Results 11,321-11,340 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Correspondence (6 Feb 2018)

Charles Flanagan: The Criminal Justice (Mutual Legal Assistance) Act 2008 provides for Competent Authorities to seek and afford assistance in relation to matters which are the subject of criminal investigations and/or criminal proceedings.  Such assistance is sought and provided on a confidential basis, as any public comment relating to a request for assistance may prejudice or impair the investigation...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Freedom of Information Requests (6 Feb 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 79 and 83 together. I am advised by the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (INIS) of my Department that the decision of the Office of the Information Commissioner (OIC) referred to by the Deputy was notified to the Department on 25 January.  While it would not be appropriate for me to comment on a ruling of the Information Commissioner the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Strength (6 Feb 2018)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy will appreciate, it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for the distribution of resources, including personnel, among the various Garda Divisions and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. Garda management keeps this distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the optimum use is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Organised Crime (6 Feb 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 81 and 93 together. I can assure the Deputy that tackling organised crime activity is a key ongoing priority for both the Government and An Garda Síochána. An Garda Síochána's Policing Plan sets out the priorities of An Garda Síochána in tackling organised crime activity including its continued commitment to pro-actively target...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (6 Feb 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 82 and 87 together. By any standard Ireland operates an open immigration policy which often requires a flexible approach to respond to various requirements and needs. The Programme for a Partnership Government contains a commitment to work with the relevant Oireachtas Committees to introduce a comprehensive Immigration and Residency Reform Bill. Work on such...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (6 Feb 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 84 and 100 together. As the Deputies will appreciate, it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for the distribution of resources, including personnel, among the various Garda Divisions and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. Garda management keeps this distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Misconduct Allegations (6 Feb 2018)

Charles Flanagan: As I have previously advised the Deputy, I am aware of the concerns regarding these particular allegations and I am anxious that any allegations of wrongdoing by members of An Garda Síochána are properly examined. The investigation into the allegations of Garda members being complicit in the illegal sale and supply of drugs is a matter for the Garda Commissioner. ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Strength (6 Feb 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 86 and 99 together. As the Deputy will appreciate, it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for the distribution of resources, including personnel, among the various Garda Divisions and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. Garda management keeps this distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Independent Review Mechanism (6 Feb 2018)

Charles Flanagan: The Deputy may wish to note that the number of cases of the independent review mechanism in which counsel recommended that no further action be taken was in fact 249 out of 320 cases. As regards the notification to the complainants of the reasons for such a recommendation, this has already taken place. The majority of such notifications issued during the latter half of 2015, with the final...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (6 Feb 2018)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy will appreciate, it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for the distribution of resources, including personnel, among the various Garda Divisions and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. Garda management keeps this distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the optimum use...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Remuneration (6 Feb 2018)

Charles Flanagan: The Deputy will be aware that at the time of the potential Garda dispute in 2016, the matter was referred to the Labour Court to develop a Recommendation addressing the pay issues raised by the ranks of Garda, Sergeant and Inspector. The Recommendation applied therefore only to those ranks. The Superintendents and Chief Superintendents Associations have consistently argued that the pay...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Data (6 Feb 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I have requested a report from the Garda authorities in relation to the methodologies used by An Garda Síochána in measuring homicides and I will contact him directly when the report is to hand.   As the Deputy will be aware, An Garda Síochána is working with the Central Statistics Office (CSO) to resolve an issue which emerged in relation to the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Organised Crime (6 Feb 2018)

Charles Flanagan: The Deputy will be aware that the allocation and management of Garda resources, including the overtime budget, is the responsibility of the Garda Commissioner having due regard to his operational needs. As Minister, I have no role in the matter. I would, however, point out that some €1.65 billion has been allocated to the Garda Vote for 2018. This is an increase of approximately 2%...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Tribunals of Inquiry (6 Feb 2018)

Charles Flanagan: Let me be very clear from the start that I am not aware of and cannot comment on the volume of material that has been made available to the Disclosures Tribunal by An Garda Síochána.  As the Deputy is aware, the Garda Síochána are independently represented before the Disclosures Tribunal and I have no function in that matter.  It would be entirely...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Refugee Resettlement Programme (6 Feb 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service of my Department that Syrian nationals who arrived in the State as part of the resettlement programme and those who arrived as part of Ireland's relocation programmes and have been granted International Protection can apply for family reunification under the provisions of the International...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Data (6 Feb 2018)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy will be aware, the Policing Authority assumed the function of selecting and appointing persons to the rank of Assistant Garda Commissioner, Chief Superintendent and Superintendent in An Garda Síochána on 1 January 2017. I, as Minister, have no role in the selection and appointment of candidates to these ranks with the exception of members of the Police Service of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (6 Feb 2018)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of resources among the various Garda Divisions and Districts, and I as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. Garda management keeps this distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the optimum use is made of these...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (6 Feb 2018)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy will appreciate the granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour which confers certain rights and entitlements not only within the State but also at European Union level and it is important that appropriate procedures are in place to preserve the integrity of the process.  All applications are examined to determine if the applicant meets...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Data (6 Feb 2018)

Charles Flanagan: I have requested a report from the Garda authorities in relation to the information sought by the Deputy and I will contact her directly when the report is received.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Staff (6 Feb 2018)

Charles Flanagan: Let me say at the outset that the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission has a hugely important role to play in ensuring that public confidence in the Garda Síochána is safeguarded.  That is why GSOC was given extensive powers under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 to enable it to carry out its responsibilities. I can assure the Deputy that the...