Results 9,741-9,760 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Resources (26 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of personnel among the Garda Regions, Divisions, and Districts. Garda management keep this distribution under continuing review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the best possible use is made of these resources. I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Community Courts (26 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy may be aware, I have undertaken to consider the issue of Community Courts in Ireland and I have taken note of the recommendations set out in the National Crime Council's report "Problem Solving Justice - The Case for Community Courts in Ireland"published in 2007. It will be important to learn from international experience, and I have asked my Department to evaluate how the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Misconduct Allegations (26 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy is referring to 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, with a view to determining to what extent and in what manner further action may be required in each case. A panel consisting...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Holiday Visa Applications (26 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department is constantly seeking ways in which the visa system may be developed to facilitate legitimate travel to the State for the purpose of tourism and business. In doing so, officials in INIS maintain regular close contact with relevant Government Departments and agencies. It is, however, important to emphasise, at the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Reserve (26 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of personnel among the Garda Regions, Divisions, and Districts. Garda management keep this distribution under continuing review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the best possible use is made of these resources. I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Northern Ireland Issues (26 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am informed by the Garda Authorities that the incident in question refers to an occasion on which a PSNI vehicle inadvertently entered the State and then left the State again shortly afterwards. The Garda authorities were informed of this incident by the PSNI who set out the circumstances in which it occurred. As I stated to the Deputy previously, such incidents are not desirable,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Debt Collection (26 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: Responsibility for the licensing of the financial activity of debt collectors does not come within the area of responsibility of my Department. However, I am assuming that the Deputy is referring to my proposal, approved by Government on 6 May 2015, for the drafting of the Civil Debt (Procedures) Bill which will provide for the introduction of additional measures for the enforcement of civil...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Human Rights Issues (26 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will be aware the Government has sent the LE Eithne to the region to engage in search and rescue, by agreement with the Italian authorities. This is a significant contribution given the size of Ireland's fleet limited and it reflects the Government's desire to assist where it can in this crisis. I would refer the Deputy to my more detailed response to Parliamentary Question No...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Agreements (26 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: It is my intention is to seek Government approval for Ireland to sign the Istanbul Convention in the coming months. 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. The advice of the Attorney General...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Youth Diversion Projects (26 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department continues to invest heavily in Garda Youth Diversion Projects. My Department through the work of the Irish Youth Justice Service has committed to strengthening the evidence to support policies and services and to further develop targeted interventions to divert young people from the criminal justice system. The set of actions by which we intend to do so, is detailed in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Internationalisation Register (26 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am informed by my officials in the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) that the college referred to by the Deputy has ceased operations and, in consequence, INIS has instructed that the college be removed from the Internationalisation Register. It should be noted that prior to its closure the college in question had been under investigation by the immigration authorities...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (26 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have requested information on the matter raised by the Deputy from the Garda authorities and I will contact the Deputy when this information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Education (26 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 469 and 521 together. Based on proposals I brought forward in tandem with my colleague the Minister for Education and Skills the Government has approved the implementation of a series of reforms to the student immigration system for international education, in response to concerning practices within certain parts of the sector and a number of English...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (26 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: As regards the legislative elements of the mortgage arrears package which fall under my responsibility, I can confirm to the Deputy that amendments to the Personal Insolvency (Amendment) Bill 2014 are currently being drafted by my Department, in cooperation with the Office of the Attorney General and Parliamentary Counsel, to give early legislative effect to the measures announced last week.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Consultations (26 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can confirm to the Deputy that prior to the Government announcement on 13 May 2015, my Department had met with and/or received submissions from the following organisations regarding the review of the personal insolvency legislation and related elements of the mortgage arrears package: - Association of Personal Insolvency Practitioners - Banking and Payment Federation Ireland - Courts...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Consultancy Contracts (26 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department and I have held detailed consultations with stakeholders and experts over the past months in the context of the review of personal insolvency legislation and of the development of those elements of the recently announced mortgage arrears package for which I am responsible. The Department has also consulted in detail with the Office of the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (26 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Criminal Justice (Spent Convictions) Bill is awaiting report stage in the Dáil. However, a 2013 UK Court of Appeal judgment necessitated a review of the disclosure provisions in both the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012 and the Spent Convictions Bill. That review has been completed and amendments to the Vetting Act and consequential amendments to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Personal Insolvency Act (26 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will be aware that under the Personal Insolvency Act 2012, the eligibility criteria for entering a personal insolvency arrangement are the same for public office holders and Gardaí as they are for any other citizen. I can confirm that I do not propose to change that position.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Deportation Orders Data (26 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that a total of 125 Deportation Orders have been enforced during the period from April 2014 to end of April 2015. The top five nationalities are China 35, Nigeria 30, Malaysia 10, Somalia 5, Brazil 5, South Africa 5. In order to provide a more complete picture of the situation regarding the expulsion of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Deportation Orders Data (26 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: A total of 5 Deportation Orders in respect of minors were effected from the beginning of April, 2014 until the end of April 2015. The Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department does not issue Deportation Orders to unaccompanied minors. In enforcing the law in respect of deportations, Ireland is no different to other countries who also remove individuals who have...