Results 6,381-6,400 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Reserve (24 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will appreciate, the recruitment and training of the Garda Reserve is a matter for the Garda Commissioner and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that, as of the 31 March 2016, the strength of the Garda Reserve stood at 908 with 18 reserves in training. Applications to become a member of the Garda Reserve can currently be...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Vetting of Personnel (24 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Acts 2012-2016 which commenced on 29 April 2016 provides a statutory basis for the vetting of persons carrying out relevant work with children or vulnerable persons. The National Vetting Bureau of the Garda Síochána (formerly the Garda Central Vetting Unit) conducts Garda vetting on behalf of registered...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (24 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Programme for Government acknowledges that long durations in direct provision have a negative impact on family life. The new Government, as set out in our Programme for a Partnership Government, is “committed to reforming the Direct Provision system, with particular focus on families and children”. As outlined in my response to Parliamentary Question 38 of 17th May, the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Stations (24 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will appreciate that the Garda Commissioner is primarily responsible for the effective and efficient use of the resources available to her, including the formulation of proposals in relation to the opening and closing of Garda Stations, and I, as Minister, have no direct role in this matter. The Programme for a Partnership Government recognises that community policing is the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Vetting Applications (24 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am informed by the Garda Authorities that a Data Protection Access Request in respect of the person referred to was received by the National Vetting Bureau. On 19 May 2016 the application was processed and returned to the individual concerned.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (24 May 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 so as to ensure optimal use is made of Garda human...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Training (24 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution and training of personnel among the Garda Regions, Divisions, and Districts, the various Garda national units and of course Garda Headquarters. Garda management keep this distribution under continuing review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the best possible use...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Transport Data (24 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will appreciate, decisions in relation to the provision and allocation of Garda vehicles are a matter for the Garda Commissioner in the light of her identified operational demands and the availability of resources and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. The detailed information requested by the Deputy is not readily available and its compilation would necessitate...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Juvenile Offenders (24 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Annual Reports of the Committee appointed to monitor the effectiveness of the Diversion Programme provide an overview of youth crime in the particular year in question. As such, the reports include details of, inter alia, the number of incidents and individual children and young people referred to the Diversion Programme and the outcomes of such referrals. The reports also include...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (24 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 Districts and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. Garda management keeps this distribution of resources under continual review. I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the information requested is not...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Remuneration (24 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will be aware that, following a review of all allowances in the public service during 2011 and 2012, the Government decided on 18 September 2012 that rent allowance for all new public servants including Gardaí should be abolished. The rent allowance costs €4,600 per officer per annum (inclusive of Employer's PRSI). The Garda Commissioner, who is the Accounting Officer...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Remuneration (24 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am committed to the completion of the review of An Garda Síochána under the Haddington Road Agreement as soon as possible. With that aim in mind my officials are consulting with the Garda representatives bodies in relation to how the review can be progressed in view of the recent resignation of the Chairperson. The Garda Representative Association (GRA) and the Association of...

Order of Business (19 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The point Deputy Burton makes regarding the availability of credit to families is a critical one. I reiterate the strong support for the scheme that the Deputy initiated under the Department of Social Protection. That now will need to be evaluated with a view to extension. There is a strong commitment in the programme for Government to credit unions. The Minister for Finance met...

Order of Business (19 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I suggest that a parliamentary question would be appropriate in order to deal with the specific points Deputy raised in his first question. I am sure the Minister will respond to it. On the second issue, there is an industrial relations mechanism in place in regard to the situation at the Luas. There is a strong commitment in the programme for Government to supporting the work of the...

Order of Business (19 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I thank the Deputies. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan will be familiar with this legislation. Of course, she will be aware that there were objections within the House regarding certain aspects of the Bill when she was trying to steer it through, and it reached Report Stage. What the Minister intends to do now, before taking the decision that was asked, is to meet the stakeholders to have further...

Order of Business (19 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: In regard to the Shannon, Deputy Troy will be aware of the work that was done by the previous Government in bringing all of the relevant stakeholders together in a forum. It is the first time that has been done effectively. It will be a question for the new Minister to consider whether there needs to be a statutory basis to that authority.

Order of Business (19 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: Not at this point. The focus, as the Deputy will be aware, has been on bringing the stakeholders together to ensure that the many different agencies involved are working in a co-ordinated, consistent way. That had not been done at a high level previously. This was an initiative that was taken by then Minister of State, Deputy Harris, at that time. It was very much welcomed by all the...

Order of Business (19 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: Regarding the public pay commission, there is a commitment in the programme for Government to establish a pay commission. My colleague the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform is giving consideration to how to give effect to that commitment and what the necessary steps are, including consultation with the relevant stakeholders, which has begun already. There is also a commitment in...

Order of Business (19 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I said yesterday that I had no doubt that the Garda Commissioner, where feasible and legal for her to put further information in the public arena, would do so, and that remains my position. I fully support the Commissioner in the difficult job she is doing and I am confident that our discussions will help as much as possible to address the concerns which have been raised, consistent with the...

Order of Business (19 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: Of course.