Results 7,681-7,700 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (3 Dec 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the person referred to is the subject of a Deportation Order made on 4th May 2011 and therefore has no entitlement to residency in the State. She has also been refused Subsidiary Protection in a decision issued on 18th April 2011. Judicial Review proceedings were issued on 11th June 2011 challenging...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Security (3 Dec 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: No level of inter prisoner violence or assaults is acceptable and effort is made by prison staff and management to limit the scope of acts of violence. However, no regime can completely eliminate the possibility of violent incidents happening in a prison setting where a large number of dangerous and violent offenders are being held. The Irish Prison Service has successfully introduced a...

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 20: An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary) (2 Dec 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I thank the Chairman and members for agreeing to change the time of the meeting to accommodate my attendance at a debate in the Seanad. I am grateful to the committee for making time available today to consider my request for a Supplementary Estimate for the Garda Síochána and prisons Votes. The Supplementary Estimate requirement in respect of the Garda Vote is €35.2...

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 20: An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary) (2 Dec 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The cost is approximately €7.2 million for 600 in a full year, but depending when they are recruited, it is pro rata.

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 20: An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary) (2 Dec 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: Capacity at Templemore and the question of supervision of new recruits going out have to be taken into account. There were times in the past when the kind of supervision that is essential was not what it should have been. Now we are hearing about people further up the line who did not have that kind of experience. That is extremely important. The cost increases up the line in terms of...

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 20: An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary) (2 Dec 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: It can be kept under review, but the decision taken with An Garda Síochána was to aim for 600 per year. There is some physical work being done at Templemore and facilities are used outside Templemore, which works well and is not a problem. It is probably good for the local economy and works to the satisfaction of Templemore. We have decided on 600 and restarted the investment....

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 20: An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary) (2 Dec 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: It it is helpful, I can point out that Gardaí can retire at 50 but many stay until they reach 60.

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 20: An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary) (2 Dec 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The retirement age is 60. The Deputy’s point raises issues across the public sector. There was a challenge in court, as the Deputy may remember. The Government’s policy approach has been that there is a need for this ongoing recruitment and refreshment of the gardaí, the lifeblood of the organisation. The Garda is very pleased to have new recruits now. Every division...

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 20: An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary) (2 Dec 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The payment relates to overtime and allowances worked by Garda members in the four-week period ending 6 December. In other years, the roster end date would have been later in the month, and hence, from a practical perspective in terms of payroll processing deadlines, it would not have been possible to make the payment in the financial year in which the duty was performed.

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 20: An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary) (2 Dec 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: No, there is no such allowance. This issue has come up and parliamentary questions have been tabled on it. Obviously, I have discussed it with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Brendan Howlin, because it has arisen in the case of An Garda Síochána and other professions. Many years ago there was an allowance, but it was removed. The cost of reinstating it...

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 20: An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary) (2 Dec 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will remember, one of the things I did last year was set up a group consisting of representatives from the Department of Justice and Equality, An Garda Síochána and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, as well as a nominee with experience across government of looking at IT systems. It was a priority project in terms of reform, one in which the Minister for...

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 20: An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary) (2 Dec 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Garda system and the Courts Service system can exchange information. Equally, there is work to be done. I say this from experience of working with the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport on the possibility of integrating the driver licensing system. There are issues that need to be dealt with to enable systems to talk to one another. There is basic integration between An Garda...

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 20: An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary) (2 Dec 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: That issue is being examined very carefully. I have been informed that An Garda Síochána commenced a pilot project involving a number of people who had been brought before the courts. A judgment was given which I understand the Garda is appealing. There is a project under way to co-ordinate the work being done under the driver licensing system. A very strong initiative is being...

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 20: An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary) (2 Dec 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: This subhead includes expenditure on clothing and equipment supplies for serving members, as well as students. While the number of student gardaí being recruited was known in advance, it must be remembered that recruitment recommenced in September 2014 after a gap of five years. We required funding for additional uniforms required for the student gardaí who commenced training this...

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 20: An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary) (2 Dec 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: Yes, it is ongoing.

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 20: An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary) (2 Dec 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: Everything that needs to be replaced will be replaced and there will be additionality.

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 20: An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary) (2 Dec 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: Perhaps it would be helpful if I gave some details on what it is actually doing. The €1.8 million was for the upgrade of police equipment on the Defender aircraft. The equipment that was there was obsolete and no longer supported by the manufacturer, so it was essential to replace it. I must check, but I think it was also so that it could be used at night. Yes, it can be used at...

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 20: An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary) (2 Dec 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: Obviously, it is an operational matter. I have no doubt that it will be kept under review. I would go back to the point that we are now at a stage in the Department of Justice where we have been able to allocate extra funding to An Garda Síochána; there have been extra allocations this year for next year and last year. That is a new situation and we are coming out of a difficult...

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 20: An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary) (2 Dec 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The issues surrounding the Garda retirement age are of long standing. There would have to be detailed negotiations on the points that have been raised. People have very different views on it. I accept what Deputy O'Dowd said about the very tragic situation regarding Garda Tony Golden in his area, the appalling situation that he faced and that his family is now facing. I do not believe...

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 20: An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary) (2 Dec 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: It was approximately 20.