Results 6,641-6,660 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Programme (17 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The position is that the Mediation Bill is currently being drafted in the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel. It will introduce an obligation on solicitors and barristers to advise any person intending to commence legal proceedings to give consideration to using mediation as an alternative means of resolving disputes. It is intended that this will help to reduce recourse to the courts, as...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Gangland Crime (17 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy is aware, the Taoiseach and I recently met with senior Garda management and were briefed on the significant progress being made in investigations into recent gang-related murders in the Dublin region. As these appalling crimes are the subject of ongoing Garda investigations it would not be appropriate for me to make any more detailed comment at this time. There are very real...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Miscarriages of Justice (17 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 128 and 129 together. The Deputy will be aware that this case relates to an offence that was committed over 40 years ago. The events in question culminated in a pardon for a particular individual in 1992. I am not aware of any matter of public interest which would necessitate reopening these matters. Furthermore the specific information sought by the Deputy...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Community Policing (17 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 130 and 157 together. At the outset I might point out that the Programme for Government underlines the need for close engagement between An Garda Síochána and local communities as part of the strong Community Policing ethos which is already an essential part of the Garda approach to policing. Deputies will appreciate that the planning and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Misuse of Drugs (17 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The problem of drug misuse remains one of the most complex social problems that we face, bringing with it an array of social and economic issues. While the underlying causes of drug misuse can be many and are not confined to any social class undoubtedly there are strong links with poverty and issues of social inclusion. As highlighted by the Deputy, a feature of drug markets which...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Bail Law (17 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: Under the Programme for a Partnership Government, a new Bail Bill is being drafted on a priority basis to provide for stricter bail terms for repeat serious offenders and to strengthen Garda powers to deal with breaches of bail. As well as the bail conditions that a court can currently impose, the Bail Bill will provide that a court can require an accused person not to have contact with...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Services Regulation (17 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Criminal Legal Aid Review Committee reported in 1999 on the feasibility of introducing a Public Defender System for Ireland. The conclusion at that time was that the existing private practitioner system should be continued as it is a more equitable, effective and economic system than a Public Defender System. In the Programme for a Partnership Government there is a commitment to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (17 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Report of the Working Group on Improvements to the Protection Process, including Direct Provision and Supports to Asylum Seekers, has implications for a number of Government Departments and services. The 173 recommendations in the Report were taken forward by the Cabinet Committee on Social Policy and Public Service Reform. To date, some 90 of the recommendations have been fully...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Appointments to State Boards (17 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Programme for Government states that in November 2014, a new system for appointments to state boards, including an independent, centralised application and short-listing process run by the Public Appointments Service was introduced. In the first year of operation, over 4,200 applications were submitted. Under this system, in making board appointments, ministers can only appoint...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Station Closures (17 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will be aware, during 2011 and 2012, An Garda Síochána completed a comprehensive review of its district and station network. The objective of this review was to identify opportunities to introduce strategic reforms to enhance service delivery, increase efficiency and streamline practices within the organisation. The review concluded that a revised district and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Station Refurbishment (17 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will appreciate, the Office of Public Works has the primary responsibility for the provision and maintenance of Garda accommodation and works closely with the Garda authorities in this regard. I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities and I will be in contact with the Deputy when this information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Training (17 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The information sought by the Deputy has been requested from the Garda Commissioner and I will be in contact with the Deputy when the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Programme (17 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy may be aware, the Harmful and Malicious Electronic Communications Bill 2015 was debated in the Seanad last July. At that time I referred to the work of the Law Reform Commission (LRC) which is currently carrying out a project on Cybercrime affecting personal safety, privacy and reputation, including cyberbullying.In November 2014 the LRC published an Issues Paper and sought the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (17 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the processing of the application for a certificate of naturalisation on behalf of the person referred to by the Deputy is ongoing. A letter issued to the parents of the person concerned on 5 May 2016 requesting additional information. Upon receipt of the requested information, or in the event that...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (17 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I wish to inform the Deputy that persons who have already been granted permission prior to the publication last year of the financial thresholds are not affected and their permissions can be renewed on the same terms as before provided they continue to comply with the terms of their permission and remain law abiding. For persons who have not yet received permission and who were in the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (17 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that there has been an exponential increase since the second quarter of 2015 in the number of visa applications from 'qualifying' and 'permitted' family members of EU citizens who wish to travel to Ireland under the terms of 2004/38/EC Directive on the rights of citizens of the Union and their family...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Station Closures (17 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: 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 in every community, including the most minimal...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (17 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that an application was received from the person referred to by the Deputy on the 12/01/2015. This application was refused on the 06/03/2015 and the original decision was upheld on appeal. An appeal refusal letter was issued to the applicant on the 21/04/2015. It is of course open to the applicant to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Services Regulation (17 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Companies Act 2014, which is the responsibility of my colleague the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, entered into force on 1 June 2015 and has updated and codified company law in this jurisdiction; it continues to provide a range of possible remedies for debenture holders and lending institutions in the event of a borrower encountering financial difficulties. These include...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Resources (17 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 146, 148 and 149 together. The Programme for a Partnership Government prioritises a significant programme of investment in An Garda Síochána with an overarching goal of continuing the accelerated recruitment programme with a view to increasing Garda numbers to 15,000, to double the Garda Reserve and to increase further civilianisation to free up...