Results 8,461-8,480 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (22 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the person concerned had their permission to remain in the State renewed from 30th January, 2013 until 30th January, 2014 to enable them obtain a passport from their country of origin. This permission was further renewed up to 30th October, 2014 and the person concerned was advised again to obtain a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (22 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am informed by the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (INIS) of my Department that the persons referred to by the Deputy have not made applications to INIS to change their immigration status. The persons were registered as Students in the State in 2009 and this permission expired in 2014. All non-EEA students resident in the State are subject to the student immigration rules set...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (21 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the visa application referred to by the Deputy was received in the Irish Embassy in Cairo on 22 July, 2015 and subsequently referred to the Irish Visa Office in Abu Dhabi for processing. Unfortunately, the expected time frame for processing of long stay visa applications such as the application...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (21 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of personnel, including civilians in An Garda Síochána. I have, however, requested the specific information regarding the staffing issues mentioned by the Deputy from the Garda authorities and will, on receipt of same, write directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (21 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of personnel, including civilians, in An Garda Síochána. I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the Garda Information Services Centre (GISC) provides a round- the- clock service. In order to provide this service staff are required to work various shifts and are paid a shift...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Civilian Staff Recruitment (21 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of personnel, including civilians, in An Garda Síochána. I have been advised by the Garda Commissioner that there are plans in place to run an internal competition for promotion to Executive Officer (EO) in An Garda Síochána as sanctioned by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Proposed Legislation (21 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: In July, the Government approved the drafting of a Bail Bill which will strengthen the operation of the bail system and make the law as effective as possible in protecting the public against crimes committed by persons on bail. I am aware of the concerns that are arising in relation to the operation of our current bail laws and it is intended to have the new Bail Bill drafted on a priority...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Freedom of Information Requests (21 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can inform the Deputy that up to 19 October, 2015, my Department has received 827 Freedom of Information Requests. Unfortunately, it is not possible to provide the Deputy with the breakdown as requested above, as those statistics are not readily available. To provide the figures would involve a disproportionate amount of time by the staff collating the information.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Reports (21 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 84 to 86, inclusive, together. The Report of the Working Group on the Protection Process contains 173 recommendations many of which have implications for a number of Government Departments and services. The Government recommended that the report should in the first instance be the subject of a detailed discussion at the Cabinet Committee on Social...

Other Questions: Criminal Law (20 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I met and held discussions with representatives of the sex workers association. I also examined all the research on this issue. The Council of Europe and European Parliament, for example, did a large amount of research and the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality examined and made recommendations on the matter. While I accept that there are different views and reports on the...

Other Questions: Garda Investigations (20 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy makes a big assumption in stating the independent review group has not made any serious recommendations. I do not know how she could possibly make that assumption as she does not have all the facts. It is open to the group to make a recommendation, the seriousness of which will be judged in the first instance by the complainants who submitted the information. As I stated, in...

Other Questions: Garda Investigations (20 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have commented on the cases that were referred to publicly and pointed out that they were at different stages of the process. As the process is not yet complete, I cannot comment on individual cases in the way Deputy Clare Daly has done. I simply cannot go into the detail of the case she raises.

Other Questions: Garda Investigations (20 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can state, however, that this is the first Government to have taken these allegations.

Other Questions: Garda Investigations (20 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: We have had a very wide lens in respect of accepting cases that needed to be in the process, of which there are more than 300. We set up an independent review mechanism to examine those cases.

Other Questions: Garda Operations (20 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I do not accept the assertion that the Deputy makes or his description of the work that An Garda Síochána is doing as political policing. I do not accept that assertion. Gardaí are out there, doing their job. The Government and I fully support the right of our citizens to protest, including the right of those who wish to protest peacefully against water charges or Irish...

Other Questions: Criminal Law (20 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I thank Deputy Wallace for his question. The Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015 is currently before the Seanad and will be coming before this House in due course, when I have no doubt that we will have a full opportunity to debate this issue. Clearly, there are different views on the management and handling of these issues and we will have an opportunity to discuss them. I do not...

Other Questions: Garda Operations (20 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I do not think the Deputy listened to my reply. I said, "I am happy to confirm for the House that Operation Mizen is not a surveillance programme operated by An Garda Síochána, contrary to assertions that have been made recently in commentary on water protests". I also answered the Deputy's question about whether public representatives are being monitored when I made it absolutely...

Other Questions: Missing Persons (20 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will appreciate that I do not have a direct role in the investigation of the case. I encourage people to give any information that has been brought to their attention to the Garda. I have no doubt that what the Deputy has asked for will happen. While I will bring his comments to the attention of the Garda Commissioner, they should be brought directly to the attention of the...

Other Questions: Missing Persons (20 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am aware that the Taoiseach has indicated that he would be available to meet with the person, and I will engage with him regarding those arrangements.

Other Questions: Garda Operations (20 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am happy to confirm that Operation Mizen is not a surveillance programme operated by the Garda Síochána, contrary to recent assertions in commentary on water protests by public representatives and others. I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that Operation Mizen was established by the Garda Síochána as a national co-ordination office to provide appropriate...