Results 5,901-5,920 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Misconduct Allegations (22 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy is aware, there has been significant change in the procedures for members of the Gardaí who wish to report allegations of wrongdoing. Prior to the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 coming into operation, whistleblowing by members of the Garda Síochána was provided for under the Garda Síochána (Confidential Reporting of Corruption or Malpractice)...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Investigations (22 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy is aware, the instigation and management of any criminal investigation is a matter for the Garda authorities. I hope the Deputy will appreciate that I have no role in this regard and that I would not normally receive reports in relation to investigations. On a general note, however, I can say that, as an organisation, the Garda Síochána takes its responsibility...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (22 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Government has indicated its commitment in the Programme for a Partnership Government to reforming the Direct Provision system, with particular focus on families and children. The Report of the Working Group on Improvements to the Protection Process, including Direct Provision and Supports to Asylum Seekers, has set out a series of recommendations for reform of the system. These have...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Complaints Procedures (22 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: Insert questionThe current statutory complaints procedure for prisoners was introduced in 2013 following on from recommendations made by the Inspector in 2012. It was an improvement over the pre-existing procedures and provided for an independent element in the investigation of serious complaints. Details of that system are further outlined in my response to Dáil Question 113 on 4 May...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Mortgage Arrears Proposals (22 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Programme for Government states, as the Deputy notes, that the Government will 'establish a dedicated new court to sensitively and expeditiously handle mortgage arrears and other personal insolvency cases, including through imposing solutions', including those recommended by a new national service which will be established 'to standardise the supports available to borrowers in mortgage...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Commercial Rates Valuation Process (22 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Commissioner of Valuation, who is independent in the exercise of his functions, has responsibility under the Valuation Act 2001 to maintain valuation lists of all commercial properties in the State which are used by Local Authorities in the calculation of rates due from individual ratepayers. This is done using two processes known as revaluationand revision. Revaluation is a process...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Public Sector Allowances (22 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: As part of the 2012 review of Public Service Allowances and Premium payments conducted by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, a number of allowances paid to public sector employees were abolished in respect of new and/or current beneficiaries. Extensive material relating to the review, including a spreadsheet summarising statistics and the outcome of each allowance reviewed, is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Public Sector Staff Remuneration (22 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will be aware, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform has responsibility for the development and implementation of Government public service pay policy. The changes to payscales introduced for civil servants recruited after 2011 were introduced at a time when it was critical to reduce the public sector pay bill. No decision has been made at this juncture to revert to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Organised Crime (22 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: Ireland is a party to a number of international instruments under the auspices of the United Nations, Council of Europe and European Union which provide for a wide range of mutual assistance and extradition measures. Ireland is also a party to a number of bilateral agreements in this regard. Given the international dimension to much organised crime activity these instruments, and the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (22 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of personnel among the Garda Regions, Divisions, and Districts. Garda management keep this distribution under continuing review taking into account crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the best possible use is made of these resources. I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Misconduct Allegations (22 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy refers to the Independent Review Mechanism established to review certain allegations of Garda misconduct, or inadequacies in the investigation of certain allegations, which were made to me as Minister for Justice and Equality, or the Taoiseach with a view to determining to what extent and in what manner further action may have been required in each case. A panel consisting of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Inspectorate Reports (22 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will be aware I published the report of the Garda Síochána Inspectorate "Changing Policing in Ireland - Delivering a Visible, Accessible and Responsive Service" on 9 December 2015. The report makes some 80 recommendations in relation to the structures of An Garda Síochána, its deployment practices, culture, human resources practices and financial management....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Administration (22 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am satisfied that the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission has the support it needs to carry out its important work, including in respect of its role in relation to protected disclosures. GSOC's budget for 2016 is €9.546 million, which represents an increase of some €500,000 on the 2015 amount. 2015 also saw an increase in the number of staff working for GSOC. ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (22 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Programme for Government states, "Long durations in direct provision are acknowledged to have a negative impact on family life. We are therefore committed to reforming the Direct Provision system, with particular focus on families and children." The Report of the Working Group on Improvements to the Protection Process, including Direct Provision and Supports to Asylum Seekers, has...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Programme (22 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: Drafting of the Criminal Justice (Corruption) Bill is at an advanced stage. There are some outstanding matters to be resolved before the Bill can be submitted to Government for approval and publication, and it is intended that the Bill will be published later this year.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence Policy (22 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: Last Wednesday I launched the Women’s Aid Impact Report 2015. The 16,000 disclosures reported to Women’s Aid of domestic violence in 2015 and almost 6000 disclosures of child abuse represent 9,300 individuals ringing the phoneline. This serves as a stark reminder that the menace that is domestic violence remains a major problem for this society and that we must do all we can to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Road Traffic Legislation (22 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will be aware that all summonses issued by the Courts Service since 16 May 2012, to which Section 22 of the Road Traffic Act 2002, as amended, applies, include the additional requirement that a person must also produce to the Court a legible copy of his/her driving licence or learning permit. Issues surrounding the implementation of this section, including the question of the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (22 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of personnel among the Garda Regions, Divisions, and Districts. Garda management keep this distribution under continuing review taking into account crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the best possible use is made of these resources. I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Rights of People with Disabilities (22 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: On 21 October 2015, the previous Government published a roadmap to Ireland’s ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which outlines the considerable legislative changes to be undertaken to enable Ireland to ratify the Convention, along with the estimated deadline of end-2016 for ratification. The Roadmap to Ratification, which is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Operations (22 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: An Garda Síochána's Policing Plan sets out the priorities of An Garda Síochána including its continued commitment to pro-actively target groups and individuals engaged in criminal activity, including organised criminal activities. In tackling such activity, An Garda Síochána continues to develop and implement operations and strategies aimed at targeting,...