Results 7,841-7,860 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (6 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Insurance reform is a key priority for this Government and is reflected in the Programme for Government, the Government’s Action Plan for Insurance Reform, and in the Justice Plan 2022. It is intended that a number of sections of the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1995 be amended, in line with the Government policy objective of restricting the liability of occupiers. These proposals...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Inquiry into the Death of Mr. Shane O'Farrell (6 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: In February 2019, retired District Court Judge Gerard Haughton was appointed by the then Minister for Justice and Equality to carry out a scoping exercise in light of the public controversy surrounding the circumstances of the death of Shane O'Farrell. The purpose of the scoping exercise was to advise the Minister as to whether any further investigation or inquiry beyond those already...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Sentencing Policy (6 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: While the judiciary are independent in the matter of sentencing, subject only to the Constitution and the law, the Oireachtas has a role in relation to setting maximum sentences. In some cases, presumptive minimum sentences have also been set out in legislation, however these are currently being reviewed under a provision contained in the Judicial Council Act 2019. In relation to maximum...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (6 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill referred to by the Deputy was approved for publication by Government on 22 November last. It marks a new departure for policing in Ireland giving effect to the recommendations made by the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland (CoFPI). The Bill aims to improve the performance of our policing and security services  to deliver on...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (6 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs, with the unprecedented allocation provided in Budget 2023 of €2.14 billion.This will fund the planned recruitment of up to 1,000 new Garda recruits as well as over 400 Garda staff. While the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the general management and administration of the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (6 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy may be aware, the Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill was approved for publication by Government on 22 November 2022. The Bill, as part of a suite of proposals to empower the Garda Commissioner as a “true CEO” to lead the organisation and drive change, provides for the Garda Commissioner to recruit Garda staff directly to An Garda Síochána as...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (6 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: As I have indicated in responses to other parliamentary questions today, the Commissioner has no plans to increase the number of Gardaí assigned firearms for operational purposes, and there have been no recent discussions with the Garda authorities in this regard.  

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (6 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Ireland has become a more diverse and welcoming country in recent decades but regrettably there is a small minority who subject others to abuse or attack resulting from their own prejudice. It has been a priority for this Government to legislate for hate crime and hate speech, to ensure that Ireland is a safe and secure place for all. As the Deputy is no doubt aware, the only legislation...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (6 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs, with the unprecedented allocation provided in Budget 2023 of €2.14 billion.This will fund the planned recruitment of up to 1,000 new Garda recruits as well as over 400 Garda staff. As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the general management and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (6 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 31 and 37 together. I am pleased to say the review of the Atypical Working Scheme (AWS) for non-EEA fishers has been published on my Department's website. Details of how the AWS for SeaFishers currently operates is also available at www.irishimmigration.ie/coming-to-work-in-ireland/wh at-are-my-work-visa-options/applying-for-a-long-stay-employm...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Sentencing Policy (6 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I would firstly like to condemn in the strongest possible terms the recent attacks on Gardaí while serving on duty in Ballyfermot and my thoughts are with the Gardaí involved in these incidents. We are extremely grateful to all of the people who serve in An Garda Síochána and other frontline services and it is imperative that they are able to perform their vital role in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (6 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy will be aware, the Irish Prison Service must accept all prisoners committed into their custody by the Courts. As such, the Prison Service has no control over the numbers committed to custody at any given time, and the prison system is, of course, subject to peaks and troughs.  Numbers are particularly high when the courts are at their busiest and following the return to a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Reviews (6 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy will know, the Department of Justice contracted an independent expert to undertake the review of Part 4 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act. As part of the review, an online public consultation was opened and contributions were received from a broad range of organisations with different perspectives. The review will consider all aspects outlined in the Terms of Reference....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (6 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that education services are available in all prisons and all prisoners are eligible and have access to these services.  Education in prison is delivered in partnership with the Education and Training Boards with a focus on providing education which is quality assured, prisoner centred and which facilitates lifelong learning. The...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (6 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including decisions on the deployment of personnel among the various Garda Divisions. As Minister, I have no role in these matters.  The unprecedented €2.14 billion allocated to An Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (6 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy will be aware the Government will establish a statutory agency with a dedicated focus on Domestic Sexual and Gender-Based Violence.   The agency will have a specific mandate to drive the implementation of the Zero Tolerance: Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence across Government, bringing the expertise and focus required to tackle...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (6 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for all matters relating to personnel within An Garda Síochána. As Minister I have no direct role in such matters. I am informed that at 30 November 2022 there were 65 retirements recorded by the Garda authorities for 2022 in the Dublin districts. This...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (6 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy is aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible, by law, for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including arrangements for training within the organisation. I am informed that the allocation of training courses takes place on a divisional basis with Garda Members selected by local management. The Garda Driver Training Section provides a range of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (6 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: An Garda Síochána takes pride in being a community police service, with strong links to the communities it serves built on a culture of policing by consent. The Garda Commissioner is responsible for the general management and administration of the Garda organisation, including decisions on the deployment of personnel among the various Garda Divisions. As Minister, I have...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Closed-Circuit Television Systems (6 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy may be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for managing the administration, budget and business of An Garda Síochána, which includes responsibility for Garda CCTV.  As Minister, I have no direct role in this matter. The Garda Commissioner provides for the authorisation of CCTV Schemes...