Results 9,401-9,420 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Criminal Prosecutions Data (23 Jun 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 number of convictions referred to, I have requested the CSO to provide the available statistics directly to the Deputy. With regard to the number of civil orders and behaviour orders referred to, I have...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Driver Licence Data (23 Jun 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will be aware that, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service and I have no role in the matter. Section 4(3) of the 1998 Act provides that the Courts Service is independent in the performance of its functions, which includes the provision of information on the courts system. However, in order to be of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Driver Licence Data (23 Jun 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I wish to inform the Deputy that the information requested is being collated and will be forwarded to him as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Driver Licence Data (23 Jun 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I wish to inform the Deputy that the information requested is being collated and will be forwarded to him as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Programme (23 Jun 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: On 27 November, I published the General Scheme of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill. The Bill will provide for new offences of purchasing, in the context of prostitution, sexual services. It also includes wide ranging provisions to enhance the protection of children and vulnerable persons from sexual abuse and exploitation. When enacted, the Bill will facilitate full compliance with...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Visiting Committees (23 Jun 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can advise the Deputy that Visiting Committee members are appointed for a period of three years by the Minister for Justice and Equality under the Prisons (Visiting Committees) Act 1925 and Prisons (Visiting Committees) Order 1925. There are fourteen Prison Visiting Committees in existence - one for each institution. There are currently fourteen Prison Visiting Committees in existence....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Inquiries into Garda Activities (23 Jun 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The particular case to which the Deputy refers is amongst those being considered under 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, or other public representatives with a view to determining to what...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (23 Jun 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) of my Department is responsible for the provision of full board accommodation and the coordination of certain ancillary services to asylum seekers in accordance with the Government policy of direct provision. There are currently approximately 4,500 asylum seekers in 34 centres around the State. I am awaiting the presentation to me shortly of a report...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Programme (23 Jun 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: On 25 March 2015 I published the General Scheme of the International Protection Bill, which was approved by the Government, and which proposes to establish a single applications procedure for international protection. This is the first step in delivering the Government's undertaking in the Statement of Government Priorities 2014-2016 to legislate to reduce the length of time protection...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Firearms Licences (23 Jun 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 364 and 365 together. In accordance with Section 2A of the Firearms Act, 1925, as amended, a person over 14 years of age can apply for a firearms training certificate. Such a certificate authorises the person to possess a firearm only while carrying and using the firearm for hunting or target shooting and under the supervision of a specified person over...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Equipment (23 Jun 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: Decisions in relation to the provision and allocation of Garda vehicles are a matter for the Garda Commissioner in the light of her identified operational demands and the availability of resources. Responsibility for the efficient deployment of Garda vehicles in each Division is assigned to the Divisional Officer, who may allocate vehicles between stations, as required by operational...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Station Refurbishment (23 Jun 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The programme of replacement and refurbishment of Garda accommodation around the country is progressed by the Garda Authorities working in close co-operation with the Office of Public Works, who have the responsibility for the provision and maintenance of Garda accommodation. I have been advised by the Garda authorities that the OPW have stated that due to its condition it was necessary...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Programme (23 Jun 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality agreed at Dáil Committee Stage of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Bill 2013 on 17 June 2015 to an amendment proposed by the Government to repeal the Lunacy Regulation (Ireland) Act 1871. The current situation is that a person with an intellectual disability can own or inherit a property except where that person is a ward of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Water Meters Installation (23 Jun 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will appreciate that the policing of water protests is an operational matter for An Garda Síochána and that, in the circumstances, it would not be appropriate for me to provide details in relation to all such arrests as requested by the Deputy. The statutory functions of An Garda Síochána include the preservation of peace and public order, protecting life...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Applications (23 Jun 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the person concerned applied for asylum on 18th January, 2008. The asylum application of the person concerned was refused following consideration of their case by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner and, on appeal, the Refugee Appeals Tribunal. The person concerned initiated...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: State Bodies Data (23 Jun 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The use of a panel of legally qualified persons to process subsidiary protection applications has been in place in the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner (ORAC) since late 2013. This followed the transfer from the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service of my Department to ORAC of responsibility for processing of these applications under the European Union (Subsidiary...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Judicial Appointments (23 Jun 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The consultation process to which the Deputy refers was conducted with the intention of instituting reforms to enhance the current system of judicial appointments. My Department received a significant amount of material as part of the process with views ranging across many different and complex aspects of the eligibility provisions and the arrangements for appointing judges. These views...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Parole Boards (23 Jun 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can advise the Deputy that proposals are currently being prepared to establish a Parole Board on a statutory footing. In September 2014 I published the report of the Penal Policy Review Group which was tasked with carrying out a strategic review of penal policy. As an initial step, the Government agreed in principle in November 2014 to proceed with the implementation of a number of key...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Taxi Regulations (23 Jun 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can inform the Deputy that I recently received the report referred to from the Garda authorities. The position is that where an application for the grant of a public service vehicle licence is made, the Commissioner may, subject to the provisions of the Road Traffic (Public Service Vehicles) (Licensing) Regulations S.I. 292 of 1978, grant a licence in respect of a vehicle to which these...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (23 Jun 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Independent Working Group to report to Government on what improvements should be made to the protection process, including Direct Provision and supports for asylum seekers, was set up in October 2014 under the Chairmanship of former High Court Judge, Dr. Bryan McMahon and its membership was drawn from a range of interests in the international protection area including, UNHCR,...