Results 7,621-7,640 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Resources (8 Dec 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Commissioner that the Garda Air Support Unit currently consists of a fixed wing Defender aircraft and two EC135T2 helicopters. Earlier this year I secured an additional €1.8 million in capital funding for the replacement and upgrade of equipment on the Defender aircraft. The question of the replacement of the Defender aircraft as it nears the end of its estimated...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Ministerial Meetings (8 Dec 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I wish to advise the Deputy that in the time available to do so it has not been possible to gather all the information requested. I will contact the Deputy directly when the information comes to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Expenditure (8 Dec 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The total photography costs paid for my Department from the date of my appointment as Minister on the 8th May 2014 to 30th Nov 2015 are €1,776.12. I can inform the Deputy that photographic services are only used by my Department where necessary and consideration is always given to the costs involved when sourcing such services. A tender framework is in place and used to procure these...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Public Relations Contracts Data (8 Dec 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department has not incurred any costs in relation to the provision of public relations services from the date of my appointment on 8th May 2014 up to a current date. It is my Department's policy to use in house resources as much as possible and to restrict the use of external groups to a minimum.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Consultancy Contracts Data (8 Dec 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I wish to advise the Deputy that in the time available to do so it has not been possible to gather all the information requested. I will contact the Deputy directly when the information comes to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Ministerial Advisers Data (8 Dec 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I was appointed as Minister for Justice and Equality in May 2014 and, from that date, three special advisors were employed, two of whom job shared and one other engaged on a full time basis. This was the equivalent of two posts paid at the Principal Officer standard scale (on a pro-rata basis). Since May of this year two advisors work on a full time work pattern. My predecessor, Alan Shatter...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Court Procedures (8 Dec 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will be aware the courts are, subject only to the Constitution and the law, independent in the exercise of their judicial functions, and the conduct of any case is a matter entirely for the presiding judge. All Court records, including recordings of court proceedings, are under the control of the presiding Judge, as provided for in section 65(3) of the Court Officers Act, 1926....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Independent Review Mechanism (8 Dec 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy is referring to 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 action may be required in each case. A panel consisting of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Data (8 Dec 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Central Statistics Office (CSO), as the national statistical agency, is responsible for the publication of recorded crime statistics. I have requested the CSO to provide the available information directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Staff (8 Dec 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am informed by the Director General of the Irish Prison Service that dismissals from the prison service are governed by the Civil Service Regulation Acts. If the Deputy would like to provide further details of a particular case I will certainly endeavour to provide a comprehensive response. However, I can state that the Irish Prison Service receives advice on the health and welfare of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Accommodation Provision (8 Dec 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I wish to advise the Deputy that there are places available in prisons for people with a physical disability. There are currently 16 adapted cells available throughout the prison estate with a further two coming on stream with the opening of the new Cork Prison in early 2016. In addition the original design of the Dochas Centre lends itself to disabled use with minor adjustments if required....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Seeker Accommodation (8 Dec 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: On 31 July 2015, RIA, the Reception and Integration Agency of my Department, advertised for Expressions of Interest from persons interested in providing accommodation for persons in the protection process. On foot of this advertisement, RIA received numerous responses including one from a premises in the Ballybunion area. For a number of reasons this premises has proven to be unsuitable...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Resources (8 Dec 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of resources, 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: Garda Strength (8 Dec 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will appreciate the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of personnel among the Garda Regions, Divisions, and Districts. In regard to the deployment of Garda personnel, a distribution model is used which takes into account all relevant factors including population, crime trends and as the policing needs of each individual Division dictates. It is the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (8 Dec 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the position remains the same as my reply to Parliamentary Question no. 84 of 23 September and no. 583 of 3 November 2015 that the person in question should be advised to contact the Residence Division, INIS regarding their current position. To date they have not done so. Queries in relation to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Road Traffic Offences (8 Dec 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised that the format and content of Fixed Charge Notices and the accompanying documentation are set out by means of Statutory Instrument No. 333/2015 - Road Traffic (Fixed Charge Offences) (Prescribed Notice and Document) Regulations 2015. As the Deputy will appreciate, the Statutory Instrument in question, along with other road traffic legislation, falls within the responsibility of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Proposed Legislation (8 Dec 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Gambling Control Bill will, when enacted, update all existing laws on the regulation of gambling, including betting and gaming (but excluding the National Lottery). It will provide for the licensing of all forms of on-line gambling. The General Scheme of the Gambling Control Bill was published in July 2013. The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality provided its...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (8 Dec 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: A wide range of submissions were considered during the preparation and drafting of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill. These included submissions which I, and my Department, received directly as well as those received via Oireachtas Committees including the Joint Committee on Justice, Equality and Defence. If there are any further submissions which the Deputy would like considered,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision Expenditure (8 Dec 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I refer the Deputy to my response to Parliamentary Question 105. The Annual Reports 2007-2014 of the Reception & Integration Agency (RIA) provide a breakdown of yearly expenditure into the broad headings of 'Commercial', 'State-owned', 'Self-catering', 'Additional Costs', 'Transport' and 'Miscellaneous'. These Annual Reports are published on RIA's website - www.ria.gov.ie ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision Expenditure (8 Dec 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Question no 105 of 1 December 2015. The information in relation to State-owned centres is not readily available. The Deputy will be aware that the Annual Reports of the Reception and Integration Agency from 2007 to 2013 provide a breakdown of yearly expenditure into the broad headings of 'Commercial', 'State-owned', 'Self-catering',...