Results 9,821-9,840 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Rehabilitation Programmes (26 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will be aware from my replies to previous Parliamentary Questions that the Irish Prison Service provides a wide range of rehabilitative programmes that include education, vocational training, healthcare, psychiatric, psychological, counselling, welfare and spiritual services. These programmes are available in all prisons and all prisoners are eligible to use the services. On...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Aid Service (26 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: Under the Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) Act 1962, the courts, through the judiciary, are responsible for the granting of legal aid. An applicant for legal aid must establish to the satisfaction of the court that their means are insufficient to enable them to pay for legal representation themselves. The court must also be satisfied that by reason of the "gravity of the charge" or "exceptional...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Rehabilitation Programmes (26 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: On committal, all prisoners are interviewed by the Governor and are informed of the services available in the prison. At this point prisoners may be referred to services or they can self refer at a later date. Where Governors consider, on the information available, that a prisoner needs a particular intervention they will initiate a referral. Rehabilitative programmes are available in all...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Rehabilitation Programmes (26 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised that the Irish Prison Service and the Probation Service have a multi-agency approach to offender management and rehabilitation from pre- to post-imprisonment in order to reduce re-offending and improve prisoner outcomes. Where the Courts have ordered the post-release supervision of offenders on completion of sentence, or in the case of life-sentenced prisoners released on...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Criminal Law (26 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 549 and 550 together. I am aware of concerns expressed recently in relation to threats made against members of the Garda Síochána. The issue of threats against Gardaí going about their duty is not confined to these incidents of course, and is something which I utterly condemn. As the Deputy is aware, it would not be appropriate for me...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: On 13 May 2015, the European Commission, published an EU Agenda for Migration. The Agenda includes a number of proposals which will be considered by Justice and Home Affairs Ministers in June and subsequently by the European Council. Among the measures proposed is the establishment of an EU-wide resettlement scheme to offer 20,000 resettlement places. The Commission proposes that the...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will be aware, the report of the Moriarty Tribunal made a number of recommendations which related to the responsibilities of different Government Departments. While there is ongoing contact between my Department and the Office of the Attorney General in relation to the Tribunals Bill and to related legal issues and judicial developments, other Departments have responsibility...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: The Tribunals of Inquiry Bill is awaiting Report Stage in the Dáil. Before progressing to this Stage, detailed consideration has to be given to a number of issues relating to developments in the law relevant to tribunals. I am not currently in a position to provide a clear timeframe to the Deputy for progressing the Bill: much depends on other competing legislative priorities, of which...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 554 to 556, inclusive, together. In 2014 there was a moratorium on recruitment and promotion in place in the civil and public service. Consequently, recruitment across the justice sector remained subject to specific sanction from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. Recruitment by way of sanctioned exception to the moratorium was therefore...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Proposed Legislation (19 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department is currently preparing for Committee Stage of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Bill 2013 which sets out a new legal framework for facilitating and supporting decision-making by adults who have difficulty in making decisions unaided. The Bill provides for the replacement of the adult Wards of Court system with a less intrusive system that offers a continuum of options...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Misconduct Allegations (19 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The 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, with a view to determining to what extent and in what manner further action...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Legal Cases (19 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: In the context of the publication of Mr McGinn's report, I indicated to family representatives, including the person referred to, that I am available to meet with them should they so wish, and my office has provided relevant contact details in this regard.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Pension Provisions (19 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 Station Refurbishment (19 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The programme of replacement and refurbishment of Garda accommodation is based on accommodation priorities which are established by An Garda Síochána. The programme is advanced in close cooperation with the Office of Public Works (OPW), which has responsibility for the provision and maintenance of Garda accommodation. Funding for such works is provided for in the Vote of the OPW. ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Data (19 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Garda Síochána Act 2005 makes provision for the compilation and publication of crime statistics by the Central Statistics Office (CSO), as the national statistical agency, and the CSO has established a dedicated unit for this purpose. I have requested the CSO to provide relevant available statistics directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Transport Data (19 May 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 Reserve (19 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of personnel, including the Garda Reserve, 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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Certificates (19 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The number of certificates of naturalisation granted in each of the periods 1 May 2011 to 30 April 2012, 1 May 2012 to 30 April 2013, 1 May 2013 to 30 April 2014 and 1 May 2014 to 30 April 2015 are 16,000, 23,300, 28,200 and 17,300 respectively. The numbers of certificates granted in each period reflects both the number of applications received and the backlogs that had existed at the time...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Stations (19 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Garda authorities that administrative measures are in place to deal with a range of accommodation issues including instances of vermin infestation in Garda stations. These measures are designed to ensure that such matters are dealt with promptly. Where instances of infestation are identified to local Garda management they advise Garda Housing Division. One of the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (19 May 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: Immigration into Ireland takes a wide range of forms including EU citizens and their families exercising the right to free movement, work permit holders and their families, students, persons granted refugee status and their families and many other categories. Not all immigrants into Ireland engage or interact with my Department. For example, EU/EEA citizens have the right of free movement...