Results 11,641-11,660 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Accommodation (15 Jan 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The programme of replacement and refurbishment of Garda accommodation is based on requirements which are established by An Garda Síochána. The programme is advanced in close co-operation with the Office of Public Works, which has responsibility for capital expenditure in this area. In that regard,I am informed by the OPW that the acquisition of a site for development of a new...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Staff (15 Jan 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: Mr Simon O'Brien, the Chairperson of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, has recently indicated that he intends to resign his position, with effect from 30 January 2015, to take up a position in the UK. Mr O'Brien has made an important contribution to his role as the Chair of GSOC as well as his previous role as Deputy to the Chief Inspector in the Garda Inspectorate, and I...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Commissions of Investigation (15 Jan 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: It is worth recalling that the Deputy's Question arises in the context of recent allegations of the rape and sexual abuse of a young woman in Northern Ireland, and her subsequent mistreatment at the hands of members of Sinn Féin and the Provisional IRA. I have met with the woman in question and I should say I admire her bravery in telling her story publicly. It is a pity that those who...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Inspectorate Reports (15 Jan 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Criminal Justice Fixed Charge Processing System (FCPS) Working Group was established in March 2014 to take forward the Garda Inspectorate's recommendations on the operation of the FCPS. The Group is jointly chaired by my Department and the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. An Garda Síochána, the Courts Service, Road Safety Authority, Revenue Commissioners, Director...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Staff (15 Jan 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will, of course, appreciate the comprehensive programme of justice reform the Government is undertaking and the substantial progress already achieved and I am grateful for the Committee's input on a wide range of relevant matters. The Committee's recommendation was made following its review of the operation of the Garda Síochána Act 2005. The recommendation made by...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Proposed Legislation (15 Jan 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: On 27 November 2014, I published the General Scheme of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill. The General Scheme includes wide ranging provisions to enhance the protection of children and vulnerable persons from sexual abuse and exploitation. When enacted, the Bill will facilitate full compliance with the criminal law provisions of a number of EU, UN and Council of Europe legal...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Investigations (15 Jan 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the matter referred to by the Deputy is currently under investigation by Gardaí at Trim Garda Station and any breaches of legislation which may come to light will be properly pursued. As the matter remains under investigation the Deputy will appreciate that it would not be appropriate for me to make any further comment on the specific issues raised.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Military Aircraft Landings (15 Jan 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am aware of reports going back some time that Irish airports, particularly Shannon, have been used for the unlawful inter-state transfer of detainees (‘extraordinary rendition’) by the US authorities. I would point out, for the sake of clarity, that the Garda Síochána has no role in relation to the inspection of foreign State or military aircraft which, in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Investigations (15 Jan 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have asked the Garda authorities to supply any available information in relation to the Deputy's query and I will contact the Deputy directly when I receive this report.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Station Closures (15 Jan 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have requested the information sought from the Garda authorities and I will revert to Deputy in due course as soon as the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Misconduct Allegations (15 Jan 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: Appropriate steps have been taken to ensure that nothing arises which might in any way detract from the integrity of the mechanism for the independent review by a panel of counsel of complaints of Garda misconduct to which the Deputy refers, including issues of conflict of interest.  Arrangements have been put in place to ensure that if there is any conflict, or potential conflict, the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Agreements (15 Jan 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department has been working to establish precisely the actions which would need to be taken in order to ratify and implement the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combatting Violence against Women and Domestic Violence - the Istanbul convention. Clarification of some issues with a small number of government departments and agencies is still required. Once the actions...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Aid Service Expenditure (15 Jan 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: The total expenditure on Criminal Legal Aid for 2014 came to €49.9 million. Total expenditure on Criminal Legal Aid for the years 2009 to 2013 was as follows: Year Total Expenditure 2009 €60.3 million 2010 €56.5 million 2011 €56.1 million 2012 €50.5 million 2013 €50.9 million In seeking to reduce the expenditure on the Criminal Legal Aid...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Reports (15 Jan 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can inform the Deputy that I expect to receive a report from the Garda Commissioner in the near future with respect to the audit referred to and, as I have previously indicated, I intend to put its findings into the public domain.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Investigations (15 Jan 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy is aware, the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission is a statutory independent body which is independent in the exercise of its functions and I have no function in relation to the processing of individual complaints which are referred to it for investigation. I am however advised by the Ombudsman Commission that, conscious of the need to provide efficient and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Inspectorate Reports (15 Jan 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will be aware, when I published the Inspectorate report I welcomed it as forming an important component in the overall justice reform programme underway. Implementation of this programme, including the reforms recommended by the Inspectorate is being overseen by the Cabinet Committee on Justice Reform, chaired by An Taoiseach. There will also of course be a central role for...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Investigation (15 Jan 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will be aware, Mr. Dominic McGinn, Senior Counsel, was appointed to carry out an independent examination of the report of the Serious Crime Review Team relating to the Garda investigation into the death of Fr. Niall Molloy. Mr McGinn has provided a report to my Department which is being considered in consultation with the Office of the Attorney General, including in relation to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (15 Jan 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I was informed by Mr Simon O'Brien, Chairman of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC), that he intends to resign his position with effect from 30 January, 2015. Mr O’Brien has clearly indicated that his resignation arises as a result of his success in securing the position of Chief Executive of the Pensions Ombudsman Service in the UK, and he is due to take up that...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Stations (15 Jan 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have set out the position with regard to the acquisition of a site for development of a new District Headquarters in Bailieborough in my answer to the Deputy's question of today's date (No. 18). I am further advised that while the long term solution to the accommodation needs at Bailieborough are being progressed, Garda management is actively engaged with the OPW to improve, in the more...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (15 Jan 2015)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will be aware, An Garda Síochána has in place a Metal Theft Crime Prevention and Reduction Plan, which was developed in close cooperation with the stakeholders who participated in a metal theft forum established by An Garda Síochána. The forum includes stakeholders particularly affected by this type of crime, including the Irish Farmers' Association, the...