Results 6,501-6,520 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Leaders' Questions (17 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy is aware, a report was published two weeks ago relating to the issues that she has raised. The whole country saw what happened to the Clerys workers and was concerned about it. That report has identified changes that could be made to the law. It will be considered under the Government's legislative programme. The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation is assessing the...

Leaders' Questions (17 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: This issue is currently being examined following the publication of the report that Deputy Burton cited. Clearly, if legislation is required to give the kinds of protection required by situations such as that at Clerys, it will be considered by the Government and will be-----

Leaders' Questions (17 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: That does not exclude it from being considered. The report will be examined. If legislation is required, it can be introduced.

Appointment of Ministers and Ministers of State (17 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I wish to announce for the information of the Dáil that the Taoiseach having informed the President that Dáil Éireann had approved his nomination of Deputies to be members of the Government, the President on 6 May 2016 appointed them accordingly. On the same day, the Taoiseach nominated me to be Tánaiste and assigned me to the Department of Justice and Equality. On the...

Leaders' Questions (17 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: Obviously, we will have a debate in the House on the commission of investigation. It is important that we look at all the details. What Deputy Martin has said in relation to the commission of inquiry is not what Mr. Justice O'Higgins said about the hearings and the way they were conducted. He said that they were inquisitorial and not adversarial and that is from the judge himself. He went...

Leaders' Questions (17 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I want it to be clear that in publishing the report, I followed through on the legal steps it was necessary to take once I had received it. First, the report had to be seen by the Attorney General and it then had to be sent to a number of bodies to ensure that no criminal prosecutions would be interfered with or compromised by its publication. The report had to go to GSOC, the Director of...

Leaders' Questions (17 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I want to acknowledge the role that Deputy Martin himself played in highlighting the issues in relation to the victims whose cases were investigated in the O'Higgins report. I want to reiterate the point I made when publishing the report that we should not lose sight of the central fact that at the heart of this report are the victims who were let down. The Deputy made that point himself....

Leaders' Questions (17 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: If I may, I would like to make one or two further points. Justice O'Higgins acknowledged the co-operation he received from all persons. They were not adversarial hearings. They were inquisitorial. He made the point that every legal team that responded did so in that way. They were generally followed. He did not make any adverse findings as to any aberrations by counsel when they...

Other Questions: Garda Station Closures (17 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The operation which was put in place is the way to deal with these issues. Operation Thor is continuing. Increasing Garda resources with respect to recruitment and investment in Garda vehicles is essential. That is the way to deal with these issues. The very large budget which was in place was further increased by €67 million and I would hope that this would continue.

Other Questions: Garda Station Closures (17 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The first point I would make in response to Deputy Cahill's question is that the programme for Government contains a commitment to community policing. I recognise the importance of seeing community policing as the embodiment of the work of An Garda Síochána. At its best, community policing recognises the different challenges in urban and rural areas and the responses that are...

Other Questions: Garda Station Closures (17 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I remind the Deputy of the success of Operation Thor. This targeted police operation dealt with burglary issues that had arisen in urban and rural areas. Having regard to its success, that is the direction in which we need to continue with a targeted operation with mobile patrols and liaison locally working with communities. We saw a very significant reduction in burglaries in the last...

Other Questions: Gangland Crime (17 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I reject the Deputy's analysis of resources. If anything, the previous Government has been keenly aware of the need to invest resources, as they became available, in the Garda Síochána. During the period of economic difficulty, investment in the Garda Síochána was stopped for a period and this has had an effect. The figures available on gangland crime suggest the Garda...

Other Questions: Gangland Crime (17 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: This type of crime has an international dimension. There is very detailed exchange of information with police colleagues in various countries, including Spain, the Netherlands and Belgium. A number of high-profile criminal trials have taken place in those countries. Prison sentences have been served by Irish criminals who have been charged in those jurisdictions. I assure the Deputy that...

Other Questions: Garda Data (17 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: Deputy Browne makes a case for Wexford. There are many other Deputies who will equally make a case for other parts of the country. The Garda Commissioner has to consider a wide variety of factors when she is making that decision. The point Deputy Browne raises about the mobility of burglary gangs or others intent on criminal activity is an important one regarding the road network....

Other Questions: Gangland Crime (17 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I made comments regarding this in reply to an earlier question. The Programme for a Partnership Government prioritises a significant programme of investment in An Garda Síochána. I will not repeat all that I stated already but I will highlight again the recruitment and investment in resources, for instance, in ICT, that is now possible. At the end of last year, funding was...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Drugs Strategy (17 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can only agree with the Deputy on the importance of rehabilitation facilities and their being available at the point at which the addict is ready to make use of them. It is very problematic when there are waiting lists in this regard. We need to continue to invest in drug rehabilitation services. Of that there is no doubt. Regarding the Deputy's question about the legal approach to...

Other Questions: Garda Data (17 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: In the first instance, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of personnel among the Garda regions, divisions and districts. It must be kept under continuous review. The Garda Inspectorate has made the point again and again that the allocation of gardaí around the country cannot be based on an historic situation but must be a response to current trends, population...

Other Questions: Garda Data (17 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: That is purely an operational decision in which I do not have a role. I do not interfere in any way in operational decisions by An Garda Síochána; it is a decision for Garda management and the Commissioner. However, the best chance of having further gardaí assigned around the country is to deal with the issues Deputy Niall Collins has raised about civilianisation and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Drugs Strategy (17 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: Significant national and international debates are taking place on the question of decriminalisation and I have no doubt these will form part of preparing the new drugs strategy. The Taoiseach will shortly meet all of the Ministers to identify priorities in the legislative programme and the programme for Government and produce the lists. In the context of Dáil reform, this will be...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Strength (17 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: 3 o’clock With the numbers of trainee gardaí who are to be attested this year, the force will come to approximately 13,000. I agree with the Deputy that, in order to reach 15,000 in a timely way, we will need to accelerate the intake. Obviously, I will be having discussions with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in that regard. Perhaps by September we will be...