Results 10,241-10,260 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Other Questions: Judicial Appointments (2 Apr 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: Separation of powers is very important. I am not going to comment here on the actions taken in a particular court in relation to repossessions or any other issue. Judges act as they see fit. They have full independence in doing that. I am interested in examining the judicial council. I will be moving ahead to establish a judicial council. That is an important Bill as well. Obviously,...

Other Questions: Judicial Appointments (2 Apr 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy is making very serious allegations.

Other Questions: Judicial Appointments (2 Apr 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: His allegations about judges and about behaviour in courts are very serious.

Other Questions: Judicial Appointments (2 Apr 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: In its current form, the judicial council Bill provides for the establishment of a judicial council and board that will promote excellence and high standards of conduct by judges. It will also provide a means of investigating allegations of judicial misconduct. In this context, a judicial conduct committee with lay representation will be established. It is an important Bill. It is...

Other Questions: Prison Staff (2 Apr 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: Obviously, the primary role of the Irish Prison Service is to provide safe and secure custody for prisoners. The Deputy will be aware that I take the health and safety of Irish Prison Service staff very seriously, just as he does. I have met the representative association and the head of the Irish Prison Service. I have been assured by the director general of the Irish Prison Service that...

Other Questions: Youth Justice Strategy (2 Apr 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am interested to hear the Deputy's views on how to deal with young people. I am also happy to hear his support for the 25% decrease in the numbers of young people under 25 going into prison and his support for alternative initiatives. I agree with the Deputy that it is extremely important to give people a second chance by way of community diversion programmes. Good inter-agency work is...

Other Questions: Youth Justice Strategy (2 Apr 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I thank members of the committee and the chair of the committee, Deputy David Stanton, for the work done in this area. It is clear that it is a worthwhile initiative and I hope to progress it. I would also like to see the development of family courts and I hope to introduce legislation to establish family courts. During the passage of the recent Children and Family Relationships Bill, it...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Oversight (2 Apr 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy refers to change and oversight. It is useful to consider just one example of change, namely, the reform of the fixed-charge penalty system, FCPS, cancellation process. I have appointed Judge Matthew Deery, a former President of the Circuit Court, to act as head of an independent oversight authority for the cancellation process. That role is in addition to the ongoing internal...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Oversight (2 Apr 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Taoiseach asked the Deputy for information when the Deputy raised this matter with him. If he has information, he should supply it.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Oversight (2 Apr 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: Regarding disciplinary proceedings, I will get an update on that issue and put it on the record of the House. I understand the investigation in that regard is ongoing. It is important that An Garda Síochána should take responsibility to implement the many findings of the Garda Inspectorate report. There are short-term, medium-term and longer-term recommendations included in the...

Other Questions: Youth Justice Strategy (2 Apr 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: On 28 February 2015, there were 774 prisoners in custody under the age of 25. This represents 20% of the total prisoner population of 3,780 on that day. It also represents a 25% decrease when compared with the same date in 2012. This reduction is due to several factors, including the successful implementation of the Children Act 2001 and the very successful Garda diversion programmes in...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Recruitment (2 Apr 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: 10 o’clock This is an issue I have hugely committed to, as seen from the announcement yesterday of a further 250 gardaí being recruited. This brings to 550 the number of gardaí to be recruited between September of last year and October of this year. We also have 1,100 Garda reserve members and a further 45 in training and 2,000 Garda civilian staff. The latest date...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Recruitment (2 Apr 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The deployment of operational resources the Garda Commissioner has is an operational issue. Members of the Garda Síochána are getting on with the work. I have been struck by comments from colleagues in the House and members of the public about their appreciation of work in local cases and high-profile cases. People have been impressed with the commitment of members of the Garda...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Recruitment (2 Apr 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: In 2012 and 2013, the Public Appointments Service received a record number of expressions of interest in joining the Garda reserve. That is probably linked to the new recruitment campaign and people wanted to show they were interested. Twenty-three of the first batch of 100 recruits were members of the reserve, 17 former reserve members were in the second batch of 100 new recruits and 13...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Oversight (2 Apr 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The question asks whether I am satisfied with efforts made to change the culture and workings of the Garda Síochána and to make a statement on that. Significant change, under the leadership of the new Garda Commissioner, is under way in the Garda Síochána. I unequivocally reject any suggestion otherwise. I will be publishing the policing authority Bill by the end of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (2 Apr 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: It is vital that the public has strong confidence in the Garda Síochána and the system of oversight of the Garda Síochána. The Government is implementing a comprehensive programme of reform in the areas of policing and justice. As part of the programme of change, the Garda Síochána (Amendment) Act 2015, which I will be commencing very shortly, will strengthen...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (2 Apr 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I meet with GSOC. We gave it €1 million extra in the recent budget and it recruited extra people. It is getting on with the job of investigation. I received its report for this year late yesterday which outlines its work. I cannot comment on individual cases but I am very keen that the public and the Garda have confidence in GSOC and that it gets on with the work of investigating....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (2 Apr 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: Resources are an ongoing problem for every body. I reject what the Deputy says about GSOC’s independence. GSOC gets on with its work in an independent manner. Last year, it had an increase of 11% in referrals. We changed the legislation to give it more power. Under the provisions of the new Act, for the first time, there is an inclusion of the Garda Commissioner within...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (2 Apr 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: In a very exceptional way, as the Deputy knows. It is getting on with its work day to day. Any reasonable person knows and would accept that. There has been an 11% increase in the number of cases coming to it. An extra €1 million has been allocated. It is getting on with its work, investigating complaints it receives. I am sure one could make improvements and legislative change...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Complaints Procedures (2 Apr 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: When replying to the Deputy, I must stress that counsel have been asked to make a recommendation to me on what action, if any, might be appropriate in each case. The panel is independent and there is no restriction on the nature of the recommendations it might take. A wide range of actions could be taken in respect of any particular case, such as referral to the Garda Síochána...