Results 11,241-11,260 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Firearms Licences (17 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Law Reform Commission (LRC) has restated the Firearms Acts and this “administrative consolidation” is available on the LRC website. The restatement is dated 31 October 2012 and it contains all amendments to the Firearms Acts. In light of public safety concerns highlighted by An Garda Síochána, a joint Department of Justice and Equality/An Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Resources (17 Feb 2015)

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

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Complaints Procedures (17 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The independent review panel, to which the Deputy refers, has been examining 315 cases. This is a significant number of cases, and somewhat higher than originally estimated, but I think it was important to refer to the Panel all of the allegations that have been made to me as Minister or to the Taoiseach, whether they came direct from complainants or through public representatives or...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Road Traffic Offences (17 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will be aware that since 2010, An Garda Síochána has contracted a service provider 'GoSafe' to operate safety cameras on its behalf. This service encompasses both speed detection and speed survey sessions. In that regard, GoSafe conducts regular speed surveys at locations identified by An Garda Síochána as having the greatest propensity for speed related...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Investigations (17 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have asked the Garda Commissioner for a report in relation to the matter and will write to the Deputy as soon as I have further information.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Investigations (17 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can inform the Deputy that the particular case to which he 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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Road Signage (17 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have asked the Garda Commissioner for a report in relation to the matter and will write to the Deputy as soon as I have further information.

Topical Issue Debate: Stardust Fire (12 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. Irrespective of any differences of opinion, no one disputes the magnitude of this tragedy or the impact it had on the families concerned and, as the Deputy said, the wider community. We are all conscious that the 34th anniversary of the fire falls this weekend and that this must be a particularly difficult time of year for all affected. As the...

Topical Issue Debate: Stardust Fire (12 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am aware there remains dissatisfaction over the fact that it has not been possible to determine the true cause of the fire with certainty. I entirely sympathise with the concerns of the victims committee in this regard and I sympathise with all those who continue to be affected by the tragedy. However, the position is that an independent examination by Mr. Coffey was put in place to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Vetting Applications (12 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Garda Central Vetting Unit (GCVU) provides employment vetting to organisations registered with the Gardaí for this purpose and which employ persons in a full-time, part-time, voluntary or training capacity to positions where they would have substantial, unsupervised access to children and/or vulnerable adults. Garda Vetting is presently conducted under policy as opposed to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Mental Health Awareness (12 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department flies the National and EU Flags in accordance with the protocol set by the Department of the Taoiseach. My Department will consider this request in accordance with this Protocol.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Closed Circuit Television Systems (12 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: A community-based CCTV Scheme was launched in 2005. This scheme provided financial assistance to qualifying local organisations towards meeting the capital costs associated with the establishment of a local community CCTV system. Two major rounds of funding were advertised under that scheme. The current position is that all available funding provided under the previous two rounds has been...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Recruitment (12 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Garda Síochána uniform and the wearing of any additional items as part of that Uniform is a matter for the Garda Commissioner. The Garda Commissioner advises me that diversity in faith and culture is welcomed in he Garda Síochána but that there would be difficulties with permitting the wearing of religion specific items of uniform which could identify the member of An...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Proposed Legislation (12 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will be aware that the Government agreed last September to hold a referendum on removing the offence of blasphemy contained in Article 40.6.1.1 of the Constitution, in response to the 6th Report of the Convention on the Constitution. The Government's response was presented in the Dáil on 2nd October 2014. The work necessary to prepare a Referendum Bill and a Bill to amend...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (12 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the person in question does not currently have an application pending. This person was granted temporary permission on 20 November 2014 - for four months- to afford them the opportunity to make an application for an Employment Permit to the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation.I understand...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Reunification Applications (12 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) that there is no current application for family reunification from the person referred to by the Deputy. Information on the family reunification applications process is available on the website of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service of my Department . The Deputy may wish to note that queries in relation to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Reunification Applications (12 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service of my Department that there is no current application for family reunification in respect of the person referred to by the Deputy. It is open to the person concerned to make an application for a visa at any time. Guidelines regarding the visa application procedures are available on the website of the Irish Naturalisation...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Adoption Legislation (12 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 160 and 161 together. The Children and Family Relationships Bill will not change the current arrangements for step-parent adoption. I understand that the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs plans to bring forward legislative proposals in this regard separately. It is intended that the Children and Family Relationships Bill will have a provision to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (12 Feb 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service of my Department (INIS) that the person concerned entered the State on 27th February 2004 and applied for asylum on 1st March 2004. The asylum application was refused by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner in May 2005, and the decision was upheld by the Refugee Appeals Tribunal in October 2005. In accordance...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Deportation Orders (12 Feb 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. Representations were received on behalf of the person concerned pursuant to the provisions of Section 3 (11) of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended), to have his Deportation...