Results 7,001-7,020 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Spent Convictions and Certain Disclosures) Bill 2012: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (3 Feb 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: These are minor drafting amendments required to make provision for the Bill to amend the Betting Act 2012 and to harmonise the wording of the Bill with that of the Act. I also propose to make a very minor amendment to the section of the Garda Síochána Act related to vetting.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Spent Convictions and Certain Disclosures) Bill 2012: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (3 Feb 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: These are minor drafting amendments which move to an earlier point of the Bill the sections defining the Minister and providing for expenses.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Spent Convictions and Certain Disclosures) Bill 2012: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (3 Feb 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: These are minor drafting amendments. In order to have an orderly structure in the Bill, we are creating three parts of the Bill - Preliminary and General, Spent Convictions and Amendments of Act of 2012. Throughout the Bill, therefore, we have to amend various references to the Act and substitute the word "Part".

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Spent Convictions and Certain Disclosures) Bill 2012: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (3 Feb 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The amendments under sections 11, 16, 17, 18, 54, 62 and 67 are the most substantive amendments being made to the Bill. In March 2015, I advised the Seanad that I intended bringing amendments to both the Criminal Justice (Spent Convictions) Bill 2012 and the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012. We needed to amend both of these because of a UK Court of Appeal...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Spent Convictions and Certain Disclosures) Bill 2012: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (3 Feb 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I listened to the tributes being paid earlier and I take this opportunity to thank all Senators for their constructive engagement on all of the legislation that has come before them, particularly their constructive engagement with me during my time as Minister for Children and Minister for Justice and Equality. I thank them and also thank the leaders, the Cathaoirleach and the...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Spent Convictions and Certain Disclosures) Bill 2012: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (3 Feb 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I thank Senators. Senator Bacik mentioned the officials; Mr. David Brennan, who is with me today, has worked on this legislation for eight years. There is much unseen work that goes on in Departments in the preparation of legislation. Ms Mary O'Sullivan has joined Mr. Brennan in more recent years. It has been a long passage for this legislation, so I thank Senators for making sure it will...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Parole Boards (3 Feb 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: In September 2014 I published the report of the Penal Policy Review Group which was tasked with carrying out a strategic review of penal policy. As an initial step, the Government agreed in principle in November 2014 to proceed with the implementation of a number of key recommendations, including the bringing forward of legislative proposals to establish the Parole Board on a statutory...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service Data (3 Feb 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the information sought by the Deputy will be available very shortly and in that regard I will write to the Deputy directly on the matter.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Levels (3 Feb 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am of course very conscious of the impact of crime on communities and An Garda Síochána treat all incidents of crime extremely seriously. In this regard Gardai engage extensively with the community in Tallaght and elsewhere in a range of fora to take on board and respond to local community safety concerns. It should be noted that the Recorded Crime Statistics published by the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Station Refurbishment (2 Feb 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The programme of replacement and refurbishment of Garda accommodation is progressed by the Garda Authorities working in close cooperation with the Office of Public Works (OPW), which has the responsibility for the provision and maintenance of Garda accommodation. I am advised by the Garda Commissioner that significant refurbishment work was carried out to the public office, and a new cell...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (2 Feb 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the application referred to by the Deputy is currently under consideration, and officials will be in contact with the applicant and sponsor as soon as a decision is made. The Deputy may wish to note that queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Language Schools (2 Feb 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: In May 2015 the Government announced significant reforms of the international education sector and student immigration. A key element was the implementation of the Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP) to replace the International Register on a phased basis. The first phase was completed in June 2015 and the second iteration of the ILEP was delivered on the targeted date of 20 January...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Travel Documents (2 Feb 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Irish Naturalisation & Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department advises me that, in exceptional cases, an application for Irish temporary travel document may be considered in respect of qualifying non-Irish nationals who are resident in Ireland. In all such cases, INIS must be satisfied that there is no alternative open to the applicant before an Irish temporary travel...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (2 Feb 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that, in response to a notification pursuant to the provisions of Section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended), written representations have been submitted on behalf of the person concerned. These representations, together with all other information and documentation on file, will be fully...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Coroners Service (2 Feb 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: This particular case had come to my Department's notice due to questions raised regarding the legislation dealing with the registration of deathsin utero. The Coroners' functions regarding issue of death certificates is covered by the Civil Registration Act 2004 which falls under the remit of the Department of Social Protection. It is important to note that a Coroner is a statutory officer...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Commencement of Legislation (2 Feb 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am pleased to confirm to the Deputy that I signed the Bankruptcy (Amendment) Act 2015 (Commencement) Order 2016 on 25 January 2016, which commenced most of the provisions of the Act on 29 January. The only provisions not commenced under the Order are those dealing with the abolition of the requirement for a 'statutory sitting' of the High Court in bankruptcy cases (sections 3, 4, 5, 13...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Fines Data (2 Feb 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 267 and 268 together. As the Deputy will be aware, I commenced the Fines (Payment and Recovery) Act 2014 on 11 January 2016. The Act provides an appropriate response to the problems of the refusal or failure of some people to pay fines and the inappropriateness of imprisonment as the automatic response where this happens. Imprisonment will only apply as...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Transport Data (2 Feb 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: Over the life time of the Government Capital Plan 2016-2021, some €46 million will be allocated for the purchase of new Garda vehicles. Of this €6 million, is allocated to 2016. As the Deputy will be aware, decisions in relation to the provision and allocation of Garda vehicles are matters for the Garda Commissioner in the light of her identified operational demands and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Expenditure (2 Feb 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: Under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of available Garda resources including personnel, the fleet and the various technologies utilised to support front-line Gardaí and intelligence-led operations against crime. This process takes account of annual policing priorities determined by the Garda Commissioner in conjunction...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Closed Circuit Television Systems (2 Feb 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: Garda CCTV systems are planned and implemented on the basis of the identified operational needs and priorities of An Garda Síochána. In that context I am informed by the Garda Authorities that the estimated cost for an additional 30 cameras in Dublin City Centre is approximately €500,000 including VAT. The exact costs could only be established on foot of a competitive...