Results 5,861-5,880 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions: Domestic Violence Policy (22 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: Like the Deputy, I attended the launch of the Women's Aid impact report last week. The statistics quoted and all the statistics are very disturbing. I stated at the launch that I thought when I began working on equality issues many years ago, as people became better informed as we dealt with issues of violence, alcohol and drugs, perhaps this scourge might even disappear. Unfortunately,...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions: Domestic Violence Policy (22 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Courts Service has established a committee to drive forward the development of the family court complex. Last year I worked with the then Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works, Deputy Simon Harris, and we secured that site for this new family court development. It is extremely important and will make a significant difference. 2 o’clock...

Priority Questions: Direct Provision System (22 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: There are also initiatives on better standards of accommodation and cooking facilities for families. Those are moving ahead in quite a number of the direct provision centres.

Priority Questions: Direct Provision System (22 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: As Deputy Bríd Smith will be aware, a decision was taken by the previous Government not to increase the sum paid for adults but to increase the sum paid for children. In the Department of Education and Skills, the former Minister, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, made the decision about children moving on to third level. It is a small number, but that decision was taken to ensure that children...

Priority Questions: Direct Provision System (22 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: Ireland was quick to respond. I was to the fore at the Justice and Home Affairs meeting when countries were asked to take refugees during the big crisis last year. We immediately agreed to take 4,000 refugees and that was a sign of our intentions in this area. Our full obligation under resettlement will be met by the end of September when over 500 refugees from camps in Lebanon will have...

Priority Questions: Direct Provision System (22 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The 31 Syrians are in the emergency centres that we have set up, according to the recommendation. The recommendation at European level is that refugees arriving in the first place should be in a centre where they get support services, which we have in place. Every effort is being made to improve the standard of accommodation in our direct provision system. I assume Deputy Bríd...

Priority Questions: Commissions of Investigation (22 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: Before its dissolution and, in accordance with section 43(2) of the Commission of Investigation Act 2004, the O'Higgins commission of investigation deposited its files with my Department. The provision in question allows for the depositing of papers in circumstances where a commission is no longer in existence as papers belonging to a commission must be held somewhere. What is at issue here...

Priority Questions: Garda Misconduct Allegations (22 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I do not know the details of the interaction between Transparency International Ireland and the Garda Commissioner. The Garda Commissioner has said she wants to make every effort to ensure that whistleblowers are dealt with appropriately in the Garda Síochána and that the culture of whistleblowing changes so that it is a safe place if members of the force wish to report issues of...

Priority Questions: Judicial Appointments (22 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: In the programme for Government, there are some very significant commitments on change in the area of judicial appointments. I will be bringing proposals to Government for a general scheme of a judicial appointments Bill as soon as I am in a position to. The new judicial appointments commission is an important element of the policy framework agreement between our parties. The commitment in...

Priority Questions: Judicial Appointments (22 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I note what the Deputy says about the impact of vacancies on the court. We expect at least ten this year. The business of every court is affected to some degree and we do not want to see justice being delayed. I cannot be definitive on the matter today but the Government is likely to determine the approach to be taken on this matter in the coming weeks, taking all relevant matters into...

Priority Questions: Judicial Appointments (22 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am sure the Deputy will agree that in advance of drafting that legislation, it is important to have consultation with all the relevant stakeholders. I welcome the Deputy's offer to work with the Government, particularly given that the policy he has outlined in terms of a smaller number is much in line with the changes we discussed during Government formation. The Council of Europe's Group...

Priority Questions: Direct Provision System (22 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: Every effort is made on a continuous basis to provide a high level of service to persons in the direct provision system. The direct provision system comprises not just full board accommodation but a range of services including health, education and welfare supports. The principal issue identified in the McMahon report was the length of time people live in the system. Many of the applicants...

Priority Questions: Garda Remuneration (22 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can confirm to the House that there is no shortage of people applying to become members of An Garda Síochána. Very high numbers continue to apply to enter training and I welcome that. Clearly, we want to see everybody within the Lansdowne Road pay agreement. Gardaí were subject to the same pay reductions as all other public servants over the course of the financial crisis...

Priority Questions: Garda Remuneration (22 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I very much hope that the situation relating to increments described by the Deputy does not arise. Clearly, the discussions and negotiations in which we are involved are aimed at ensuring this situation does not occur on 1 July 2016. Detailed discussions and negotiations are ongoing and various options are being put on the table. I believe both bodies have entered into the discussions in a...

Priority Questions: Garda Misconduct Allegations (22 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy is aware, I published the report of the O'Higgins Commission of Investigation (Certain Matters relative to the Cavan-Monaghan Division of An Garda Síochána) on 11 May. As I have previously stated, it deserves the most careful consideration so that we can do everything possible to avoid a repeat of the issues which gave rise to the commission in the first place. On...

Priority Questions: Garda Misconduct Allegations (22 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: These are very significant powers in respect of investigation. I must consider every investigation very carefully in terms of whether it is the right thing to do. I had to consider the commission of investigation and the context and I had to get the advice of the Attorney General as to whether she considered it appropriate given the various issues involved. The information relating to the...

Priority Questions: Garda Remuneration (22 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I assure the Deputy that the Government is fully committed to ensuring that members of An Garda Síochána enjoy a high standard of working conditions and that they are properly resourced and equipped to carry out their duties. Even during the difficult economic period, every effort was made to protect the Garda budget. In line with the recent economic improvement, the 2016 Garda...

Questions on Proposed Legislation (22 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can inform the Deputy that the review is currently being undertaken.

Questions on Proposed Legislation (22 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: On the Deputy's first question, the heads of the Bill were cleared by the Cabinet on Tuesday. Very detailed work is being done on the criminal justice (victims of crime) Bill. I am hopeful it can be published before the end of this term.

Questions on Proposed Legislation (22 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I will ask the Minister, Deputy Coveney, to reply to that under our new procedures.