Results 8,481-8,500 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Other Questions: Crime Prevention (20 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: Clearly, the message that needs to go out is that this crime will not be tolerated. Of course, there are very serious individual incidents of the kind described by Deputy Collins, for which heavy sentences have been imposed where such cases were brought to court. At present, the law allows for mandatory sentences where those cases, for example, have resulted in the murder of an individual....

Other Questions: Missing Persons (20 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Garda authorities that a comprehensive review of this case has, in fact, been ongoing since 2011 under the direction of the assistant commissioner for the northern region. All aspects of the original investigation and subsequent reviews have been examined by the Garda review team. As part of the Garda inquiry, a file is currently with the Director of Public Prosecutions...

Other Questions: Crime Levels (20 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have said that I believe the most effective response to the issues that have been raised is the series of initiatives I have mentioned: further gardaí, so we have more visibility, specialist operations, investment in vehicles, and a mobile force that is able to respond to the changing trends in crime. People have raised the issue of bail. This is an important area and I am addressing...

Other Questions: Crime Prevention (20 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised that figures provided by the Central Statistics Office show that the number of recorded offences involving a knife has decreased each year since 2010. Notwithstanding these statistical trends, the impact of these crimes is quite serious and I assure the Deputy that I am in ongoing contact with the Garda Commissioner on a wide range of crime and policing concerns, including knife...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Investigations (20 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy mentions doing a quick assessment but if I had asked the independent review panel to do that, we would have a series of different questions. It has taken every case on equal merit and assessed them. As the Deputy well knows, once we start to assess any of these cases, different factors emerge. The Deputy mentioned that we could say what is serious and what is not, but that...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Investigations (20 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Government decided to establish an independent body because more than 300 cases were referred. As the Government decided to accept all the referred cases, it has led to a longer period for consideration, as I explained before. We were right to take that time. The process is coming to a conclusion and I will publish a full report on all the detail, including the percentage of cases...

Other Questions: Crime Levels (20 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: As I have already stated to the House, I am extremely conscious of the of the impact of burglary on communities throughout the country and I am determined to continue to take strong action against the criminals involved. My response to burglaries and crime generally is focused on two key objectives: strengthening of the law to get tougher on serious and repeat offenders and investing in the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Investigations (20 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can describe it as independent because it is independent. It is an independent review mechanism carried out by independent lawyers who are given access to the data they require and to the material submitted by the complainants. In more than 200 cases extra material has been given by the complainants. The material has been assessed and a recommendation has been made. The summary of this...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Investigations (20 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy is familiar with many of these cases and knows the complexities involved and the appalling experience which many people have had. We are trying to see whether there is any further remedy which could be made available to the people who have submitted these complaints. This is the task this group of independent professional lawyers has been asked to assess. This is the reality of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Station Closures (20 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: There is no correlation between the closure of Garda stations and burglary rates. That is the reality of the situation. What we need is what I have outlined, namely, increased Garda visibility and patrol hours, increased mobility and flexibility within an area, resulting in an improved policing service for the public, enhanced co-ordination of Garda activity and more gardaí, as we are...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Station Closures (20 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: Fianna Fáil stopped investing in recruiting gardaí, which has led to the lack of a visible presence in urban and rural communities. It is as a result of the decisions it took that the investment in An Garda Síochána stopped. We are now restarting it, and that is how visible policing will return to urban and rural communities.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Station Closures (20 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: We are determined to tackle rural and urban crime. We have to ensure that the resources on the front line and the necessary legislation are in place. I am bringing in the strongest legislation there has ever been - it is currently before the House - on burglaries because they are heinous crimes and need to be dealt with effectively. That legislation will ensure repeat offenders will have...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Misconduct Allegations (20 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: Deputy Wallace is making some outrageous allegations in respect of the behaviour of An Garda Síochána and the force's compliance with what is a statutory obligation. That is what Deputy Wallace is saying. He said that the Garda has not been involved in outlining-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Misconduct Allegations (20 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: My information is to the contrary and that the force is fully involved in the process in respect of whistleblowing.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Misconduct Allegations (20 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: If Deputy Wallace has evidence to the contrary and he wishes to supply it to me, he should give it to me. In the meantime, I hope the whistleblowers will get involved in the various avenues they have to make their concerns known. I expect the Garda has been responding and will respond to them.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Station Closures (20 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: In the review of the Garda station network Garda management concluded in respect of certain stations, many of which were only open part-time and manned by a single garda, that resources could be better deployed and more effectively used on the front line if those stations were no longer staffed and maintained. In reaching these conclusions, Garda management reviewed all aspects of the Garda...

Seanad: Marriage Bill 2015: Second Stage (20 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: It gives me huge pleasure to introduce the Marriage Bill 2015 into the Seanad. The Bill gives effect to the constitutional amendment, approved by the people on 22 May 2015, that, "Marriage may be contracted in accordance with law by two persons without distinction as to their sex." Eleanor Roosevelt famously wrote that a person's philosophy is best expressed by the choices he or she makes....

Seanad: Marriage Bill 2015: Second Stage (20 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I thank all Senators for their contributions, which have been quite extraordinary, very moving and most enjoyable to listen to. I want to thank the Senators for their very generous comments in regard to my own role but, of course, as we have listened to the debate, more and more names have been put on the floor of the House. Of course, there are names we have not yet put on the floor of the...

Seanad: Marriage Bill 2015: Second Stage (20 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: It impacts on a much wider group but I will go into the detail of that at the next Stage. I am just addressing it in a preliminary way at this point.

Seanad: Marriage Bill 2015: Second Stage (20 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The points made by Senator Rónán Mullen are incorrect. Religious solemnisers have only ever been permitted to solemnise in accordance with their own ceremonies and I addressed his points in my speech. What we are doing will not require any change to any form of ceremony currently approved. He is incorrect in his interpretation of the legislation as it is presented. The decision...