Results 11,261-11,280 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (7 Feb 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the processing of the application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to by the Deputy, who currently has permission to reside in the State until 4 September 2018, is ongoing. On completion of the necessary processing the application will be submitted to me for decision as...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Data (7 Feb 2018)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy will be aware, the Central Statistics Office (CSO), as the national statistical agency, is responsible for the compilation and publication of the official recorded crime statistics. To be of assistance, I have requested the CSO to forward the available statistics directly to the Deputy for the period 2014-2016.  The Deputy will be aware that the CSO has not yet...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Data (7 Feb 2018)

Charles Flanagan: The Deputy will appreciate that the Garda investigation of the case to which the Deputy refers is currently the subject of an inquiry established under section 42 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 which is conducted by His Honour Judge Donagh McDonagh. Given the independence of this Inquiry, it would be inappropriate for me to comment on the matter further. In the context of the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Court Accommodation Refurbishment (7 Feb 2018)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy is aware, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts, including the provision of accommodation for court sittings, is the responsibility of the Courts Service, which is independent in exercising its functions. However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and the Courts Service has informed me that it is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Brexit Data (7 Feb 2018)

Charles Flanagan: Contingency planning at both a domestic and an EU level is focused on three areas: preparing for a no-deal scenario or so-called “disorderly Brexit”; preparing for a transition period based on the “status quo”; and preparing for the future EU-UK relationship. While the outcome of the December European Council and the move on to Phase 2 has lessened the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Brexit Data (7 Feb 2018)

Charles Flanagan: The International Policy Division within my Department has been assigned responsibility for coordinating the Department's work as it relates to matters concerning the UK’s withdrawal from the EU (Brexit) . The Division is headed-up by an Assistant Secretary and comprises a team in Dublin, and a team based in the Permanent Representation of Ireland to the EU in Brussels, currently...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Contracts Data (7 Feb 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I wish to inform the Deputy that my Department has not engaged in any PPP related contracts with the specified company. In so far as non PPP related contracts are concerned, my Department is currently compiling information in this regard and this information will be forwarded directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Appointments to State Boards Data (7 Feb 2018)

Charles Flanagan: As Minister for Justice and Equality, I am responsible for appointments to the boards of relevant bodies under the aegis of my Department. All appointments are made in accordance with the requirements of the governing legislation and the Government Guidelines on Appointments to State Boards. However, the specific information sought by the Deputy is not available. Details of the current...

Other Questions: Policing Authority Reports (6 Feb 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I acknowledge the crucial role of the Policing Authority in the ongoing process of modernisation and reform. The issue of recruitment of civilians is of particular significance and I am anxious to ensure that process is accelerated. It is disappointing that the target of 500 civilian recruits last year was not reached. I acknowledge a number of contributory factors in that regard,...

Other Questions: Family Law Cases (6 Feb 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I acknowledge that Deputy Fitzpatrick has been raising this issue with me for some time. It is an issue that is important to him as a parliamentarian. The Government remains committed to significant reform of the courts, including the establishment of a family law court structure that is streamlined, more efficient and less costly. My Department is working on the general scheme of a...

Other Questions: Family Law Cases (6 Feb 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I do not disagree with the points raised by Deputy Fitzpatrick. The programme for Government 2011 to 2016 contained a commitment to establish a distinct and separate system of family courts to streamline the family law court process and make it more efficient and less costly. There has been ongoing negative comment in the media highlighting what are perceived to be the inadequate facilities...

Other Questions: Family Law Cases (6 Feb 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I agree that there are issues to be addressed, including infrastructural issues in terms of court facilities and buildings. We must advert to the need to ensure there is specialist training in family law for those involved in its practice, which would not only focus on the latest developments in legislation and international treaties but also ensure best international practice. We need to...

Other Questions: Garda Deployment (6 Feb 2018)

Charles Flanagan: The Deputies will be pleased to hear that the number of gardaí for the Cavan-Monaghan division increased from December 2009 to 2017: in 2015, it was 318; in 2016, it was also 318; and in 2017 it was 329. There are more on the way. A number of new recruits have been assigned to the Cavan-Monaghan division. The total number of gardaí, taking account of retirements, had increased to...

Other Questions: Garda Deployment (6 Feb 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I acknowledge that there is a particular challenge in Border areas having regard to the ongoing work in progress that is the peace process. I hope that over the next few weeks we will see the successful re-establishment of the power-sharing institutions in Northern Ireland, particularly the Executive and a working assembly. It is almost a year since the people in Northern Ireland voted and...

Other Questions: Policing Authority Reports (6 Feb 2018)

Charles Flanagan: The Policing Authority is tasked with overseeing the implementation of the agreed recommendations of the Garda Inspectorate report, Changing Policing in Ireland, and reporting to me on a regular basis. I welcome its fourth progress report which includes an in-depth assessment of the human resources function within An Garda Síochána.  Human resources is an...

Other Questions: Policing Authority Reports (6 Feb 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I certainly agree that there is a body of work to be undertaken. The Deputy referred to the plan that was submitted by An Garda Síochána to the authority in July. This has been the subject of discussion with the authority, my Department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that a further iteration of that plan is currently...

Other Questions: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (6 Feb 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I assure the House that I, as Minister, want a robust and transparent system for dealing with issues as raised by people commonly known as whistleblowers. I also want GSOC to be working efficiently and effectively. I made funding available for a number of staff members. That was provided on the understanding that we would continue to engage. When the new staff are fully operational, a...

Other Questions: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (6 Feb 2018)

Charles Flanagan: The 2014 Act makes it perfectly clear that where a member of An Garda Síochána is subject to bullying and harassment as a result of disclosures, then that ill treatment can and will form part of the overall disclosure being made. I want to point out, yet again, that An Garda Síochána has published its protected disclosures policy. All Garda members and all civilians have...

Other Questions: Garda Deployment (6 Feb 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I acknowledge that Deputy Brendan Smith has raised these issues with me on numerous occasions and that he represents a challenging constituency. I refer to the Border and the rural nature of a large constituency comprising two counties. I am sure he will agree that the distribution of gardaí is exclusively the statutory responsibility of the Garda Commissioner. However, I am advised...

Other Questions: Refugee Resettlement Programme (6 Feb 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I have been looking at that particular case and I have the details referred to by the Deputy. In this case, the Palestinian family previously lived in Egypt and Saudi Arabia. They are unwilling to return to Gaza as the medical needs of the children cannot be met there. The only way a UNHCR refugee can be admitted to Ireland is through its formal resettlement programme. I do not believe...