Results 8,161-8,180 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Seanad: Legal Services Regulation Bill 2011: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: Amendments Nos. 143 to 145, inclusive, are not acceptable as they would take the one sixth rule out of the equation in relation to who would pay the bill for a legal costs adjudication. As section 122, as passed by the Dáil, provides that a legal practitioner shall not charge any amount in legal costs in the circumstances set out in the section, I do not see the need for amendments Nos....

Seanad: Legal Services Regulation Bill 2011: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: Section 146 makes statutory provision for the awarding and revocation of "patents of precedence", which are more commonly known as the title of senior counsel. This title is typically awarded to barristers with considerable experience and expertise in their field. It is a form of recognition for high-end legal skills and depth of legal knowledge – a quality stamp of sorts. In the...

Seanad: Legal Services Regulation Bill 2011: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The current wording covers both barristers and solicitors, whether they are acting solely or together.

Seanad: Legal Services Regulation Bill 2011: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: This is a technical amendment which is designed to bring clarity. The section provides that employee barristers will be able to act on behalf of their employers in court. Senator Hayden spoke on a related point. They are currently prohibited from doing so under Bar Council rules. The section also provides that the legal professional representative bodies will not be able to prevent their...

Seanad: Legal Services Regulation Bill 2011: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Bill creates the conditions for a new type of barrister to emerge, namely, one who chooses to provide his or her legal services outside the traditional Law Library model. In that context, the amendment provides that the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act 2010 will be amended to allow the legal services regulatory authority to become the designated authority...

Seanad: Legal Services Regulation Bill 2011: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Senator's amendments would negate an intended regulatory power of the new regulatory authority regarding movement between the professions of solicitor and barrister. The proposed references to “qualifications” are considered unnecessary in light of the fact that the question of being duly qualified to practise as a solicitor or barrister is already comprehended by the...

Seanad: Legal Services Regulation Bill 2011: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The amendment proposes the insertion of a replacement section 158 which deals with the advertising of legal services. A key purpose of the amendment is to bring the State into compliance with Article 24 of the EU services directive. That EU directive requires, in general terms, the elimination of any rules, practices or regulations that are unreasonably restrictive on a lawyer's right to...

Seanad: Legal Services Regulation Bill 2011: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: Is it possible for me to make a number of points on some of the points that emerged for Report Stage?

Seanad: Legal Services Regulation Bill 2011: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I wanted to make a point in respect of a number of amendments that I want to bring on Report Stage. We have discussed some of them today. Some relate to pre-action protocols in clinical negligence cases and some transitional provisions which we discussed earlier. There is also an amendment to update the protected disclosure section of the Bill in light of the Protected Disclosures Act of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Seirbhísí trí Ghaeilge (19 Nov 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: Tá curtha in iúl dom go bhforáiltear le hIonstraim Reachtúil Uimhir 398 de 2015 (Na Rialacháin fán Acht um Thrácht ar Bhóithre, 2010 (Alt 13) (An Fhoirm Fhorordaithe agus an Modh Forordaithe maidir le Ráitis), 2015), a ndearna an tAire Iompair, Turasóireachta agus Spóirt í a shíniú ina dlí ar an 22 Meán...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (19 Nov 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will be aware that the allocation of Garda resources, including personnel, is a matter for the Garda Commissioner, and that I as Minister have no direct role in the matter. I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that for security and operational reasons, it is Garda policy not to comment on the number or location of Gardaí assigned to the Emergency Response Unit.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Misconduct Allegations (19 Nov 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: There are in place statutory prohibitions on the unlawful or unauthorised disclosure of information which apply generally to public servants as well as specific prohibitions which apply to members of An Garda Síochána. Any member of the Garda Síochána who leaks information to the media is not only contravening clear Garda policy, but is also contravening the law. It...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Gender Balance (19 Nov 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have been advised by the Garda Commissioner that the breakdown by rank and gender in An Garda Síochána, on the 30 September 2015, the latest date for which figures are readily available, was as set out in the following table. Rank / Gender breakdown in An Garda Síochána Rank Male Female Gardaí 7,580 2,976 Sergeant 1,554 308 Inspector 222 28 Superintendent 148...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Training (19 Nov 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 133 and 134 together. In relation to the information requested by the Deputy regarding the number of Gardaí who have been supported to learn a foreign language in each of the past three years and in 2015 to date, I have requested this information from the Garda Commissioner and I will write directly to the Deputy on receipt of same. I have been informed...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Road Traffic Offences (19 Nov 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have requested an update from the Garda authorities in relation to the prosecutions in question and any matters arising, and will be in direct contact once this is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Data (19 Nov 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I wish to advise the Deputy that nine prisoners are currently held in Portlaoise Prison on warrants awaiting trial in the Special Criminal Court. The length of time they are detained awaiting trial is outlined in the table below. Number of Prisoners Less than 12 months 1 - 2 years 2 - 3 years Greater than 3 years 09 05 04 0 0 The Deputy will be aware that the Government...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Community Alert Programme (19 Nov 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The position is that for many years my Department has supported community crime prevention by provided funding for the Community Alert programme, which is operated by Muintir na Tíre in partnership with the Garda authorities, and which supports over 1,400 local groups including many Text Alert schemes. There are now in excess of 700 local Text Alert schemes operating and guidelines for...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Remuneration (19 Nov 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: As I have already informed the Deputy, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, has brought forward the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015. That Bill starts the process of the phased restoration of remuneration to public servants in accordance with the terms of the Lansdowne Road Agreement. Under that Agreement, the annualised amount of the basic salary of a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (19 Nov 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will be aware that the allocation of Garda resources, including personnel, is a matter for the Garda Commissioner, and that I as Minister have no direct role in the matter. Garda management will continue to keep this allocation of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends, demographics and policing priorities so as to ensure that the best use is made of Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Victim Support Services (19 Nov 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: Firstly, let me say how sorry I am to hear about the incident suffered by the individual referred to by the Deputy. Support for victims of crime is at the forefront of the work of my Department. I welcome the coming into force of the European Union Victims Directive on 16 November. I believe that the Directive represents a significant change in the way that victims will be dealt with as...