Results 8,701-8,720 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

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

Frances Fitzgerald: For example, in terms of EU directives on child sexual exploitation and abuse and other international obligations which we have. There are, however, and I want to clearly acknowledge at the outset, provisions absent from the Bill which were approved for inclusion - most notably provisions to replace section 5 of the Criminal Justice Act 1993 in relation to the protection of mentally impaired...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: The committee received 800 submissions. In deciding to put forward these provisions I have considered all sides of the debate. I have considered the experience of those states which have introduced similar measures and those states which have addressed prostitution in a different way. First, let me be clear as to what these provisions do. It will be an offence for a person to pay, offer...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: Yes there are. There is a very detailed report from the Council of Europe and the European Parliament on this issue.However, even to leave aside this unquestionable objective, there is undoubtedly evidence of a wider exploitation of persons involved in prostitution outside of those trafficked, such as those coerced or otherwise forced through circumstances to engage in the activity. The...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (6 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Bill 2013, based on the General Scheme of the Mental Capacity Bill 2008, completed Dáil Committee Stage on 17 June 2015. The Bill is scheduled to go before the Dáil for Report Stage on 21 October 2015. The aim is that the Bill will be enacted by the end of this year.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Legal Costs (6 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Chief State Solicitor's Office (CSSO) acts on my behalf in civil actions involving my Department and all costs in relation to legal advice or assistance given in relation to such civil actions are borne by that Office. Accordingly, the payment of these legal costs is not a matter for my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Data (6 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I wish to advise the Deputy that the following table shows the number of persons in custody in the Irish Prison Service for the period 2010 to 2015. These figures are based on the daily average in custody in each particular year. Year Daily Average 2015 (to 5th October) 3,719 2014 3,915 2013 4,158 2012 4,318 2011 4,390 2010 4,290The Irish Prison Service ensures the delivery of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Stations (6 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The programme of replacement and refurbishment of Garda accommodation around the country is based on agreed accommodation priorities which are established by An Garda Síochána. This programme is progressed by the Garda Authorities in co-operation with the Office of Public Works (OPW), which has responsibility for capital expenditure in this area In this context, An Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Operations (6 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Garda Commissioner that no form of racial profiling is undertaken by An Garda Síochána in the performance of their functions.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (6 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: As I have previously conveyed in my Written Reply to Question No. 360 of 29 September, the Legal Services Regulation Bill is now before the Seanad, having completed Seanad Second Stage on 13 May 2015. The Bill completed its earlier Dáil Stages on 22 April 2015. Preparations are, therefore, ongoing for Seanad Committee Stage which I would anticipate taking place in the coming weeks and I...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Staff Data (6 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I wish to advise the Deputy that there are currently no supernumerary positions in my Department. All bodies under the aegis of my Department have also recorded a nil return, subject to final confirmation of same from the Garda Authorities.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (6 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: As 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. I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Agencies Staff Data (6 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I wish to advise the Deputy that following the appointment of an additional 15 staff to the Office in the course of 2015 there are now 42 staff members assigned to the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner. To date in 2015 one staff member left the Office to take up a position elsewhere in the Civil Service. All staff assigned to the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner are civil...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Records (6 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The records relating to the issue to which the Deputy refers have not been transferred to the National Archives. Regulation 4 of the National Archives Act 1986, Regulations 1988 provides that the age of a record shall be determined by the age of the latest substantive entry on it. Accordingly when considering files for transfer, reference is not just to be had to the date on which the file...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Investigations (6 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: It is not the practice and it would be contrary to the public interest to disclose details of any authorisations to intercept, including their number. The Deputy will appreciate that this practice, which has been followed by my predecessors, arises for sound security reasons. Furthermore, Section 12 of the Interception of Postal Packets and Telecommunications Messages (Regulation) Act...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Operations (6 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am informed by the Garda authorities that Operation Mizen was established by An Garda Síochána as a National Co-ordination Office to provide appropriate policing responses to maintain public order and to ensure the safety of all involved in protests against water charges. This is entirely a Garda operational matter and, accordingly, there is no question of my authority being...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Operations (6 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 423 and 425 together. The statutory functions of An Garda Síochána include the preservation of peace and public order, protecting life and property and vindicating the human rights of individuals. In the context of these functions it has been necessary for the Garda authorities to deploy Gardaí routinely at water meter installations and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Expenditure (6 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: Under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 the Garda Commissioner is responsible for controlling the general management and administration of the Force within the context of agreed annual policing plans. This includes the procurement and maintenance of various technologies utilised to support frontline Gardaí and intelligence led operations against organised crime. In that context...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (6 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Report of the Working Group on the Protection Process was published on 30 June 2015. The Report contains 173 recommendations many of which have implications for a number of Government Departments and services. The Government in its decision of the 30 June 2015 recommended that the Report of the Working Group on the Protection Process should in the first instance be the subject of a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Data (6 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have requested the information sought from the Garda Commissioner and I will write directly to the Deputy on receipt of same.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Numbers (6 Oct 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 428 to 431, inclusive, and 436 together. I am informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that Stamp 0 has been in operation since 2011 and that it is a low level immigration status. I understand that it is mainly granted to persons who have been approved by INIS for a limited and specific stay in Ireland. An...