Results 6,661-6,680 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

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

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of personnel among the Garda Regions, Divisions, and Districts. Garda management keeps this distribution under continuing review taking into account crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the best possible use is made of these resources and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that figures in relation to the number of prisoners currently on temporary release are published on their website www.irishprisons.ie on a daily basis. As advised to the Deputy on 21st April, 2016 in my written response No. 44, the Irish Prison Service do not collate information related to re-incarceration in the format requested by the Deputy.

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: Deportation Orders Data (17 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I wish to inform the Deputy that a Deportation Order requires a person to remove themselves from the State and it is only where they fail to do so that the State is forced to remove them and enforce the rule of law. The process leading to deportation is extensive with many avenues of appeal, including judicial review in the High Court, open to persons subject to Deportation Orders. In...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: The Government is focused on maintaining and enhancing public confidence in policing in Ireland, while continuing to support the men and women of An Garda Síochána in their day-to-day work of keeping our communities and country safe. This means firstly overseeing continued reform of the accountability and oversight of policing in Ireland; and secondly delivering on a programme of...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will be aware the Central Statistics Office (CSO), as the national statistical agency, is responsible for the publication of recorded crime statistics. To be of assistance, I have requested the CSO to contact the Deputy directly in relation to the information requested. I am advised that Garda management constantly monitor the distribution of policing resources in the light of...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the deployment of personnel and resources within An Garda Síochána. All incidents where persons have been reported missing remain under investigation until such time as the person is located and I am informed that the Garda authorities are satisfied that adequate resources are in place in relation to the...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will be aware, the provision and allocation of Garda resources is a matter for the Garda Commissioner in the light of identified operational demands. In this regard I am informed that the Serious Crime Review Team (SCRT) continues to review serious cases that remain unsolved and continues to identify evidence and witnesses to assist in the development of these cases. The...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Rehabilitation Programmes (17 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that it provides a wide range of rehabilitative programmes to persons in custody that include education, vocational training, healthcare, psychiatric, psychological, counselling, welfare and spiritual services. These programmes offer purposeful activity to those in custody while serving their sentences and encouraging them to lead law abiding lives on...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Spent Convictions Legislation (17 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The 7 year waiting period before convictions, including convictions for driving offences, can become spent was adopted in the Criminal Justice (Spent Convictions and Certain Disclosures) Act 2016 taking account of a number of factors. Not least of these in the case of driving offences are the provisions of the Road Traffic Acts. The 7 year period takes account of the mandatory driving...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy is aware, a second National Action Plan to Prevent and Combat Human Trafficking In Ireland, setting out Ireland's anti human trafficking strategy for the coming years, has been drafted. The Plan was developed in cooperation and consultation with our national and international partners and has regard to our commitments under international instruments and developments at European...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy is aware, a second National Action Plan to Prevent and Combat Human Trafficking In Ireland, setting out Ireland's anti human trafficking strategy for the coming years, has been drafted. The Plan was developed in cooperation and consultation with our national and international partners and has regard to our commitments under international instruments and developments at European...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of personnel, among the Garda Regions, Divisions, and Districts. Garda management keeps this distribution under continuing review taking into account crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the best possible use is made of these resources. Appointments to the ranks of sergeant and...

Appointment of Taoiseach and Nomination of Members of Government: Motion (6 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: What a refreshing speech we heard from Deputy Eamon Ryan, who noted how important it is even occasionally to comment on what is going well. If we could do that even occasionally in this House we would be able to think more clearly and find better solutions to the many problems out there. I believe the people watching today, the citizens, would welcome it, because there are things that are...

Crime: Statements (5 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I very much welcome the opportunity this debate provides to discuss the measures we have taken to tackle crime in all its forms and to consider how to improve our strategies to protect and support communities throughout the country. Crime creates victims, and even for someone who is not the victim, crime can be disturbing. It can be frightening when a house on one's road is burgled or a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Court Accommodation Refurbishment (5 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 enquiries made and I am informed that after the completion of the seven...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (5 May 2016)

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

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Refugee Status Applications (5 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The International Protection Act was signed into law on 30th December 2015. It provides for a single application procedure which will streamline and significantly speed up the processing of protection applications in Ireland. The commencement of the Act involves significant preparation work across a wide range of activities and the provision of staff resources for processing cases on...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (5 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that in general terms, anyone who held an existing right of residency in the State, for example, on Stamp 1 terms (work permit), Stamp 2 (student permission) or Stamp 3 (spouse or dependant) and who wished to have their immigration status upgraded, in accordance with the judgment was directed by INIS to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Civil Legal Aid (5 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy may be aware, on 22nd January 2016 the Government announced a scheme to help persons who are insolvent and in mortgage arrears on their home, to access independent financial and legal advice. This scheme is being co-ordinated by my Department, in conjunction with the Department of Social Protection, and with the involvement of agencies including the Insolvency Service of...