Results 6,181-6,200 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (1 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 Irish Visa Office in Dublin on 20/05/2016. The application was approved on 30/05/2016 and the applicants were notified directly of this decision by the Visa Office on that date. The Deputy may wish to note that queries in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Services for People with Disabilities (31 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: In 2013 the National Disability Authority (NDA) facilitated consultations with the Deaf Community in Ireland at my Department's request in relation to actions that could make improvements in the lives of deaf people. Submissions received as part of that process informed the National Disability Strategy Implementation Plan which was published in July 2013. As part of the follow-up to that...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Coroners Service (31 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The legislation governing Coroners is the Coroners Act, 1962. Under this legislation a coroner is a statutory officer exercising quasi-judicial functions, in relation to which he or she is independent. A Coroner is responsible for all coronial matters in his or her district. The Deputy will appreciate that neither I nor my Department has any role in the conduct of individual cases or in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Accommodation Provision (31 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: In the joint Probation Service/Irish Prison Service Women's Strategy 2014 - 2016, An Effective Response to Women Who Offend, published in 2014, the Irish Prison Service made a commitment to explore the development of an open centre/open conditions for women assessed as low risk of re-offending. This commitment was acknowledged in the Report on the Strategic Review of Penal Policy who also...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Refugee Resettlement Programme (31 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 85, 86 and 219 together. The ongoing migration crisis is a serious and extremely complex challenge facing the EU with numerous pressure points and it is important that there be a coherent and coordinated response. In that respect I do not see that a unilateral initiative from Ireland would be appropriate in this case, not least given the fact that this is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service Data (31 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will be aware, 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: National Disability Strategy Implementation Plan (31 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: In 2013 the National Disability Authority (NDA) facilitated consultations with the Deaf Community in Ireland at my Department's request in relation to actions that could make improvements in the lives of deaf people. Submissions received as part of that process informed the National Disability Strategy Implementation Plan which was published in July 2013. As part of the follow-up to that...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Public Sector Staff Data (31 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The table provides details on the number of persons who have left the Department of Justice and Equality during the period May 2011 to May 2016. These numbers take account of people who have left my Department for a variety of reasons including, amongst others, retirement and by way of incentivised early retirement schemes. Year Exits 27 May 2011- 26 May 2012 66 27 May 2012- 26 May 2013...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Criminal Prosecutions Data (31 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Director of Public Prosecutions is statutorily independent in the exercise of her functions. Therefore, it is not possible for me to provide the information sought by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Data (31 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: 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 with a view to providing him with the available statistics in relation to the matters referred to.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Deaths in Prison (31 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 92, 93, 95 and 98 together. All deaths in custody are the subject of a Garda investigation and an inquest held in the Coroner's Court. The cause of death is determined by a jury on the basis of the information presented to the Coroner’s Court. The Irish Prison Service has confirmed that there were 3 deaths determined as being death by suicide...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Inspector of Prisons Reports (31 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I wish to inform the Deputy that following receipt of the Report of an Investigation into the handling of the sentencing, release and post release procedures in a criminal matter by the Inspector of Prisons, Judge Michael Reilly, Mr. Pat Folan, former Director General of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service, was appointed by the then Minister, Mr. Dermot Ahern, to chair a group to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Irish Prison Service (31 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that the inquest into the death of the person referred to is ongoing. The decision as to the cause of death is a matter for the Coroner. The Irish Prison Service has confirmed that it is fully considering the findings and recommendation of the Inspector of Prisons in his Report into this matter, and it will ensure that all appropriate action is taken.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Drugs in Prisons (31 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I wish to advise the Deputy that a wide range of security measures are in place which are aimed at reducing the supply of contraband into prisons. The rollout of enhanced security measures has made it more difficult for prisoners and visitors to secrete contraband and improvised weapons. The Operational Support Group (OSG) has prison officers assigned across its three areas, the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Resources (31 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner 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 trends,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Criminal Legal Aid (31 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Programme for Partnership Government states that a more rigorous and objective means testing process for applications for criminal legal aid will be introduced along with increased sanctions for the making of false declarations by applicants. Proposals for new Criminal Legal Aid legislation are currently being prepared to update and strengthen the system of granting legal aid...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Ministerial Correspondence (31 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Minister for Justice and Equality I have regular discussions with the Garda Commissioner in relation to various aspects of policing, crime and the security of the State. In accordance with long-standing practice and precedent I do not propose to give details of those discussions.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Reports (31 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy is referring to the inquiry conducted by Mr Justice Frank Clarke of the Supreme Court under section 109 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005, into the conduct of GSOC designated officers. I can confirm that I have received the report of Mr Justice Clarke. As a first step, the Attorney General was consulted on how to proceed in relation to the report. It is my intention,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Education Service (31 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that literacy supports form an important element of the prison education curriculum. The literacy curriculum concentrates on the needs of the individual and aims to improve self-esteem and build confidence. All prisoners who come into the Education Centre of each prison have an individual interview to assess their educational attainments, needs and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Education Service (31 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have been advised by the Irish Prison Service that broad programmes of education are provided in each prison, which generally follow an adult education approach. The aim of the Education Service is to deliver a high quality, broad, flexible programme of education that helps prisoners cope with their sentence, achieve personal development, prepare for life after release and establish an...