Results 9,481-9,500 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Wildlife Protection (17 Jun 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: At the outset I must point out that my colleague the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, has policy and legislative responsibility in this area. I am advised by her that the burning of vegetation on uncultivated land is prohibited without exception from 1 March to 31 August under section 40 of the Wildlife Acts, and that Authorised Officers in relation to the prosecution of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (17 Jun 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the person concerned has applied for a right of residency in the State, accompanied by a right to work, based on his parentage of an Irish citizen child. The application was received in the Residence Division on the 3 October, 2014 and is under consideration at present.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Misconduct Allegations (17 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: Court Accommodation Provision (17 Jun 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. In order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and the Courts Service has informed me that while they plan to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (17 Jun 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 136 and 137 together. I understand that the Report of the Independent Working Group on the Protection Process, including Direct Provision and supports to asylum seekers will be submitted to me shortly following which I will present it to Government for approval to be published. Should the Government approve the publication of the Report it will be open to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Recruitment (17 Jun 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 138 and 146 together. The Public Appointments Service (PAS) is managing the recruitment process for the Garda Commissioner and I have no direct involvement in the matter. I understand however that PAS is continuing to progress Band 1 through the selection process and interviewing for that group will conclude in August. The names of candidates who qualify...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Drugs Crime (17 Jun 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 139 to 143, inclusive, together. I am of course aware of the issues raised in the media reports referred to by the Deputy and I am sure the Deputy would concur that the issues involved are not simply policing ones. In relation to specific Garda responses I can assure the Deputy that I am in ongoing contact with the Garda Commissioner in relation to the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Stations (17 Jun 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. An Garda Síochána completed a comprehensive review of its district and station network in 2012 and 2013. The objective...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (17 Jun 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will be aware that the Government agreed last September to hold a referendum on removing the offence of blasphemy from the Constitution, in response to the 6th Report of the Convention on the Constitution. The work necessary to prepare a Referendum Bill and a Bill to amend the current legislative provision for the offence of blasphemy is ongoing in my Department. An appropriate...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (16 Jun 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Reception & 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 have no plans to end direct provision. I am...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Tribunals of Inquiry Recommendations (16 Jun 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am informed by the Garda authorities that, following the examination by An Garda Síochána of the report of the Moriarty Tribunal, the advice of the Director of Public Prosecutions was sought with a view to determining whether or not a full Garda investigation should be commenced. As this process is ongoing it would not be appropriate for me to comment in further detail at this...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Northern Ireland Issues (16 Jun 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 409 and 410 together. It has been the long-standing desire of the Government and the Garda Authorities to co-operate to the greatest degree possible under the law with the Northern Ireland Coroner's Inquest into the horrific murders of ten innocent people at Kingsmill, Co. Armagh by the Provisional IRA in January 1976. The Garda Authorities have been...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (16 Jun 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I had no objections to the Mare Nostrum operation, run by the Italian Authorities in the Mediterranean with a strong search and rescue element. The operation ceased on commencement of the Frontex co-ordinated Operation Triton which remains ongoing. The Deputy will be aware that the LÉ Eithne was deployed to the Mediterranean on 16 May 2015 to engage in humanitarian search and rescue...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naval Service Operations (16 Jun 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: Following a Government decision, the LÉ Eithne was deployed to the Mediterranean on 16 May 2015 to engage in humanitarian search and rescue operations at sea as part of Ireland's overall contribution to the migrant crisis situation in the region. It has been agreed with the Italian Government that the LÉ Eithne will conduct search and rescue operations in the Mediterranean in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (16 Jun 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 413, 414, 466, 467 and 469 together. The aim of the independent Charities Regulatory Authority, established on 16 October 2014 under the provisions of the Charities Act 2009, is to provide for better regulation of charitable organisations through a framework of registration, regulation and support. Since its establishment, the Authority has published a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Proposed Legislation (16 Jun 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: As I indicated in my response to Question No. 270 of 6 May 2015, "The Government has no immediate plans to legislate for the legal enforceability and recognition of pre-nuptial agreements on the lines proposed by the Deputy. While I recognise the concerns that the Study Group on Pre-Nuptial Agreements sought to address in its recommendations on this issue, providing for the recognition or...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Expenditure (16 Jun 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: A budget of €500,000 has been allocated to the Policing Authority for 2015. The staffing of the Authority is currently under consideration by my Department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Data (16 Jun 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 417 and 418 together. As the Deputy is aware the Irish Prison Service collates and publishes the prisoner population breakdown, including those on temporary release, on a daily basis and this information is available on the Irish Prison Service website. Therefore I can inform the Deputy that the information requested in relation to the total prison population;...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Staff (16 Jun 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: Appointments to the position of Secretary General are a function of government, following an independent recruitment process undertaken by the Top Level Appointments Commission (TLAC) through the Public Appointments Service (PAS).As such, my Department has no involvement in the recruitment process. Last year an open international recruitment competition for the post of Secretary General...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Reports (16 Jun 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: Since the publication of the Report of the Independent Review Group in relation to the performance, management and administration of my Department, a change programme to address the Group's recommendations has been developed and is being implemented. The objective is to support the necessary changes to ensure the Department provides strategic oversight and added value to its agencies. ...