Results 6,121-6,140 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Investigations (8 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: On 19 May, 2016 the Garda Commissioner wrote to me asking that I use the legal powers available to me to ask the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission to investigate matters alleged to have occurred in relation to a meeting in Mullingar involving certain officers. I informed the House that I intended to do this and that I was consulting with the Attorney General about the precise...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Adult Cautioning Scheme Administration (8 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Garda Adult Cautioning Scheme makes provision for the administering of a caution by a senior Garda officer for certain minor offences, as an alternative to prosecution in the District Court, where prosecution is not required by the public interest and it is determined that a caution would be a more appropriate and effective response. The Scheme currently applies to a range of offences...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Oversight (8 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The responsibility for undertaking the proposed external independent culture audit is a matter for the Garda Commissioner and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. I am advised by the Garda Commissioner that the proposal for this audit is currently being developed by An Garda Síochána, in consultation with the Policing Authority. When this process has been finalised,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Reviews (8 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Programme for a Partnership Government contains a commitment to review the existing Proceeds of Crime legislation. An Expert Group was established under the auspices of the Department of Justice to review the Proceeds of Crime legislation with a view to identifying possible improvements which would serve to enhance the powers of the Bureau. Work on the preparation of proposals...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (8 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The illegal street selling of prescription medicines is currently a feature of the illegal drug trade in this jurisdiction. This is closely linked to the increased prevalence in polydrug use which has emerged in recent years. A challenge which can arise for An Garda Síochána in tackling the illegal sale of such medicines relates to the nature of the controls in place under the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (8 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The fees to be paid by an applicant for a certificate of naturalisation are governed by the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Regulations 2011 (S.I. No. 569 of 2011). The application fee, stipulated at €175, is payable on application for a certificate of naturalisation and a certification fee is payable on the issue of a certificate of naturalisation. The standard...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (8 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will be aware the courts are, subject only to the Constitution and the law, independent in the exercise of their judicial functions, and the conduct of any case is a matter entirely for the presiding judge. As outlined in my response to Parliamentary Question Number 54 of 26 May 2016 every effort is made to source interpreters when required by the courts. However, this cannot...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Data (8 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: As part of its Programme for Change, my Department is further developing its capacity to collect and use data to support medium and longer term evidence-based policy formulation and implementation across all of its remit. There is already a wide range of data available to the Department with significant quantities in the public domain. While much of the data is currently collected by...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Home Repossessions Rate (8 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will be aware that, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service and I have no role in the matter. Section 4(3) of the 1998 Act provides that the Courts Service is independent in the performance of its functions, which includes the provision of information on the courts system. However, in order to be of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (8 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the visa application referred to by the Deputy was received by the Visa Office in Dublin on 03/06/2016. Should all documentation be in order, the applicant can expect a decision by the end of June and will be notified of this decision by the Visa Office. The Deputy may wish to note that queries in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Recruitment (8 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 109 and 110 together. As the Deputy will appreciate, it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for the distribution of resources, including civilian 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 personnel is continually monitored and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Data (8 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will appreciate, it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for managing and controlling generally the administration and business of An Garda Síochána and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. The Deputy will be aware from my reply to him on the 25 May 2016 of the number of members attached to the Meath Garda Division for each of the years 2011 -...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Programme (8 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Criminal Justice (Spent Convictions and Certain Disclosures) Act 2016, which completed all stages in the Oireachtas on 3rd February, 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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Closed Circuit Television Systems Provision (8 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: Section 38 of the Garda Síochána Act, 2005 sets out the provisions governing the operation of CCTV schemes in public areas. This includes the need for all such CCTV schemes to be authorised in writing by the Garda Commissioner. In this context, the CCTV Advisory Committee has been established to advise on all aspects of CCTV operated for the purpose of increasing public safety and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Criminal Assets Bureau (8 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy may be aware the Programme for a Partnership Government contains a commitment to examine how communities can better engage with the Criminal Assets Bureau including provision of information on the suspected local use of the proceeds of crime and the potential of a smaller Criminal Assets bureau being established to target regional assets. This work will now be brought...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (8 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will be aware, a range of measures are in place to address adult offending behaviour generally, with the work of the Irish Prison Service and Probation Service playing a central role in this regard. The Joint Irish Prison Service and Probation Service Strategy, 2015-2017 sets out how the two services will work together with their statutory, voluntary and community sector...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Rehabilitation Programmes (8 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: Rule 27(3) of the Prison Rules 2007 states "In so far as is practicable, each convicted prisoner should be engaged in authorised structured activity for a period of not less than five hours on each of five days in each week". I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that it provides a wide range of rehabilitative programmes to persons in custody that include education, vocational training,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Data (8 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am informed by the Irish Prison Service that the number of women committed under sentence in 2012 to 2015 categorised by length of sentence is set out in the table below, figures for 2016 are not yet available. Year 2012 Year 2013 Year 2014 Year 2015 < 3 Months 1,736 1,931 2,361 2,707 3 to < 6 Months 171 163 144 127 6 to < 12 Months 121 135 94 95 1 to < 2...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Cyberbullying Issues (8 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: As set out in the Programme for Partnership Government, the new Government will ensure that robust protections are in place to fully protect children while online. We will propose updated legislation to effectively deal with sexual offences including stronger sanctions aimed at protecting children from sexual exploitation, child abuse material and online grooming. The Law Reform Commission...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (8 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: 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 and will be submitted to me for decision as expeditiously as possible. As the Deputy will appreciate, the granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege...