Results 10,561-10,580 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Court Accommodation Refurbishment (24 Mar 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy is aware, the Courts Service Act 1998 provides that management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service which is independent in exercising its functions, which include the provision of accommodation for court sittings. However, in order to be of assistance I have had enquiries made and the Courts Service informs me that they are aware of the shortcomings of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Youth Justice Strategy (24 Mar 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will be aware that my Department has responsibility for the Community Programmes Unit of the Irish Youth Justice Service (IYJS) which funds 100 Garda Youth Diversion Projects (GYDP) nationwide. On 19 December 2014, I announced that funding will be provided under the Dormant Accounts Disbursement Scheme to expand Irish Youth Justice Service Community Programmes. This new...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Judicial Reviews (24 Mar 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the person referred to is the subject of a Deportation Order and therefore has no entitlement to residency in the State. The person concerned initiated Judicial Review proceedings challenging the decision of a 17 (7) application which is an application to make a new asylum claim under section 17...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Judicial Reviews (24 Mar 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: As I have indicated to the Deputy previously, I met with family members of the victim to whom the Deputy refers and their legal representative to hear their concerns about aspects of the Garda investigation of the murder of their loved one and their call for an inquiry. I also committed to consider the family's request on the basis of information which they furnished to me. The case at hand...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Bail Law (24 Mar 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will be aware that a decision to grant bail in a particular case is a matter for the court, which is, subject only to the Constitution and the law, independent in the exercise of its judicial functions. There is a constitutional presumption in favour of bail because, in the eyes of the law, a person is innocent until proven guilty. The provisions of the European Convention on...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (24 Mar 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the person mentioned by the Deputy would appear to have arrived in the State on 04/08/2006. It would therefore seem that this person has remained in the State without the permission of the Minister for Justice and Equality. This is in breach of Section 5 (1) of the Immigration Act 2004 which...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Law Cases (24 Mar 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The key legislation underpinning access matters in relation to Family Law is the Guardianship of Infants Act 1964, as amended, and it extends to minor children only, not to adults. In relation to adults, if, for instance, an adult appoints an attorney under the Powers of Attorney Act 1996 to make decisions on that person's behalf in circumstances where that person loses capacity, the person...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Firearms and Ammunition Security (24 Mar 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 428 and 429 together. I have asked the Garda Commissioner for a report in relation to these matters and will write to the Deputy as soon as I have further information.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Promotions (24 Mar 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: Since my appointment in May of 2014, I have, at the request of the Garda Commissioner and in accordance with Regulation 12 (2) of the Garda Síochána (Promotion) Regulations 2006, appointed four persons to promotion boards in the Garda Síochána as per the following table. Board Name Inspector to Superintendent Eamonn Fitzpatrick Inspector to Superintendent Kate Lawler...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Data (24 Mar 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The cost of an available staffed prison space fell from €92,717 in 2008 to €65,542 in 2013, which is a reduction of €27,175. There has been no reduction in services available to prisoners and in fact the spend on Prisoner Related Variable Costs increased over the same period. The decrease in costs actually resulted from a combination of a reduced overall expenditure bill...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Education Service (24 Mar 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am informed by the Director General of the Irish Prison Service that records of prisoner participation in vocational training and education programmes are not maintained in such a way as to provide the specific information sought by the Deputy. Broad programmes of education are provided which generally follow an adult education approach. Prison education includes a core element of basic...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Rehabilitation Programmes (24 Mar 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Probation Service supports a number of Community Based Organisations to provide a range of services in addressing offending behaviour and facilitating reintegration. All such Organisations aim to offer a service to offenders who would otherwise not be in a position to avail of a mainstream service opportunity. Since 2008, the Probation Service has agreed a range of reductions in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Data (24 Mar 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I refer to Question No. 346 of 3 March 2015. The information in regard to funding in my reply to that question is unchanged. The Garda Síochána operates a Witness Security Programme to respond to attempts by criminal and other groups to prevent the normal functioning of the criminal justice system, including threats of violence and systematic intimidation of witnesses. By...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (24 Mar 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Government is committed to introduce consolidated and reformed domestic violence legislation to address all aspects of domestic violence. In this regard, I will circulate to Departments the draft General Scheme of a consolidated bill on domestic violence in a number of weeks with a view to seeking Government approval shortly thereafter and enactment of the resulting Bill later this...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Industrial Disputes (24 Mar 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 436 and 521 together. A number of implementation issues have arisen in respect of the Croke Park and Haddington Road agreements in recent months and IPS management have at all times continued to engage with the Prison Officers Association on these issues through the well established mechanisms contained within those agreements. The National Oversight...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Independent Review Mechanism (24 Mar 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am aware that the members of the family in question have pursued complaints in respect of a number of issues over a long period of time and that there was also protracted civil and family law litigation which I believe was concluded some time ago. This case has been the subject of previous review in my Department and there appears to be no additional information forthcoming which would...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Sexual Offences Data (24 Mar 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 asked the CSO to provide the latest available statistics directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (24 Mar 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 so 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: Crime Prevention (24 Mar 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can assure the Deputy that I am very conscious of the concerns which exist in relation to these sorts of crimes and their impact on householders and communities. The specific policing strategies which are deployed in relation to these of types of crimes are of course a matter for the Garda Commissioner to determine. In this regard I am advised that local Garda management closely monitor...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Levels (24 Mar 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can assure the Deputy that I am very conscious of the concerns expressed in relation to the incidence of burglary, including in the area referred to. I am working closely with the Garda Commissioner and other relevant criminal justice agencies to ensure that an effective, whole of system response is in place. An Garda Síochána are pursuing a range of strategies to tackle this,...