Results 5,961-5,980 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

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

Frances Fitzgerald: The question of providing for an offence of membership of a criminal gang, in a manner similar to the approach taken in the Offences Against the State Acts with regard to membership of a proscribed organisation, has arisen from time to time. In this regard, it is important to understand the issues which arise in seeking to simply outlaw membership of a criminal gang in such a manner....

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

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of resources, including personnel and decisions in relation to Garda station opening hours, in An Garda Síochána and I, as Minister, have no direct role in these matters. I am informed that Garda management closely monitors the allocation of all resources in the context of crime trends,...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 91 and 93 together. As the Deputy will be aware the Central Statistics Office (CSO), as the national statistical agency, is responsible for the publication of recorded crime statistics. To be of assistance, I have requested the CSO to contact the Deputy directly in relation to the information requested. I am advised that Garda management constantly monitor 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. In regard to the deployment of Garda personnel,...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: I can advise the Deputy that the Irish Prison Service publish the capacity of its prisons and the numbers in custody on a daily basis on their website (). I can further advise that a breakdown of the offence groups for which individuals were incarcerated on 31 May 2016, the latest date for which an offence breakdown is available, is included in the table below. Offence Group Description ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Rehabilitation Programmes (22 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I wish to advise the Deputy that the Irish Prison Service provides a wide range of rehabilitative programmes to those in custody that include education, vocational training, healthcare, psychiatric, psychological, counselling, welfare and spiritual services. These programmes can offer purposeful activity to those in custody while serving their sentences and encouraging them to lead law...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: Ireland is working proactively with our colleagues in Europe to ensure that Ireland and the European Union responds comprehensively to this critical humanitarian challenge. Ireland has clearly played its part in this regard by sending some of our Naval vessels to the Mediterranean to carry out vital search and rescue missions to ensure the safety of many people trying to come to Europe for...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: UK Referendum on EU Membership (21 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The entitlement to Irish citizenship, as well as the conditions pertaining to a grant of citizenship through naturalisation, are governed by the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. It is open to any individual to lodge an application for citizenship if and when they are in a position to meet the statutory requirements as prescribed in the Act. Under...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Mental Health Policy (21 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 was signed into law by the President on 30 December 2015 but has not yet been commenced. The Act provides for the setting up of the Decision Support Service within the Mental Health Commission, which is an independent body under the aegis of the Department of Health. The appointment of the Director of the Decision Support Service is a matter...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Pension Provisions (21 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: A member of An Garda Síochána, having served from 1966 and left the Force in 1974 through resignation or dismissal would not qualify for superannuation benefits under the Garda Síochána Pension Scheme. Any contributions already made to the scheme would have been refunded in accordance with the Garda Síochána Pension Orders.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Spent Convictions (21 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Criminal Justice (Spent Convictions and Certain Disclosures) Act 2016 was commenced in full on 29th April 2016. The effect of the Act is that a person is not obliged to disclose certain convictions which are over 7 years old, subject to specified limitations. A person will not be penalised in law or incur any liability for failing to disclose a spent conviction. In accordance with the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Equality Issues (21 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Equality (Miscellaneous Provisions) Status Act 2015 introduced new provisions that prohibit discrimination in the provision of rented accommodation on the basis that a person is in receipt of certain payments (such as rent supplement or housing assistance payment). Advice for persons who consider that they might have been discriminated against under these provisions or any provision of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Services Regulation (21 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: As previously conveyed to the House, preparations for the phased commencement of the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015 are already underway. A necessary first step in preparation for these commencements is the appointment of the Legal Services Regulatory Authority after which the Authority will appoint its own Chief Executive. Nominations to the new Legal Services Regulatory Authority have...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (21 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 74 and 75 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Stations (21 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Office of Public Works (OPW) has the primary responsibility for the provision and maintenance of Garda accommodation and works closely with the Garda authorities in this regard. The Deputy will be aware that the Garda Building and Refurbishment Programme 2016-2021 includes the development of a new Garda station at the District Headquarters of Bailieboro, Co Cavan. I am happy to inform...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Firearms Licences (21 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: As indicated to the Deputy in the response issued on 16 June 2016, Section 3D of the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 provides that only those centre fire short firearms licensed before 19 November 2008 remain licensable. Therefore, it is not possible to substitute another centre fire handgun for a handgun licensed before 19 November 2008. However, it is open to the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal (21 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can inform the Deputy that vacancies were advertised on the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal in April and I expect the process of making appointments to be finalised in the near future. I am informed that the Tribunal, which is independent in the exercise of its functions, will then plan the scheduling of appeal hearings.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (21 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have no plans currently to privatise any part of the operations of the Irish Prison Service. The operation of the service is constantly kept under review. In this respect, it should be noted that section 5 of the Prisons Act 2007 provides that 'the Minister may, with the consent of the Minister for Finance and the approval of Government, enter into an agreement with another person (in this...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Accommodation (21 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I wish to advise the Deputy that the Director General of the Irish Prison Service accepted in full the recommendations contained in the Report of the Commission of Investigation into the Death of Gary Douche (commonly referred to as the McMorrow Report). As a result a "Cell Sharing Risk Assessment Policy" was drafted and piloted in the Midlands Prison. As a result of this pilot, the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (21 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that, as part of the IPS Strategic Plan 2012 - 2015, a Dignity at Work steering group was established and five behaviours were identified by staff to ensure a dignified work environment – Respectful, Supportive, Fair and Inclusive, Openness, and Competence. Following from this the Irish Prison Service developed a number of policies including...