Results 9,761-9,780 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

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

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 478 and 479 together. Regulation (EU) No 604/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 (Dublin III Regulation) establishes the criteria and mechanisms for determining the Member State responsible for examining an application for international protection lodged in one of the Member Stats by a third-country national or a stateless...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Staff (26 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Director General of the Irish Prison Service that there are no immediate plans to recruit additional prison officers. However the situation is kept under review. The Deputy will be aware that in accordance with Government Decision S180/20/10/0964C of 3 February and 24 March 2009 on the implementation of savings measures on public service numbers, more generally...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: As I mentioned in my previous reply to which the Deputy refers, it is proposed that a review of the position generally in relation to search warrants, including any legislative change that may be required, will be carried out within my Department following an anticipated report from the Law Reform Commission. I understand that the Commission's report is expected to be finalised and published...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 482 and 484 together. The Deputy will be aware that the legislative basis for the carrying out of covert surveillance in this State is the Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Act 2009. From the outset I should clarify that, as Minister for Justice and Equality, I have no role in authorising surveillance under the provisions of the Criminal Justice...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Refugee Numbers (26 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: All persons admitted to Ireland for permanent resettlement are granted programme refugee status on arrival, in the normal course programme refugees are accommodated by the Reception and Integration Agency for a period to facilitate a language training and orientation programme and while accommodation is sourced in local communities.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Proposed Legislation (26 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: On 27 November, I published the General Scheme of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill. The General Scheme includes wide ranging provisions to enhance the protection of children and vulnerable persons from sexual abuse and exploitation. In addition, the Bill will provide for new offences of purchasing, in the context of prostitution, sexual services. The first is a general offence of...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: Section 15 of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act, 1956, as amended, provides that the Minister may, in her absolute discretion, grant a certificate of naturalisation, provided certain statutory conditions are fulfilled. One such condition is that the applicant must have had a period of one year's continuous residency in the State immediately before the date of application and, during...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that a valid application for a certificate of naturalisation has been received from the person referred to by the Deputy. As the Deputy will appreciate, as well as being a significant event for the recipient, the granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation as provided for in law is also a...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: The Assisted Decision-Making Capacity Bill is scheduled for Dáil Committee Stage on 17 June with a view to enactment later this year. It is proposed to establish an Office of Public Guardian within the Courts Service, replacing the Office of Wards of Court with regard to adult wards. It will draw on staffing and non-pay resources of the Courts Service. Initial budgetary...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Pension Provisions (26 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: To date no proposals have been agreed to change the process by which retired members of An Garda Síochána are paid their pension from the current method of payment in advance. I can, however, state that consideration of this matter is at an exploratory stage. It should be emphasised that there is no consideration being given to changing the amount of pension payments that retired...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (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 however been informed by the Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Funding (26 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) is an independent statutory body established under the Garda Síochána Act 2005. The objectives, functions and powers of GSOC are governed by the 2005 Act. Resources and funding are kept under continuing review to ensure that GSOC is enabled to continue to operate effectively and efficiently and in accordance with its...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Refugee Numbers (26 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: In terms of immediate actions the two main proposals relate to resettlement and relocation. The Commission indicated that they will be recommending an EU resettlement scheme by the end of May for 20,000 places. This number will be distributed among Member States in accordance with several clearly defined criteria (Ireland’s proposed share will be 1.36% or 272 persons). Participation...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Airport Security (26 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will appreciate that it would not be appropriate for me to outline details of security arrangements at Shannon Airport. The appalling violence and barbarism displayed by the Islamic State (IS/ISIS) organisation clearly demonstrates there is no justification of any kindto engage in the savagery that has now become its trademark. Ireland, like any other democratic country with...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Refugee Status Applications (26 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: Applications for asylum are not accepted from persons resident or present in other countries as our refugee status determination process is based on applications being made within the Irish jurisdiction. Section 8 of the Refugee Act 1996 provides that any person who arrives at the frontiers of the State or any person who at any time is in the State seeking the status of a refugee may apply...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Tribunals of Inquiry Reports (26 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 496 and 497 together. As the Deputy may recall from my reply to his further question no. 491 of 24 March, the position is 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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Policing Authority Establishment (26 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: Following an open process undertaken by the Public Appointments Service seeking expressions of interest, the Government has nominated Ms. Josephine Feehily as the Chairperson designate of the planned new independent Policing Authority. Ms. Feehily was nominated by the Government following an application for the position by way of an open "expressions of interest" process administered by the...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: The question of naturalisation does not arise at this time in the case of the persons whose details were supplied. If the persons concerned have made an application for asylum or subsidiary protection, the Deputy will be aware that it is not the practice to comment on such applications until such time as they have fully completed the protection process. Protection applicants are issued...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Services Regulation (26 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: Under the Solicitors Acts 1954-2011, the Law Society is the designated regulatory body for solicitors in the State. All regulatory investigations and complaints-handling procedures are conducted within that legislative framework and regulations made under it. This framework includes recourse to the Independent Adjudicator in relation to complaints, as well as a key role for the High Court in...