Results 6,441-6,460 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Order of Business (18 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: It was never on the Order Paper, so it is entirely appropriate for her to ask for an extension if she so sought it.

Order of Business (18 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The health information and safety legislation is being drafted. I made the point yesterday that given that the Government is only in place for a short period, there will be discussions between each Department and each Minister with the Taoiseach in the coming week to discuss the priority legislation and that will then be shared and discussed in the House. The priorities from each of the...

Order of Business (18 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: On the Deputy's question about the arts, I want to reiterate the central role of the arts and the fact the Government remains fully committed to supporting the arts, culture and heritage sectors. I agree entirely with what she has to say about the contribution of the arts to our economy and to our international reputation. The reconfiguration of the Department of the arts and the wider...

Order of Business (18 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Chief Whip has informed me that the election of Leas-Cheann Comhairle was never on the Order Paper for this week and that the timeline has been extended.

Order of Business (18 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: Deputy Micheál Martin raised the issue of waiting lists. In the programme for Government there is a very strong commitment to making a sustained effort to improve waiting times for patients, with a particular focus on those who have been waiting the longest. The Deputy mentioned the National Treatment Purchase Fund, in which he has a particular interest. There is a commitment to...

Order of Business (18 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: That is of no consolation to the individual who needs a particular operation. Having improved waiting times for scheduled or planned care for patients is a priority. Action was taken by the former Minister, Deputy Leo Varadkar, to deal with the matter. Among the initiatives taken by him were the provisiln of an extra €51 million in 2015 to reduce maximum waiting times. It was an...

Leaders' Questions (18 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I want to make the point - it is worth the House reflecting on this - that when one is giving instructions or having discussions with lawyers, a litigant will say various things in regard to those instructions. They are within the privilege of that relationship and that discussion. That is clearly understood. It is a basic tenet of justice. I stated also that it is imprudent and a...

Leaders' Questions (18 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: Perhaps Deputy Martin does.

Leaders' Questions (18 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I want to make this point-----

Leaders' Questions (18 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: -----that it must be borne in mind at all times that the judge reached his conclusions and published-----

Leaders' Questions (18 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: He published his report having heard all of the evidence. The strategy the Deputy suggests runs the risk of circumventing the Commissions of Investigation Act 2004. As I have said, I have no knowledge of the transcripts, whether they are selective or not, and whether they present a true, fair and reasonable account of what happened at the commission of investigation proceedings. I...

Leaders' Questions (18 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I cannot do that because there was a full hearing over a long period where all of the evidence was heard-----

Leaders' Questions (18 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: -----but having said what I have said in regard to those issues, of course the Commissioner will want to clarify as much as she can, as I will based on the information I have at any given point, to reassure the House that whistleblowers are now dealt with properly. The former Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Howlin, brought forward the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 which...

Leaders' Questions (18 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I will conclude by saying this. I have discussed with the Garda Commissioner how whistleblowers are dealt with in An Garda Síochána now. I have repeatedly discussed that with her and I have been reassured that the legislation is being fully implemented and that there are a range of appropriate supports. At another time I can put on record the supports that were made available to...

Leaders' Questions (18 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: Of course I will share as far as possible what I can in regard to the question Deputy Burton has asked, but let me make this point. Deputy Burton is incorrect to say that full information is in the public domain. It is not in the public domain. There is some information, based on illegal action. The Deputy is asking me to comment on what has been an illegal act that has produced these...

Order of Business (18 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: It is proposed to take No. 8, statements on the Irish language and No. 2, Adoption (Amendment) Bill 2016 - Second Stage (Resumed). It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that the proceedings in relation to No. 8 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after three hours and the following arrangements shall apply: the statement of a Minister or...

Leaders' Questions (18 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: -----and that is what we should be debating here and what needs discussion. We have a relatively new Commissioner who was recruited by open competition and who is dealing with many complex criminal justice issues every day of the week, including the gangland crime that has erupted in recent times, and we should give her our support to continue the important work that she is doing.

Leaders' Questions (18 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am very aware of my duties to this House. Let me remind Deputy Adams and this House that the reason we have a commission of investigation is that a range of allegations, statements, etc., were made about a range of issues because of what I would call the pioneering work that Sergeant McCabe did. Let us also remind ourselves, however, that a commission of investigation has interviewed all...

Leaders' Questions (18 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: It is therefore very important that we do not try to reinvent the wheel regarding some of the issues that were dealt with very thoroughly by the commission of investigation. As I have said, it found what it found regarding Sergeant McCabe, which I put into the record this morning. It found, for example, that there was no evidence of corruption against the former Commissioner or the five...

Leaders' Questions (18 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: Let me make the point-----