Results 8,641-8,660 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Expenditure (13 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Garda Commissioner is the Accounting Officer for the Garda Vote and in accordance with her functions under section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 she may direct members of An Garda Síochána as they may be required to attend scenes of public protest, such as water charges protests or the installation of water meters, in order to facilitate the holding of such...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Controls (13 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I would like to advise the Deputy that at the end of September the Garda Síochána National Immigration Bureau (GNIB), with the assistance of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS), launched a series of measures to address queues at the GNIB Registration Office in Burgh Quay, Dublin 2. Since their introduction on 28th September, 2015, the following arrangements are...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Misconduct Allegations (13 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The television report to which the Deputy refers related to a number of cases which were referred to the mechanism established for the independent review of certain allegations of Garda misconduct, or inadequacies in the investigation of certain allegations, which have been made to me as Minister for Justice and Equality, or the Taoiseach. A panel consisting of two Senior and five Junior...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (13 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 182 to 202, inclusive , and Questions Nos. 222 and 223 together. As the Deputies will appreciate the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of personnel among the Garda Regions, Divisions, and Districts. Garda management keep this distribution under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Resources (13 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 203 and 214 together. The Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of personnel among the Garda Regions, Divisions, and Districts. Garda management keep this distribution under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the best possible use is made of resources. ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (13 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will appreciate that it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for the distribution of personnel among the Garda Regions, Divisions and Districts. Garda management keeps this distribution under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the best possible use is made of resources. This Government is committed to the ongoing...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Recruitment (13 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: This Government is committed to the ongoing recruitment of trainee Gardaí, and to this end the first intake since 2009 of new recruits commenced training at the Garda College, Templemore, in September of last year. To date there has been four intakes of Garda Trainees into the Garda College, giving a total intake of 400. A further 150 recruits will enter college by year end, bringing...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Data (13 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have been advised by the Garda Commissioner that the information sought by the Deputy is as set out in the following table. Strength of An Garda Síochána Year 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 *2015 Strength 14,412 14,547 14,377 13,894 13,424 13,159 12,799 12,799 Female 3,130 3,402 3,446 3,402 3,363 3,335 3,306 3,319 % 21.7% 23.4% 24% 24.5% 25.1% 25.3% 25.8% 25.9%*end of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Promotions (13 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will appreciate, it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for the distribution of personnel among the Garda Regions, Divisions and Districts, the various Garda national units and of course Garda Headquarters. Garda management keep this distribution under continuing review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the best possible use is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Accommodation Provision (13 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I wish to advise the Deputy that as of 9th October 2015 there were 3,693 prisoners in custody with a bed capacity of 4,126, which equates to an occupancy rate of 90%. I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that it is continuing to reduce the capacity of our prisons to align with the Inspector of Prisons recommended bed capacity of 3,982 in so far as this is compatible with public safety and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Criminal Assets Bureau (13 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can inform the Deputy that the Criminal Assets Bureau currently has 71 staff members. This incorporates staff on secondment from the Revenue Commissioners and the Department of Social Protection, members of An Garda Síochána and staff from my own Department. The Bureau is headed by the Chief Bureau Officer who is a Chief Superintendent with An Garda Síochána and assisted...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Training (13 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the Garda College continues to develop and deliver training to the Garda organisation in accordance with Garda policy aimed at ensuring enhanced delivery in line with resources and international best practice. The new student/probationer training programme has been radically restructured into three phases. Phase I is for 32 weeks at the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Transport Provision (13 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The provision and allocation of Garda transport is a matter for the Garda Commissioner in the light of identified operational circumstances and the availability of resources. I am advised by the Garda Commissioner that there are no plans in the short term to purchase light motorcycles or mopeds. I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that currently the Garda fleet has 105...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Recidivism Rate (13 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: In recent years, my Department has published a number of studies on recidivism rates for offenders who were given a community sanction or a custodial sentence. These studies will allow the Irish Prison Service and the Probation Service access to a comprehensive bank of data in relation to the rate of recidivism among ex-prisoners and offenders. This will help to inform future policy on the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Aid (13 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will be aware, under the Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) Act 1962 the courts, through the judiciary, are responsible for the granting of legal aid. Applicants for legal aid must establish to the satisfaction of the court that their means are insufficient to enable then to pay for legal representation. The Act specifies that the court must also be satisfied that, by reason of the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Criminal Law (13 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The question of providing for an offence of membership of a criminal gang, in a manner similar to the approach taken in the Offences Against the State Acts with regard to membership of a proscribed organisation, has arisen from time to time. In this regard, it is important to understand the issues which arise in seeking to simply outlaw membership of a criminal gang in such a manner. Most...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Rehabilitation Programmes (13 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I wish to advise the Deputy that the Irish Prison Service provides a wide range of rehabilitative programmes to those in custody that include education, vocational training, healthcare, psychiatric, psychological, counselling, welfare and spiritual services. These programmes can offer purposeful activity to those in custody while serving their sentences and encouraging them to lead law...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Accommodation Provision (13 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will be aware there is a standard operational procedure in place to ensure that upon committal, all offenders are assessed and accommodated appropriately according to their needs and specific security status. Dedicated committals units have been established in all committal prisons for this purpose. To segregate first time committals from the general prisoner population...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Recidivism Rate (13 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: Although there is no certain indicator that separates those "already committed to a life of crime" from others who desist from crime early on there are identifiable risk factors. It is a feature of offending behaviour that recidivism rates decrease as the offender age increases. Research on desistance from offending has found that there are different paths to change and desistance from...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Missing Persons Data (13 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: While An Garda Síochána receive an estimated 8,000 reports of missing persons a year, the majority are located within a short period of time. The number of persons currently listed as missing since 2011 is 133. All incidents where persons have been reported missing remain under investigation until such time as the person is located. An Garda Síochána reviews all...