Results 6,681-6,700 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Transport Provision (5 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. I am informed by Garda management that there are no plans at present to purchase command and control...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Transport Expenditure (5 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am informed by Garda management that the Office of Government Procurement is responsible for the awarding of the contract for the supply of fuel to the fleet of An Garda Síochána and that the current contract runs until 31 January 2017. I understand that the contract was put out to tender in 2013 and that the current Fuel Charge Card Framework Agreement began on 1 February 2014.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Station Refurbishment (5 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Office of Public Works (OPW) has the primary responsibility for the provision and maintenance of Garda accommodation and works closely with the Garda authorities in this regard. I am happy to inform the Deputy that the provision at Naas Garda Station of a new property and exhibit management storage facility was included in the Garda Station Building and Refurbishment Programme...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Home Repossession Rate (4 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 103 to 106, inclusive, together. The Deputies will be aware that, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service and I have no role in the matter. Section 4(3) of the 1998 Act provides that the Courts Service is independent in the performance of its functions, which includes the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Public Sector Pensions (4 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am informed that there is no record, in the Garda Pensions Administration section of the Department, of an application for an Article 15 pension in respect of this person. However, the eligibility of the person in this case for such a pension has been reviewed and it appears that she is not eligible for this particular pension. The Garda Pensions Administration section will shortly contact...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Commissions of Inquiry (4 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: As I have set out in responses to previous parliamentary questions in relation to this case, the disappearance of the person in question remains the subject of an ongoing Garda investigation and I am advised that the Garda Review Team is endeavouring to advance the investigation and that all avenues of investigation are being pursued in this regard. In these circumstances, it would not be...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (4 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by officials in the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that a 'join family' visa application from the person referred to by the Deputy was submitted to the INIS Visa Office in New Delhi on the 28/05/2015. Whilst a preliminary assessment of the application has been completed, the application referred to requires a more comprehensive examination....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Data (4 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: Section 28 of the Garda Síochána Act provides that the Garda Commissioner may enter into agreements with police services or law enforcement agencies outside the State, with the prior consent of the Government. These agreements may provide for co-operation between the parties, the exchange of information or such matters as the Commissioner thinks fit. My officials are pursuing...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: UN Conventions Ratification (4 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 112 and 114 together. I refer the Deputies to my reply to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 357 and 358 of 6 April 2016 setting out the position. Reply to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 357 and 358 of 6 April 2016. The Deputy is referring to OPCAT or Optional Protocol to the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Complaints Procedures (4 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The current prisoner complaints system was introduced in the Irish Prison Service in November 2012 based on a model recommended by the Inspector of Prisons who has independent oversight of the process. It was introduced in acknowledgment that prisoners must have access to a credible and robust system that deals with genuine complaints in an open, transparent, and independent way. The...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Operations (4 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Garda authorities that Operation Butler is an ongoing, intelligence-led Garda investigation concerning the importation and sale of stolen vehicles from the UK, primarily vans and commercial vehicles. The operation has involved coordinated searches in the Districts of Granard, Longford, Cavan and Tallaght. To date, 20 stolen vans/commercial vehicles and 1 stolen motor home...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: State Properties Data (4 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I wish to inform the Deputy that it has not been possible to provide the information requested in the time available. I will write to the Deputy directly when this information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Criminal Law (4 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The question of providing for an offence of membership of a criminal gang, in a manner similar to the approach taken in the Offences Against the State Acts with regard to membership of a proscribed organisation, has arisen from time to time. In this regard, it is important to understand the issues which arise in seeking to simply outlaw membership of a criminal gang in such a manner....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Recruitment (4 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of personnel among the Garda Regions, Divisions, and Districts. Garda management keep this distribution under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the best possible use is made of resources. I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that the overall...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Aid Service (4 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) Act 1962 provides that free legal aid may be granted in certain circumstances for the defence of persons of insufficient means in criminal proceedings. Under the 1962 Act, the courts, through the judiciary, are responsible for the granting of legal aid. An applicant must establish to the satisfaction of the court that their means are insufficient to enable...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Vetting Applications (4 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am informed by the Garda authorities that a vetting application in respect of the person referred to has been received by the Garda Central Vetting Unit. On processing the application the Garda Central Vetting Unit established that it was necessary to conduct further enquiries with external agencies which are still ongoing. Enquiries with external agencies are conducted for a multiplicity...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Resources (4 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will appreciate the deployment of the Garda personnel and resources is a matter for the Garda Commissioner. The balance between armed and unarmed members of the organisation, is of course, kept under review in the light of emerging challenges. In this regard, at the request of the Commissioner earlier this year, the Government moved decisively to strengthen the resources...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Anti-Social Behaviour (4 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: In the time available it has not been possible to obtain the information sought by the Deputy. I have sought a report from the Garda authorities and a reply will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as the report is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (4 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the person referred to by the Deputy will be eighteen years of age next July it will be open to her to apply for a certificate of naturalisation using the Form 8 application, which is the appropriate application form for a certificate of naturalisation by a person of full age. Section 15 of the Act provides that the Minister may, in her absolute discretion, grant an application for a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Gangland Killings (4 May 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy may be aware, the Taoiseach and I met recently with senior Garda management in relation to these serious matters, and were briefed on the significant progress being made in investigations into recent organised crime related murders in the Dublin region. The Deputy will appreciate that as these appalling crimes are the subject of ongoing Garda investigations it would not be...