Results 8,941-8,960 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Firearms Licences (22 Sep 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that I announced a series of changes to the licensing of firearms last week. My announcement followed an extensive consultation process with key stakeholders and hearings by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Equality and Defence on a report from a Joint Garda Síochána/Department of Justice and Equality Working Group published in November...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Anti-Social Behaviour (22 Sep 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 634, 635 and 636 together. CCTV systems installed for the purposes of crime prevention and as aids to policing in areas to which the general public routinely have access, such as town centres, fall into two distinct categories: Garda CCTV systems and community-based CCTV systems. Garda CCTV systems are planned and implemented on the basis of the identified...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Human Trafficking (22 Sep 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: On 16 September, the Government approved the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015 for publication. The Bill includes wide ranging provisions to enhance the protection of children from sexual abuse and exploitation. When enacted, the Bill will facilitate full compliance with the criminal law provisions of a number of EU, UN and Council of Europe legal instruments as well as implementing...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Coroners Service (22 Sep 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: Under the Suicide Prevention Strategy 2015-2020, my Department is already engaging with the Department of Health, with coroners, the Garda Síochána, the Central Statistics Office and other relevant officials and bodies, to review and if necessary, revise current recording procedures for death by suicide. Any issues emerging in the course of that review will be taken into...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Data (22 Sep 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The information sought has been requested from the Garda Commissioner and when it is to hand I will write directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Sentencing Policy (22 Sep 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: There is specific legislation in place to deal with assaults to front-line workers such as members of An Garda Síochána. Section 19 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994 (as amended by section 185 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006) provides that any person who assaults a "peace officer", including members of An Garda Síochána, acting in the execution of their...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Statute of Limitations (22 Sep 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The operation of the law in relation to the Statute of Limitations is a matter of ongoing review at my Department. This process also takes account of the Law Reform Commission Report on the Limitation of Actions published in December 2011 (LRC 104 - 2011). In this Report, the Commission expressed the view that the principal legislation governing limitation of actions, the Statute of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Accommodation Standards (22 Sep 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that the issue of eliminating slopping out within Portlaoise Prison has been included in the proposed 2017 refurbishment project for the prison. At present, there are significant works in train to address water problems in the toilet areas including a deep clean of all areas affected by dampness and water leaks. The Irish Prison Service will...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (22 Sep 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have no plans to revise the continuation of the Direct Provision system. In October 2014 a Working Group to report on improvements to the protection system, including Direct Provision and supports for asylum seekers was established by myself and Minister of State Ó Ríordáin. The Working Group was chaired by former High Court Judge, Dr Brian McMahon, and its membership was...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (22 Sep 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will be aware that the Government has established an Inter-Departmental and Inter-Agency Task Force to coordinate Ireland's response to this migrant crisis. I have received a number of offers of support and assistance from members of the public and voluntary groups. I have asked the Irish Red Cross to co-ordinate these offers of support. I have also received offers of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Data (22 Sep 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will be aware the Central Statistics Office (CSO), as the national statistical agency, is responsible for the publication of recorded crime statistics. In relation to the matters referred to, I have requested the CSO to provide the available statistics directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (22 Sep 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of resources, including personnel, among the various Garda Divisions and Districts, and I as Minister have no direct role in the matter. Garda management keep this distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the optimum use...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Station Closures (22 Sep 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The formulation of proposals in relation to the opening and closing of Garda stations is a matter, in the first instance, for the Garda Commissioner in the context of annual policing plans, as provided for in section 22 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005. The Garda District and Station Rationalisation Programme was implemented in An Garda Síochána during 2012 and 2013....

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

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the person mentioned by the Deputy entered the State on 24 May 2008 as a student and currently has permission, as a student, in the State until 27 February 2016. All non-EEA students resident in the State are subject to the student immigration rules set out under the "new immigration regime for full...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (22 Sep 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the processing of the application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to by the Deputy is ongoing and the case will be submitted to me for decision as expeditiously as possible. As the Deputy will appreciate, the granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Closed Circuit Television Systems (22 Sep 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will appreciate, it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for the distribution of resources, including personnel, among the various Garda Divisions and Districts, and I as Minister have no direct role in the matter. Garda management keep this distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Deportation Orders (22 Sep 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The person concerned arrived in the State on 17 March 2008, and applied for asylum on the following day. She also gave birth to a child in the State on 14 June 2008, who she also claimed asylum for. Both asylum applications were ultimately refused. On 23 August 2010, the person concerned was invited to make an application for Subsidiary Protection, as well as make representations as to why a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Leave to Remain (22 Sep 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I understand that, following the withdrawal of their application for subsidiary protection, the options now available to the person whose details were supplied will be communicated to them shortly. Should the person concerned opt at that stage to apply for leave to remain in the State on humanitarian grounds, that application will be afforded due consideration.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Staff (22 Sep 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that arrangements are being finalised with Payroll Shared Service Centre to pay the arrears of the Environmental Allowance referred to by the Deputy. It is anticipated that the these payments will be made, barring any unforeseen complications, by end October 2015. Payments made will be included in the employee’s regular payslip and will be...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (22 Sep 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the processing of an application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to by the Deputy is well advanced and the applicant will be informed of my decision in due course. As the Deputy will appreciate, the granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege...