Results 9,501-9,520 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

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

Frances Fitzgerald: I understand the Deputy to be referring to a draft legislative proposal which is with my colleague Minister of State Ó Ríordáin in his capacity as Minister of State at the Department of Health with responsibility for the National Drugs Strategy. I understand that the Minister of State has asked officials in that Department to examine the practical and legal issues surrounding...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Data (16 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 matters referred to, I have requested the CSO to provide the available statistics directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Ministerial Meetings (16 Jun 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: Since my appointment as Minister for Justice and Equality on 8 May 2014 I have had meetings with various bodies who have a direct interest, as stakeholders, in the work of my Department. This has, of course, included the legal professional bodies who have a range of insights to offer from their direct working engagement across the justice system. On 22 May 2014 I had my first meetings,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Emergency Services Personnel (16 Jun 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can assure the Deputy that the law already recognises the gravity of any attack on emergency service personnel and on prison officers, who are carrying out their duty, and that the penalties which are in place clearly underline the seriousness with which such attacks are viewed. I would refer the Deputy in particular to the provisions of section 19 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order)...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Istanbul Convention (16 Jun 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: It is my intention to seek Government approval for Ireland to sign the Istanbul Convention in the coming weeks. This is a matter of priority for me. My Department has been working with other Government Departments and agencies to establish precisely the actions which would need to be taken in order to ratify and implement the Istanbul Convention. I intend to include those actions in the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service Administration (16 Jun 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will be aware, the Courts Service is responsible for the management and administration of the Courts. The scheduling of court cases and the allocation of court business is a matter for the Presidents of the courts and the presiding judge who are under the Constitution independent in the exercise of their judicial functions. The Presidents monitor waiting times across all...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Court of Appeal Establishment (16 Jun 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy may be aware, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service. The Act provides that the Service is independent in the performance of its functions, including the provision of courthouse facilities. However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and the Courts Service...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will understand that it has been the long standing practice and policy of successive Ministers not to comment in detail on the arrangements that are put in place to seek to ensure the personal security of certain office holders. In any event, the Deputy will appreciate that a range of security costs can arise in terms of ensuring the personal security of Ministers and, in the...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will appreciate that arrangements for the maintaining of security for the persons referred to are an operational matter for An Garda Síochána and it would be contrary to established practice to comment in detail on such arrangements. I have no information to suggest that the security of such persons has been compromised in the manner referred to by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Ministerial Meetings (16 Jun 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I wish to confirm that, since my appointment as Minister for Justice and Equality, I have not had any such official engagements or meetings, either public or private in nature as referred to by the Deputy.

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

Frances Fitzgerald: When the Government decided on 5 November 2013 that a referendum would be held on the question of enabling same-sex couples to marry, it reiterated its commitment that the freedom of religion of religious solemnisers would be guaranteed. The General Scheme of a Marriage Bill 2015, published on my Department's website on 9 March 2015, set out the framework for the legislation which would be...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Programme (16 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: Motor Insurance Coverage (16 Jun 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will be aware, I have no direct role in operational road traffic enforcement which is a matter for the Garda Commissioner. I can, however, assure the Deputy that roads policing continues to be a priority for An Garda Síochána and all aspects in respect of its enforcement are kept under review. While members of the Garda Traffic Corps in every Garda Division are...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Claims Processing (16 Jun 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The current maximum value of cases that can be taken under the small claims procedure of the District Court is €2,000. This limit was set in 2006 and was last reviewed in 2009 in advance of the expansion of the scheme to cater for business-to-business claims of the same nature which came into effect on 5 January 2010. I am informed that the review found that the existing limit was...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the person referred to by the Deputy was illegally present in the State from September 2003 until October 2014. I understand that they were granted permission on the basis that they were a dependent family member of another individual who was granted the 2004 Student Probationary Extension. I...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Anti-Social Behaviour (16 Jun 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can advise the Deputy that I have brought the specific matter to which he refers to the attention of the Garda authorities. I can also assure the Deputy that it is the policy of An Garda Síochána to deploy personnel to establish a highly visible and accessible service to communities to tackle crime, the fear of crime and anti-social behaviour. If a person feels that a crime...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Penalty Points System Data (16 Jun 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 438 and 439 together. I have requested a report from the Garda authorities in relation to the matters referred to by the Deputy. I will contact the Deputy directly as soon as the report is to hand.

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

Frances Fitzgerald: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the PULSE system currently recognises the production of driver and vehicle documents by a member of the public to An Garda Síochána at any nominated Garda station. I am further informed that Garda authorities are actively working on an issue identified in the Garda Inspectorate Report on the Fixed Charge Processing System with regard...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will be aware, there are a number of measures in place in relation to the association of driving licence details with penalty points. The primary purpose of Section 63 of the Road Traffic Act, 2010 is to ensure that the driving licence number of individual offenders is recorded to enable the application of appropriate penalty points to the licence on conviction by the Court,...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that an application for a certificate of naturalisation has been received from the person referred to by the Deputy. The application is at an advanced stage of processing and will be submitted to me for decision in due course. As the Deputy will appreciate, the granting of Irish citizenship through...