Results 5,541-5,560 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Court Poor Box (12 Mar 2019)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy is aware, in February 2014 the Government approved the drafting of a Criminal Justice (Community Sanctions) Bill to replace the Probation of Offenders Act 1907 with modern provisions dealing with community sanctions and the role of the Probation Service in the criminal justice system. The Bill is currently being drafted by the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel. It is intended...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Victim Support Services (12 Mar 2019)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy is aware, I have instructed my officials to draft terms of reference for a study about how best to support families in the most caring and effective way in the aftermath of murder-suicides and this work is at an advanced stage. In such tragic circumstances, I fully acknowledge that one of the supports that can be provided to remaining family members is the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Levels (12 Mar 2019)

Charles Flanagan: The Deputy will be aware that I previously responded to a question which he submitted in January, which raised the issue of burglaries and thefts in Cork city over the Christmas period.  I can assure the Deputy that local Garda management in the Cork region keep all new and emerging crime trends under constant review to ensure best use is made...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal Data (12 Mar 2019)

Charles Flanagan: The Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal administers the Scheme of Compensation for Personal Injuries Criminally Inflicted (General Scheme).  Under the terms of the Scheme, the Tribunal is entirely independent in the matter of the individual decisions on applications for compensation and I as Minister have no role in the matter. The number of applications received in each of the years...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Community Alert Programme (12 Mar 2019)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Text Alert Scheme, which was developed with the support of Muintir na Tíre, Neighbourhood Watch and the Irish Farmers Association, was introduced in September 2013. The scheme provides an additional and effective method for Gardaí to distribute crime prevention information and advice. I understand that there are in the region of 200,000 text...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Organised Crime (12 Mar 2019)

Charles Flanagan: Tackling organised crime activity and those involved in it is an ongoing priority for the Government and An Garda Síochána and the necessary resources will continue to be made available to address this issue. An Garda Síochána is tackling organised criminal activity through a range of targeted measures designed to disrupt and dismantle the operations of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Staff (12 Mar 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that they expect to recruit in excess of 200 Recruit Prison Officers in 2019.  The assignments of these Recruit Prison Officers are based on the requirements at each prison and are predominantly to the Dublin Region. The recruitment of Recruit Prison Officers by the Irish Prison Service has been ongoing since 2017 and has regard to such...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (12 Mar 2019)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy will appreciate, it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for the distribution of resources, including personnel, among the various Garda Divisions and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. 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 use is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Data (12 Mar 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I am informed that the Irish Prison Service (IPS) does not currently record information in relation to specific instances of time spent in the care of the State for persons in prison custody. However there is evidence available internationally that children in care are much more likely to be cautioned or convicted of a criminal offence. It is undoubtedly the case that many...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (12 Mar 2019)

Charles Flanagan: The resources provided by Government to An Garda Síochána have reached unprecedented levels, with an allocation of €1.76 billion for 2019.  These resources are being provided in support of the Government's commitment to ensuring a strong and visible police presence throughout the country to maintain and strengthen community engagement, provide reassurance to citizens and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Information and Communications Technology (12 Mar 2019)

Charles Flanagan: The Programme for a Partnership Government recognises that Gardaí must have the modern technology and resources necessary to detect and investigate crimes, and to prevent loss and harm to citizens and their property on a 24/7 basis.  The key importance of ICT is also recognised in the report of the Commission on the future of Policing in Ireland and forms an important part of its...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (12 Mar 2019)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy is aware, the manner in which the resources of the Garda Síochána are deployed is solely a matter for the Garda Commissioner and his management team and I, as Minister, have no direct role in this regard. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Data (12 Mar 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that it is not possible to extract the particular profession of the applicants' sponsor from the on-line visa application system and, therefore, the specific information requested is not available.  However, I understand such applications from family members of 'critical skills...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Northern Ireland (12 Mar 2019)

Charles Flanagan: The Deputy will be aware that the primary security threat to the State is from republican paramilitary groups; the so-called ‘dissident’ groups.  While they have become somewhat factionalised over time, they still present a real and persistent threat.  The shared assessment of the threat in Northern Ireland is that it remains 'Severe' (that is to say, a terrorist...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Magdalen Laundries Report (12 Mar 2019)

Charles Flanagan: The Government is committed to complying with all of the recommendations of the Ombudsman in relation to the operation of Magdalen Restorative Justice Ex Gratia Scheme.  My officials have been in ongoing contact with the Ombudsman’s Office as we go about implementing his recommendations. In relation to the Ombudsman's principal recommendation that the Scheme...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Conventions (12 Mar 2019)

Charles Flanagan: The Deputy may recall that I recently outlined the position in relation to ratification of two important Council of Europe Conventions, including the Lanzarote Convention, when the matter was raised under topical issues on 16 January.  At that time I updated the House on the significant progress made in the ratification process within the term of this Administration, particularly through...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Judicial Appointments (12 Mar 2019)

Charles Flanagan: The office of Master of the High Court was established under section 3 of the Court Officers Act 1926 which provided that the Master of the High Court shall be appointed by the Executive Council and shall hold office at the pleasure of the Executive Council. The appointment of the Master of the High Court is done by Government. In relation to the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Northern Ireland (12 Mar 2019)

Charles Flanagan: The discovery in the UK last week of a number of suspicious postal packages containing small incendiary devices is a matter of serious concern. This appalling act has been widely condemned and is a reminder of the need for constant vigilance in tackling terrorism and protecting peace on these islands. The Garda authorities are in close and continuous...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Court Accommodation Provision (12 Mar 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 177 and 196 together. As the Deputy will be aware, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts, including the provision of accommodation for court sittings, is the responsibility of the Courts Service which is independent in exercising its functions. However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (12 Mar 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I have been informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the person concerned applied on 02/12/2016 for a residence card as a family member of an EU citizen under the provisions of the European Communities (Free Movement of Persons) Regulations 2015 and Directive 2004/38/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council.  They stated at that...