Results 10,141-10,160 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service Issues (21 Apr 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will be aware the Irish Prison Service has a commitment in its current Strategy (2012 - 2015) to develop a Dignity at Work Charter. I am advised by the Director General of the Irish Prison Service that significant staff consultation took place through the holding of 19 focus groups across the Prison Estate. Resulting from these consultations five behaviours were identified by...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Drugs in Prisons (21 Apr 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I wish to inform the Deputy that there are currently Drug Free Unit's operational in 7 closed prisons: Mountjoy (Male), Dochas Centre, Cloverhill, Limerick, Cork, and Castlerea Prison and Wheatfield Place of Detention. There is an aggregate total of 560 spaces in these unit's, which currently house 486 prisoners with 74 spaces available. The majority of Units operate at or close to their...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Health (21 Apr 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I wish to inform the Deputy that the Irish Prison Service Three Year Strategic Plan 2012 - 2015, under Strategic Action 3: gave a commitment to provide equivalence of care to all prisoners in custody, and to develop audit tools to measure such equivalence. I am advised that the Irish Prison Service has recently carried out an audit of healthcare standards in a number of prison institutions,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Security (21 Apr 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that as part of the response to the Report of the Commission of Investigation into the Death of Gary Douche (McMorrow Report) the Irish Prison Service Security Compliance Group was tasked with developing the Irish Prison Service "Cell Sharing Risk Assessment Policy". The policy is currently at draft stage and close to completion. Once the policy is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Proposed Legislation (21 Apr 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: On 27 November 2014, I published the General Scheme of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill. The Bill will introduce new offences of purchasing, in the context of prostitution, sexual services which are directed at the demand side of prostitution with a view to tackling the exploitation, including trafficking in persons, associated with prostitution. The General Scheme also contains wide...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Public Sector Pensions Data (21 Apr 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: Retired staff members of my Department and the bodies under its aegis are mainly in receipt of pensions from the Superannuation and Retired Allowances Vote (Vote 12) of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. Payments to retired members of An Garda Síochána are made from the Garda Síochána Vote (Vote 20). Pension payments to the dependents of retired members...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Aid Service Staff (16 Apr 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 111 and 114 together. The breakdown of the Legal Aid Board’s overall staffing complement as of 1 April 2015 is as follows: Location Number of staff Frontline (yes/no) % of Total Numbers Law Centres 286 (including 113 solicitors). Yes 75% Mediation Offices 31 (including 16 Mediators). Yes 8% Research and Information Unit 12 Yes 3% Corporate...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Road Traffic Offences (16 Apr 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have requested reports from the Garda authorities and the Court Services in relation to the matters referred to by the Deputy. I will contact the Deputy directly as soon as these are to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Service Medals (16 Apr 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Scott Medal is the highest award An Garda Síochána can bestow on a Garda member. It is awarded where a member has risked their life in the execution of duty. To date (since 1923) there have been 414 Scott Medals Awarded for bravery. The Scott medal is awarded based on a recommendation made to the Garda Commissioner and it is a matter for her in the first instance. The Prison...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Property Registration Issues (16 Apr 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can inform the Deputy that under the Registration of Deeds and Title Act 2006, the Property Registration Authority (PRA) was established as and from 4 November 2006. The PRA replaces the Registrar of Deeds and Titles as the registering authority in relation to property registration in Ireland and, subject to the above Act, is independent in the performance of its functions. The Deputy...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Public Sector Pensions (16 Apr 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 this matter is currently being considered.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (16 Apr 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the person concerned has been granted permission to remain in the State for the period to 08 July, 2016. This decision was conveyed in writing to the person concerned by letter dated 24 July, 2013. I am advised by the Citizenship Division of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS)...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Recruitment (16 Apr 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Public Appointments Service (PAS) is managing the recruitment process for the Garda Commissioner and I have no direct involvement in the matter. I have, however, been informed that there are no restrictions on individuals reapplying in the event of a new competition being advertised (subject to them meeting the eligibility criteria applicable at that time), irrespective of their results...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (16 Apr 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: If the person whose details were supplied has made an application for asylum or subsidiary protection, the Deputy will be aware that it is not the practice to comment on such applications for as long as they remain in the protection process. The position in this regard is in accordance with Section 19 of the Refugee Act 1996 (as amended) which provides for the protection of the identity of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (16 Apr 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 122 and 123 together. I am informed by Officials in the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) that a reminder letter issued to the Garda National Immigration Bureau on 15 April 2015 advising that the passports of the persons concerned could be endorsed with the appropriate permission to remain in the State pending a decision on their...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (16 Apr 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, who currently has permission to reside in the State until 26 November, 2015. As the Deputy will appreciate, the granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that, in response to a notification pursuant to the provisions of Section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended), that the first person concerned has submitted written representations. The position in the State of the first person concerned will now be decided by reference to the provisions of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Reunification Applications (16 Apr 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: It is open to a visa-required national to make a visa application for any purpose to enter Ireland, the onus resting with the applicant to satisfy the visa officer as why the visa should be granted. All information that the applicant wishes to have taken into consideration should be included with their application. Guidelines on the visa application process can be found on the INIS...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (16 Apr 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 granted permission to be in the State on Stamp 1 permission. Correspondence was received on behalf of the person concerned on 9th April 2015 regarding her registration of this permission. This correspondence is currently receiving attention. Queries in...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: If the person whose details were supplied has made an application for asylum or subsidiary protection, the Deputy will be aware that it is not the practice to comment on such applications for as long as they remain in the protection process. The position in this regard is in accordance with Section 19 of the Refugee Act 1996 (as amended) which provides for the protection of the identity of...