Results 8,681-8,700 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Marriage Bill 2015: Report Stage (7 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The proposed amendments have a number of aims. One is to preserve civil partnership. The second is to open civil partnership to opposite-sex couples and non-conjugal couples such as cohabiting family members or friends. The third is to widen the scope of the redress scheme provided in Part 15 of the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010 so that it...

Marriage Bill 2015: Report Stage (7 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I do not believe the happiness and joy would be impacted by the decision to have this fee of €50. I have certainly had no feedback from anybody in that regard. A number of people suggested a reduced fee in view of the costs already incurred by couples. Deputy Shatter also suggested a reduced fee. We have examined the issue and I got some legal advice to ensure there were no issues...

Marriage Bill 2015: Report Stage (7 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: Okay.

Marriage Bill 2015: Report Stage (7 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: There may be some equality issues that arise because fees have changed. We will certainly examine those.

Marriage Bill 2015: Order for Report Stage (7 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I move: "That Report Stage be taken now."

Marriage Bill 2015: Report Stage (7 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I move amendment No. 2:In page 7, between lines 28 and 29, to insert the following:"Amendment of section 46(1) of Act of 2004 9 Section 46(1) of the Act of 2004 is amended by the substitution of the following paragraph for paragraph (a):"(a) (i) notify any registrar in writing in a form for the time being standing approved by an tArd-Chláraitheoir of their intention to marry —(I)...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (7 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that an application for a certificate of naturalisation was received from the person referred to by the Deputy. The application is at an advanced stage of processing and the case will be submitted to me for decision in due course. The Deputy may wish to note that queries in relation to the status of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (7 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of personnel including Community Gardaí 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. I am informed by the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (7 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the person concerned is the subject of a Deportation Order made on 08 December 2009. Representations were received from the person's legal representative, to request the Minister to use her discretion, pursuant to Section 3 (11) of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended), to revoke the Deportation...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Drugs Seizures (7 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I wish to advise the Deputy that I have requested the information sought from the Garda authorities and I will revert to the Deputy in due course.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Recruitment (7 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. The position in relation to the current competition is as follows. Following receipt of 24,000 applications, the Public Appointment Service invited candidates to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (7 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have been informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that an application was received for permission to remain in the State from the person mentioned on 26 February 2015. The consideration of information on file is ongoing. Further documents were requested by INIS on 30 September 2015, and a final decision cannot be made on this application until...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Court Accommodation Refurbishment (7 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy is aware, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts, including the provision of accommodation for court sittings, is the responsibility of the Courts Service which is independent in exercising its functions. However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and the Courts Service have informed me that a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (7 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of personnel, including Community Gardaí, 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. I have been informed by...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Station Closures (7 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Garda District and Station Rationalisation Programme was implemented in An Garda Síochána during 2012 and 2013. The primary objective of the Programme was to identify opportunities to introduce strategic reforms to enhance service delivery, increase efficiency and streamline practices within the organisation. In its review of the Garda Station Network which informed the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Operations (7 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy is no doubt aware, an Garda Síochána is involved in the security and protection of explosives (which could include gelignite type explosives) while they are being transported, stored and/or utilised. An Garda Síochána do not however, as a matter of policy and security, disclose the nature of the procedures in place in this regard.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (7 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that correspondence has issued to the person concerned seeking clarification with regard to their educational qualifications in order to establish whether or not the person meets the qualifying criteria in order to be granted the particular immigration permission sought. On receipt of the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Staff Relocation (7 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Human Resources Division of my Department manage a very substantial number of requests for staff transfers both across my Department and other Civil Service Departments and Offices each year. There are a range of different reasons for such a transfer request, one of which is based on geographic location. In such instances staff can submit a formal request to Human Resources Division for...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Second Stage (6 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am very pleased to present this Bill to the House. This Bill is the most comprehensive and wide ranging piece of sexual offences legislation to be introduced in almost a decade. It strengthens existing law to combat child pornography, the sexual grooming of children, incest, exposure and other offensive conduct of a sexual nature. Not only will the provisions in this Bill target those...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Second Stage (6 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: As well as implementing the recommendations of a number of Oireachtas committees, the Bill brings Irish law more closely into line with our international obligations.