Results 9,101-9,120 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Data (19 Jun 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I have requested a report from the Garda authorities in relation to this matter and I will contact the Deputy again when the report is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Anti-Social Behaviour (19 Jun 2018)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy will appreciate, the allocation of all Garda resources, including personnel, is solely a matter for the Garda Commissioner and his management team and I have no direct role in this regard. However, I can assure the Deputy that An Garda Síochána continue to monitor all new and emerging crime trends in our communities, particularly in the Summer months. I am...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Drug and Alcohol Testing (19 Jun 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I have requested a report from An Garda Síochána in relation to the information sought by the Deputy and I will be in contact with the Deputy directly on receipt of this report.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Data (19 Jun 2018)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy will be aware, the Central Statistics Office (CSO), as the national statistical agency, is responsible for the compilation and publication of the official recorded crime statistics, and the CSO has established a dedicated unit for this purpose. I have asked the CSO to forward the available statistics directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Transport Data (19 Jun 2018)

Charles Flanagan: The Government's Capital Plan 2016 – 2021 provides €46 million for investment in the Garda fleet, to ensure that An Garda Síochána has a modern, effective and fit-for-purpose fleet.  This is in addition to the investment of almost €30 million in the period 2013 to 2015.  Indeed in the period 2013 to the end of 2017, almost €44 million has been...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (19 Jun 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the visa application referred to was refused, on a number of grounds, by the Visa Office in Abu Dhabi on 31 May 2018.  The decision was communicated to the applicant who was advised that an appeal could be submitted within two months.  No appeal has yet been received in relation to this...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Resources (19 Jun 2018)

Charles Flanagan: 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 I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. Garda management keeps this distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the optimum use is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Cross-Border Co-operation (19 Jun 2018)

Charles Flanagan: In November 2015, the British and Irish Governments and the Northern Ireland Executive agreed a series of measures in the agreement A Fresh Start, The Stormont Agreement and Implementation Plan, as part of a concerted and enhanced effort to tackle organised and cross jurisdictional crime.  These measures included the creation of the Joint Agency Task Force. This Task Force...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Assisted Suicide (19 Jun 2018)

Charles Flanagan: The practice or act of euthanasia, insofar as it involves assisted suicide, is illegal in Ireland.  It is an offence, under section 2(2) of the Criminal Law (Suicide) Act 1993, to assist another person in taking his or her life.  The offence was created in order to safeguard the lives of persons who are nearing the end of their lives and might be vulnerable or at risk of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Personal Injury Claims (19 Jun 2018)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy is aware, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service, which is independent in exercising its functions, which include the provision of information on the courts system. However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had inquiries made and the Courts Service has informed me that...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Insurance Fraud (19 Jun 2018)

Charles Flanagan: Recommendation 26 of the ‘Report on the Cost of Motor Insurance’, published in January 2017, relates to exploring the potential for further cooperation between the insurance sector and An Garda Síochána in relation to insurance fraud investigation. Specifically, this involves considering the feasibility of establishing a specialised and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (19 Jun 2018)

Charles Flanagan: The amendment of Section 8 of the Civil Liability and Courts Act 2004 has been recommended by the Cost of Insurance Working Group Report on the Cost of Employer and Public Liability Insurance.  The Working Group, chaired by Minister of State for Financial Services and Insurance, Michael D'Arcy TD, is undertaking a review of the factors which are influencing the increased cost of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Insurance Industry Regulation (19 Jun 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I am replying to this matter as raised by the Deputy in the understanding that the intended reference is to companies, whether legal firms or not, which specialise in assisting claimants to bring forward and process claims, whether in relation to insurance, personal injury, medical negligence or other areas of litigation. This is, of course, an issue which has been the subject of particular...

Topical Issue Debate: Asylum Applications (14 Jun 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I repeat my concern that there has been a great deal of misinformation about this case in the public domain. I want to state clearly that Nonso Muojeke is not at any immediate risk of deportation. The Irish Nationalisation and Immigration Service has given that undertaking to the court. This case is still before the courts. As I have consistently said, as Minister for Justice and Equality...

Topical Issue Debate: Asylum Applications (14 Jun 2018)

Charles Flanagan: As Deputy Cowen knows I am most familiar with this case. Indeed, I met Nonso Muojeke today in my office.Of course, I am immensely sympathetic to his situation and I understand why there is concern among his friends.However, it is important to state that there is a huge volume of misinformation in the public domain about this case, and this is a concern to me. As the House knows, as Minister...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009 and Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998: Motions (14 Jun 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I thank the House for taking these two motions. The House will be aware that the Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998 was enacted in the wake of the barbaric murder by the Real IRA of 29 innocent people at Omagh in August 1998, 20 years ago. That atrocity demanded this legislative response from the State as a necessary and wholly proportionate measure to defend the desire of the...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009 and Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998: Motions (14 Jun 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I acknowledge the very generous comments of my friend, Senator Buttimer, and look forward to what will be a very important event in the Seanad next week. As I outlined, the 1998 Offences against the State (Amendment) Act remains an essential tool in tackling the activities of terrorist groups across the island. Offences against the State Acts form the main body of the State's laws to...

Seanad: Commission of Investigation: Motion (14 Jun 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I am pleased to be here to discuss this important matter. I thank members of the Business Committee for agreeing to give time to this issue in the House today, namely, the order for the establishment of a commission of investigation into the response to allegations or complaints of child sexual abuse by Bill Kenneally and related matters. As Members will be aware, I have written to the...

Seanad: Commission of Investigation: Motion (14 Jun 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I acknowledge the contributions of Senators Wilson, Grace O'Sullivan, Coffey and Ó Donnghaile. This is an important issue and, as Senator O'Sullivan said, it is an emotive one. I very much agree with Senator Coffey that it is unfortunate, to say the least, that we are in this House again debating another element of this country's dark history of failing to properly respond to child...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission: Motion (14 Jun 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I thank the House for facilitating me between items Nos. 3 and 4 on the Order of Business. The appointment of members of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, GSOC, is governed by the provisions of the Garda Síochána Act 2005, which require the Government to satisfy itself that a person to be nominated for appointment has the appropriate experience, qualifications,...