Results 7,241-7,260 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (21 Jan 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: These amendments follow a review of the penalties for prostitution offences. The offences for which I am increasing the penalty in this amendment - organising prostitution, living on the earnings of prostitution and brothel-keeping - are central to the exploitation of vulnerable women and men who find themselves engaged in prostitution. Increasing the penalties to the maximum available for...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (21 Jan 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: It is important to put on the record that the provisions in the Bill which criminalise the purchase of sexual services have been very much informed by data and evidence. I have read around the issue and have met with those on different sides of this debate. I refer the Senators, and Senator Norris in particular, to the Oireachtas committee report on the matter to see the wide range of...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (21 Jan 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am quoting the research I have. Senator Norris quoted research.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (21 Jan 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: It is important. I am not sure how to describe what the Senator was quoting but I am quoting from the research that I have looked at and that has been made available to me. The ban on the purchase of sexual services has been an important instrument in preventing and combatting prostitution and human trafficking for sexual purposes.That is in two of the countries where this approach was...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (21 Jan 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: As has been said, section 34 regulates the disclosure of the content of third party counselling or therapy records in sexual offence trials. The disclosure of counselling or therapy records in the context of criminal proceedings, especially in relation to sexual violence, touches on a number of sensitive issues and a "balancing of rights", a phrase I will be using quite a bit in terms of...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (21 Jan 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: They were not moved.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (21 Jan 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: It is my intention, for the purpose of clarity and on foot of legal advice received, to rename the records falling within the scope of this section as "counselling records" rather than "relevant records," but otherwise to retain the existing definition of the records. The point of the definition is to ensure that any "counselling record" of which the prosecutor is aware and which the accused...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (21 Jan 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I understand that.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (21 Jan 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have referred it for further advice. I will return to the issue.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (21 Jan 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I totally agree.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (21 Jan 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: Amendment No. 42 clarifies the way in which the order takes effect and is notified to the person against whom it is made. Amendment No. 43 provides for the hearing of an application for a harassment order to take place in private.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (21 Jan 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I thank Senators for their contributions during the passage of this Bill. On the question raised by Senator van Turnhout on Committee Stage regarding section 15 and whether civil partners and co-habitants are included in the definition of "person in authority", civil partners and co-habitants would fall under subparagraph (d) of the definition, which provides for partners of a parent of a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Probation and Welfare Service (21 Jan 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The concerns raised in the correspondence sent to the Deputy have been brought to the attention of the Director of the Probation Service who has advised me in the matter. I am confident that the cooperative inter-agency response to the management and rehabilitation of offenders involving the Probation Service, Irish Prison Service, and the Garda Síochána working in collaboration...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (21 Jan 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of personnel, among the Garda Regions, Divisions, and Districts. Garda management keep 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. I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the number of Gardaí...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Tribunals of Inquiry Recommendations (21 Jan 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 92 and 93 together. As the Deputy will be aware, the respective reports of the Moriarty Tribunal and the Mahon Tribunal made a number of recommendations which related to the responsibilities of different Government Departments. In relation to my own remit, the Tribunals Bill is under review in my Department and, in this regard, I can assure the Deputy...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Taxi Regulations (21 Jan 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am informed by the Garda authorities that Carriage Office records indicate that no reports referencing the cloning of taxi plates were received for the period 1 January 2003 to 31 December 2006. The Deputy will appreciate that any person with information relating to any type of criminal offence should bring it to the attention of An Garda Síochána.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Recruitment (21 Jan 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that the next intake of Garda Síochána recruits to the Garda College has been provisionally scheduled for 11 April 2016. This Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the capacity to provide effective and visible policing throughout the country. A crucial element of the Government's strategy is ensuring...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Leave to Remain (21 Jan 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the additional material received in the past few days is currently under consideration and that they will be in contact the person concerned in the near future. Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to the INIS of my Department by e-mail using the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (21 Jan 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 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. The information for the 31 December 2011 and for the 30...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Spent Convictions Legislation (21 Jan 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I refer the Deputy to my response to Questions Nos. 272 and 281 of 19 January as set out as follows. I understand that the Spent Convictions Bill 2012 is scheduled to be re-committed to Committee Stage in the Dáil next week. A decision on scheduling the Bill for Report and Final Stages will be made by the Dáil at that juncture. Before the Bill could be enacted, a 2013 UK Court of...