Results 5,661-5,680 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (5 Mar 2019)

Charles Flanagan: -----arises from the type of debate we have been having. Second, Senator McDowell is incorrect when he speaks about the commission dictating to the Government. That cannot and will not happen under this Bill. In any event, it cannot happen under the Constitution. Throughout this debate people on all sides of the House have been very keen to ensure that nothing in this Bill in any way...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (5 Mar 2019)

Charles Flanagan: That is very unfair from somebody who has served in government. For a former Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform and former Attorney General to reduce the debate to a children's game-----

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (5 Mar 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I thank the Senator for the point he makes. There are circumstances in which the issue might be regarded as important. Senator McDowell's referred to the current judicial appointments process and the capacity of the Houses of the Oireachtas to in some way bind the Executive. If followed through on, that would be serious. I am not sure if the Senator can draw on any further evidence to...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (5 Mar 2019)

Charles Flanagan: If Senator McDowell has formed the view, as I believe he has, that this is a case of Parliament exercising undue authority over the Executive or in some way attempting to muzzle Government, I do not accept that. We are dealing with consideration and Government will consider all matters in accordance with the constitutional provisions. To request that it gives consideration to proposals in a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Conventions (5 Mar 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 213 and 230 together. This Government is fully committed to combatting the scourge of violence against women. The Istanbul Convention is a significant legal instrument and its ratification is a Government priority. Ratifying the Convention will send an important message that Ireland does not tolerate this violence. On 26 February 2019, the Government...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Accommodation (5 Mar 2019)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy will be aware, there has been unprecedented investment in An Garda Síochána in recent years, 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 deter crime. The resources provided by Government to An Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Resources (5 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 optimum...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Resources (5 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. I am informed by the Commissioner that the deployment of Garda personnel is continually monitored and reviewed in the context of crime trends and policing priorities...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service Data (5 Mar 2019)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy is aware, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service, which is independent in exercising its functions, which include the provision of information on the courts system. However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and the Courts Service has provided...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Court Judgments (5 Mar 2019)

Charles Flanagan: The Fines (Payment and Recovery) Act 2014, which was commenced in January 2016, represented major reform of the fine payment and recovery system in the State and implemented a Government commitment to provide for attachment of earnings orders for the collection of fines.  The new system seeks to ensure that fines imposed are collected and also to reduce to a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (5 Mar 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the application referred to was refused on appeal by the Visa Office in Dublin.  The decision was communicated to the applicant on 28 February 2019. It is open to the applicant to submit a fresh visa application at any time.  However, they should bear in mind the reasons for refusal and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (5 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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (5 Mar 2019)

Charles Flanagan: 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.  On completion of the necessary processing the application will be submitted to me for decision as expeditiously as possible. Should further documentation be required it...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (5 Mar 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department the  person concerned has been granted permission to reside on Stamp 1 conditions for one year.  Correspondence informing the person concerned of this decision was issued on 27 February, 2019.  Following receipt of this permission letter the person concerned may...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Resources (5 Mar 2019)

Charles Flanagan: The Deputy will be aware that there has been unprecedented investment in Garda resources across the State in recent years.  In relation to Garda vehicles, €46 million has been provided by the Government for investment in the Garda fleet between 2016 and 2021, in addition to the investment of almost €30 million in the period 2013 to 2015.  This continuing...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Releases (5 Mar 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that all prisoners with a sentence to which remission applies including sex offenders qualify for one quarter remission on the basis of good behaviour.  In addition, all prisoners including sex offenders who have engaged in authorized structured activity may apply to receive enhanced remission of greater than one quarter but not...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Status (5 Mar 2019)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 225, 226 and 243 together. Protecting the State and the people from terrorism and supporting international peace and security are among the highest priorities for the Government.  Ireland, like many other open and democratic states, faces a threat from international terrorism. The expert assessment of the terrorist threat to Ireland is that, while...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Public Service Vehicles (5 Mar 2019)

Charles Flanagan: You will appreciate that I, as Minister for Justice and Equality, have no role in the administration of small public service vehicle (SPSV) licences, which is a matter for An Garda Síochána. However, to be of assistance, I have asked An Garda Síochána for the statistics you have requested. I will forward the information to you directly, as soon as it is received.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Road Traffic Offences Data (5 Mar 2019)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy is aware, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service, which is independent in exercising its functions, which include the provision of information on the courts system. However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and the Courts Service has informed me...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Road Traffic Offences Data (5 Mar 2019)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy is aware, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service, which is independent in exercising its functions, and this includes the provision of information on the courts system. I have requested information from the Courts Service and An Garda Síochána in relation to this matter and I will...