Results 6,061-6,080 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Proposed Legislation (14 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: In Budget 2016, the outgoing Government approved the introduction of 2 weeks paternity leave and the associated social welfare paternity benefit as from September 2016. It was originally intended that these provisions would be progressed as part of the Family Leave Bill but they are now being progressed as a stand alone Bill to ensure that the leave is in place as from 30 September. I will...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Parental Leave (14 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Parental Leave Act, 1988 entitles a relevant parent to take parental leave until the child concerned attains the age of 8 years. Section 2 (2)(c) of the Parental Leave (Amendment) Act 2006 increased the age limit to 16 years in the case of a child with a disability. The proposed Family Leave Bill, which Government has approved and is currently being drafted, will address all existing...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Health (14 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The position has not changed since my reply to you in Parliamentary Question No.144 of 31 May 2016: "The Irish Prison Service has advised that discussions have taken place with HIQA regarding the possibility of them conducting a review of Healthcare service delivery in prisons. HIQA has indicated that it is not in a position to conduct such a review at the present time. My Department...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Insolvency Service of Ireland (14 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Official Assignee in Bankruptcy in the Insolvency Service of Ireland that provision for rent or mortgage costs are allowed for as part of Reasonable Living Expenses under Housing costs. These costs are reviewed by the Bankruptcy Division on a case by case basis to ensure they are reasonable for the individual family circumstances. Reasonable Living Expenses Guidelines...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Drugs Crime (14 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have requested a report from the Garda authorities in relation to the matter raised and will be in further contact with the Deputy when that report is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Drugs Crime (14 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have requested a report from the Garda authorities in relation to the matter raised and will be in further contact with the Deputy when that report is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: National Drugs Strategy Implementation (14 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can inform the Deputy that Action 2 of the National Drug Strategy provides a commitment to the establishment of local policing fora in all local drug task force areas. Further to that commitment an audit of local policing fora was undertaken by my Department in conjunction with local drug task forces in April 2012. This exercise identified 24 local policing fora operating at that...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Services Regulation (14 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 101 and 102 together. As previously conveyed to the House, preparations for the phased commencement of the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015 are already underway. In keeping with normal procedures this will be formalised in a series of Statutory Instruments. A necessary first step in preparation for these commencements is the appointment of the Legal...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Operations (14 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am informed by the Garda authorities that while the number of checkpoints are recorded on the PULSE system, the numbers of invalid permits identified at such checkpoints and the penalties imposed are not recorded in such a manner as to be in a position to readily provide the Deputy with the specific information requested.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Vetting Applications Data (14 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The number of vetting applications received for the requested time periods is set out in the following table. However, the more detailed information requested by the Deputy is not readily available and its compilation would necessitate a disproportionate amount of staff time and effort. Year Applications received Turnaround times 2014 315,138 4 weeks for 80% of applications received...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Expenditure (14 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department did not incur any expenditure in relation to the purchasing of the Public Sector Times in 2015.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Expenditure (14 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department incurred expenditure totalling €14,411.85 on daily newspapers in 2015. In addition the Irish Prison Service (IPS) incurred expenditure totalling €37,798 in 2015 for newspapers and other publications. The IPS amount covers all publications including newspapers and it is not possible to provide a breakdown for daily newspapers only. At present this expenditure...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Staff Data (14 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 107 and 109 together. I am advised that the baseline number of staff in the Human Resources Division of my Department prior to the introduction of PeoplePoint was 33. There are currently 17.3 full time equivalent staff members in the Human Resources Division who are responsible for servicing approximately 2,000 staff in my Department. In line with the planned...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Ministerial Staff (14 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: On the commencement of each Dáil, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) issues guidelines setting out the arrangements for the staffing of Ministerial Offices including the permitted staffing levels in the private and constituency offices of Ministers and Ministers of State. These guidelines are expected to be approved by Government shortly. There are currently 3.5...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Company Law (14 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The position is that the Companies Act 2014, which entered into force on 1 June 2015, has updated and codified company law in this jurisdiction. The Act continues to provide a range of possible remedies for debenture holders and lending institutions in the event of a borrower encountering financial difficulties. These include an examinership process, appointment of a receiver and liquidation...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Data Protection (14 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The position is that statutory responsibility for the interpretation and application of data protection law in this jurisdiction is vested in the Data Protection Commissioner under the Data Protection Acts 1988 and 2003. The Commissioner enjoys statutory independence in the performance of her tasks and exercise of her powers under this legislation and it would not be appropriate for me to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Operations (14 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Garda Authorities that they are aware of proposals for such an event and that the appropriate liaison has taken place in this regard. The persons concerned have been requested to notify An Garda Síochána if the event is scheduled to proceed in order to ensure that an assessment can be made of any policing requirements and that the necessary policing arrangements...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (14 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: Should the Deputy wish to provide specific information on the case referred to, I can assure him I will seek an urgent report from the Garda authorities on the serious matters referred to by him. In so far as the role of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) is concerned, the Deputy will be aware that GSOC was established to independently examine complaints which may be...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (14 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have been informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the person concerned has been issued with a letter on 2 June 2016 requesting further documentation in support of her application. Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to INIS by email using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (14 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: 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 assured by the Garda Commissioner that the allocation of Gardaí is continually monitored and reviewed taking into account all relevant factors including crime...