Results 7,481-7,500 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Data (17 Dec 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of personnel, including community Gardaí, 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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Dublin-Monaghan Bombings (17 Dec 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The troubles on this island brought with them a tragic human cost in terms of the lives lost, the people injured and the families bereaved by the many acts of violence, such as the bombings in Dublin and Monaghan. Mr. Justice Henry Barron carried out a detailed independent inquiry into those awful events and other atrocities that took place between 1972 and 1976 in which so many innocent...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Misconduct Allegations (17 Dec 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The particular case to which the Deputy refers is amongst those considered under the mechanism established for the independent review of certain allegations of Garda misconduct, or inadequacies in the investigation of certain allegations, which have been made to me as Minister for Justice and Equality, or the Taoiseach with a view to determining to what extent and in what manner further...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Reunification Applications (17 Dec 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the position on such applications is set out in the Policy Document on Non-EEA Family Reunification published by my predecessor on 31 December 2013. In general, the sponsor must be in a position to support family members wishing to reside in Ireland without undue reliance on benefits from the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Discipline (17 Dec 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 374 to 389, inclusive, together. I am advised that the Irish Prison Service do not record assaults by age or gender category, and to collate this would require a manual examination of each record. Such an examination would require a disproportionate and inordinate amount of staff time and effort, that could not be justified where there are other significant...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Living Wage (17 Dec 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can inform the Deputy that based on current staffing figures, the additional annual salary cost to my Department of implementing a living wage of €11.50 per hour is estimated to be €592,301 for 171 staff. These figures include bodies under the aegis of my Department with the exception of An Garda Síochána. I have asked An Garda Síochána to provide the...

Seanad: Garda Síochána (Policing Authority and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2015: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (16 Dec 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I thank the House for facilitating the debate this morning. The purpose of the first amendment is to impose a statutory timeline on the Garda Commissioner for the provision by the Commissioner to the authority of the Garda strategy statement. Essentially, once we set up the new policing authority on 1 January, the Commissioner will be obliged to present the strategy statement to the...

Seanad: Garda Síochána (Policing Authority and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2015: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (16 Dec 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: Amendment No. 3, which involves the insertion of a new subparagraph, takes into account what a number of Opposition Deputies and Senators were seeking, namely, that there should be a provision which makes explicit the authority's function to keep under review the adequacy of the arrangements for managing and deploying the resources available to An Garda Síochána so as to ensure the...

Seanad: Garda Síochána (Policing Authority and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2015: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (16 Dec 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: This issue was addressed in the Garda Inspectorate report. There was a great deal of consultation before the new roster scheme came into operation. Obviously, as more gardaí are recruited - and we have ongoing and continuous recruitment - some of the issues the Senator raises will be addressed. The Garda roster scheme is being considered under Haddington Road by Mr. Ray McGee....

Seanad: Garda Síochána (Policing Authority and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2015: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (16 Dec 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: Amendments Nos. 4 and 5 are straightforward. They relate to a proposal to request the authority to submit to the Minister a report on any matter relating to policing services. The authority is required to submit that report as soon as it is in a position to do so. This is to ensure that there is an option for the Minister of the day to request a report on a particular topic from the Garda...

Seanad: Garda Síochána (Policing Authority and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2015: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (16 Dec 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: With regard to Senator Mooney's point about Garda morale, the Garda Inspectorate held its focus groups with members of the Garda Síochána approximately two years ago. Given that the Government is managing the economy effectively, we are able to invest in ongoing Garda recruitment. We have 1,150 new gardaí and have allocated an investment of several hundred million euro for...

Seanad: Garda Síochána (Policing Authority and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2015: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (16 Dec 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The purpose of the amendments is to enable the authority or the Minister to refer matters to GSOC for consideration as to whether GSOC should initiate a public interest investigation under section 102(4). This is an important provision.

Seanad: Prison Bill 2015: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (16 Dec 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: Regarding group 1, amendments Nos. 1 and 3, there was a court case earlier this year, NBO v.the Minister for Justice and Equality, during which the High Court considered the temporary release of a person who was subject to a deportation order and was deported immediately after being granted temporary release.The High Court decided that the temporary release provision does not permit the...

Seanad: Prison Bill 2015: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (16 Dec 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I assure Senator Ó Clochartaigh that the amendment will not affect the operation of existing procedures under immigration legislation, for example, where a person wishes to appeal or seek a review of a deportation order. It is not intended in any way to cut across the person's rights. If they are in prison or seeking an appeal or review, that process has to be completed. It is not a...

Seanad: Prison Bill 2015: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (16 Dec 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: A serious terrorist threat faces Europe and some countries are under severe threat from terrorists. While we in Ireland know that an attack is possible, we do not consider it to be likely. Having said that, we have to be very rigorous in our monitoring of the situation and of anybody who might raise concerns. I assure the Senator that An Garda Síochána, which acts as the security...

Seanad: Prison Bill 2015: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (16 Dec 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: Of the second group of amendments, amendment No. 2 is a technical amendment relating to warrants issued by courts in Dublin for the committal of persons to prison. It arises from an issue that has emerged in very recent High Court proceedings. Outside of the Dublin district, warrants are addressed to An Garda Síochána in accordance with very old legislation. However, the District...

Seanad: Prison Bill 2015: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (16 Dec 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Bill before the House is a straightforward effort to deal with the case of Grant v.the Governor of Cloverhill Prison. It is right to introduce this amendment to ensure that the arrangements are clear for Dublin and that it is permitted in the District Court rules. Regarding the broader point that Members have made, the Government introduced legislation on the payment of fines, which was...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Burglary of Dwellings) Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Dec 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Bill was developed following detailed consultation with Garda management and with the detectives working on the ground to tackle burglary every day. It addresses two key problems they identified, namely, the relative ease with which repeat offenders can obtain bail and the fact relatively short sentences can be imposed by the courts when multiple burglary offences are taken into account....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Northern Ireland Issues (16 Dec 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Fresh Start Agreement was established between the Northern Ireland Executive and the Irish and British Governments in November 2015. The Agreement addresses a range of measures relating to the devolved institutions in Northern Ireland. The new agreement also includes Justice related provisions for a new Joint Agency Task Force, led by police and revenue services, to bring together...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Commissions of Inquiry (16 Dec 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 97 to 104, inclusive, together. The bombing at Crowe Street in Dundalk on 19 December 1975 was a brutal and indiscriminate attack. Two men, Hugh Watters and Jack Rooney, were killed when a car bomb exploded outside a licensed premises known as Kay’s Tavern and many more people were injured by the explosion. As we approach the fortieth anniversary of...