Results 6,201-6,220 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Judicial Reviews (31 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: While monitoring and certain decisions regarding the management of sanctions is undertaken by members of the Judiciary in some jurisdictions, sentencing courts in this jurisdiction are constrained, following a Supreme Court ruling, on reviewing sentences they have passed. However, as the Deputy will be aware, we have had a dedicated Drug Treatment Court operating in Ireland for some time...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Court Orders (31 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 106 and 223 to 225, inclusive, together. As the Deputies are aware, I have no role in relation to executing court orders. The courts are, subject only to the Constitution and the law, independent in the exercise of their judicial functions. It is therefore not open to me to comment or intervene in any way on the conduct or decision of a particular court...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 107, 113, 213 and 228 together. The Programme for a Partnership Government recognises that community policing is the embodiment of An Garda Síochána, providing a means of recognising that every community, both urban and rural, has its own concerns and expectations. It commits the Government to ensuring visible, effective and responsive policing...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will be aware that under last September's Government decision which established the Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP), approximately 2,600 asylum seekers are to be taken in from migration hotspots in Italy and Greece under the new EU relocation programme and 520 refugees are being taken in from Lebanon under Ireland's Refugee Resettlement programme. The mechanism by which...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Traveller Projects Funding (31 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The total funding available to my Department in respect of Traveller and Roma initiatives for 2016 is €2,205,000, of which €1,350,000, in respect of funding for Traveller community groups and national-level NGOs, transferred to my Department from the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government on 01 January 2016. This was in addition to a sum of €550,000...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 110, 111 and 123 together. I am informed by the Garda authorities that payroll costs for new Garda recruits include a basic allowance of €184 per week plus a living allowance of €77.92. After 32 weeks of training, Garda recruits are attested and move on to the first point of the Garda pay scale €23,750 rising to a maximum of...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: This Government is committed to ensuring a strong and visible police presence throughout the country in order to maintain and strengthen community engagement, provide reassurance to citizens and deter crime. Key to achieving this goal is the commitment in the Programme for Government, "A Programme for a Partnership Government" tocontinue the ongoing accelerated Garda recruitment programme...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: I can advise the Deputy that the average annual cost of an available staffed prison space for 2015, was €68,628, which is a slight decrease on the equivalent 2014 figure of €68,959.

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

Frances Fitzgerald: I am informed by the Irish Prison Service that the number of persons imprisoned for sentences of less than six months in each of the years 2011 to 2015 is set out in the table; figures for 2016 are not available yet. The number of committals is higher than the number of persons imprisoned as a person may be committed more than once. Year Number of persons imprisoned for sentences less...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 116 and 152 together. I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that as of the 12thFebruary 2016, 98% of all prisoners have 24-hour access to toilet facilities. The number slopping out has decreased from 1,003 at the end of 2010 to just 56 on 7 April 2016, (Limerick 32 and Portlaoise 24). I am further advised by the Irish Prison Service that construction of a...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: The budget for the Garda Síochána Inspectorate for 2016 is €1,255,000 of which €83,640 relates to rental costs.

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

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy may be aware, the Legal Aid Board seeks a minimum contribution of €30 for legal advice and €130 for legal aid (which includes the advice contribution of €30). The contribution payable by a person in receipt of legal aid or advice is set by the Minister for Justice and Equality by way of the Civil Legal Aid Regulations 1996-2016. The minimum legal aid...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 119 and 121 together. The Deputy will be aware that the scheduling of court cases and the allocation of court business is a matter for the respective Presidents of the courts and the presiding judge who are, under the Constitution, independent in the exercise of their judicial functions. However, in order to be of assistance, I have had inquiries made...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will be aware, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts, including the provision of accommodation for court sittings, is the responsibility of the Courts Service which is independent in exercising its functions. However, in order to be of assistance, I have had inquiries made and I am informed that the Courts Service is aware that the...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: The Probation Service does not currently provide family law assessment reports to the Courts.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Commencement of Legislation (31 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The sections to which the Deputy refers contain provisions essentially enabling the Policing Authority to appoint and remove persons from positions in An Garda Síochána. Section 17 envisages that the Authority will assume certain functions in relation to the civilian staff of An Garda Síochána, including the appointment by the Authority of persons to grades that are...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Penal Policy Review Group (31 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy is aware the Penal Policy Review Group was established in 2012, in line with the recommendations of the Thornton Hall Project Review Group. The terms of reference for the Group included an examination and analysis of the role of penal policy in crime prevention; sentencing policies; alternatives to custody; custodial accommodation and regimes; reintegration and rehabilitation;...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Penal Policy Review Group Report (31 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy is aware, the Penal Policy Review Group was established in 2012 in line with the recommendations of the Thornton Hall Project Review Group to conduct a wide ranging strategic review of penal policy taking into account relevant work already carried out in this jurisdiction and elsewhere, the rights of those convicted of crimes, the perspective of those who are victims of crime,...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 127 and 171 together. As the Programme for Government states, we support the expansion of Local Drug Taskforce projects and Garda Youth Diversion Programmes for young people promoting restorative justice, and other voluntary organisations that contribute to our young people’s future direction. The Deputy may be aware of the Report of the Penal...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Parole Boards (31 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: In September 2014 I published the report of the Penal Policy Review Group which was tasked with examining all aspects of penal policy including parole and other release mechanisms from prison. The Report contains 43 recommendations. As an initial step, the Government agreed in principle in November 2014 to proceed with the implementation of a number of key recommendations, including the...