plan sets out the priorities of An Garda Síochána in tackling organised crime activity including its continued commitment to pro-actively target groups and individuals engaged in criminal...