Results 12,181-12,200 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Justice Issues: Statements (28 Nov 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The Deputy-----

Justice Issues: Statements (28 Nov 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I will be very happy to have consultations with any Member of the House or with the party leaders on the point raised by Deputy Howlin. If there is a view in the House that the appropriate examination which should take place should involve somebody external of Government, I would be very happy to consider that. I have no knowledge of any specific complaint on this particular issue as...

Justice Issues: Statements (28 Nov 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I cannot go beyond the statement of the Secretary General. I acknowledge his work in the Department and, on my part, as Minister, I also acknowledge the appropriate level of criticism that has been directed towards the Department of Justice and Equality. The Department, from an administrative point of view, is now headed up by the deputy Secretary General. My understanding is that the TLAC...

Justice Issues: Statements (28 Nov 2017)

Charles Flanagan: In pursuit of that truth and justice the disclosures tribunal has a critical job to do. I believe Mr. Justice Charleton has acted in the public interest by bringing forward to 8 January the public hearings at which he will examine the allegations that there was a malicious campaign against Sergeant McCabe during the O'Higgins commission. I acknowledge the role played by many journalists who...

Justice Issues: Statements (28 Nov 2017)

Charles Flanagan: Each and every one of the documents preceded my tenure in the Department of Justice and Equality. When the tribunal of inquiry was set up, it was made quite clear that anyone with any information should forward same to the tribunal. I believe there was special significance on the matter of the Department and it was in that context that a discovery process got under way in the Department...

Justice Issues: Statements (28 Nov 2017)

Charles Flanagan: My understanding is they were new documents that had only came to light and not been given consideration in any earlier process.

Justice Issues: Statements (28 Nov 2017)

Charles Flanagan: If that has not already been included in the trawl instructed by the Taoiseach last week, I will be happy to have it done.

Justice Issues: Statements (28 Nov 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I acknowledge that there are problems in the Department of Justice and Equality. I think that was made clear in my earlier contribution. In that regard, I believe it is important to acknowledge the good work done in the Department. What we are dealing with is how we can move forward and ensure we can learn lessons from the past three weeks in such a way that we can ensure we will never...

Justice Issues: Statements (28 Nov 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle and the House for allowing me, as I requested this morning, to make this statement. I want to address a number of issues that have arisen in recent days. I apologise to Deputy Alan Kelly on two counts. First, for my intemperate comments in the House on November 15 when I stated that Deputy Kelly was engaged in a smear campaign against me. I had been...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Communications (28 Nov 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 249, 250 and 252 to 254, inclusive, together. As the Deputy is aware, the relevant series of emails to which he refers have now been published on the website of the Department of Justice and Equality. They have also been disclosed to the Disclosures Tribunal.  This publication contains the relevant information which the Deputy is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Communications (28 Nov 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I assume that the dates of 16 July and 21 July 2017 in the Deputy's question should read 16 and 21 November 2017 respectively. For the sake of clarity I can confirm that the e-mail to which the Deputy refers was forwarded to the Disclosures Tribunal on 21 November 2017. The original email of 15 May 2015 was located by officials in my Department on 9 November 2017. I became aware of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Station Refurbishment (28 Nov 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 255, 278 and 284 together. As the Deputies will appreciate, the Office of Public Works (OPW) has primary responsibility for the provision and maintenance of Garda accommodation and works closely with the Garda authorities in this regard. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters. It is, of course, a matter of concern when people consider...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Stations (28 Nov 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The Deputy will appreciate that the Garda Commissioner is primarily responsible for the effective and efficient use of the resources available to An Garda Síochána, including responsibility for the formulation of proposals in relation to the opening and closing of Garda stations. As Minister, I have no role in the matter. Indeed, this was the basis on which the Garda District...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Strength (28 Nov 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 257 and 258 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: Garda Strength (28 Nov 2017)

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: Departmental Bodies Data (28 Nov 2017)

Charles Flanagan: As requested by the Deputy please find below in tabular form vacancies on each State board under my Department's remit. Name of Board Number of vacancies Valuation Tribunal 3 Classification of Films Appeal Board 2 Censorship of Publications Appeal Board 5 Judicial Appointments Advisory Board 1 Courts Service Board 3 Legal Aid Board 1 Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission 1...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Cabinet Committees (28 Nov 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The terms of reference and membership of a scoping group to consider the availability of data and make recommendations on a study to identify the prevalence of sexual abuse and violence in Ireland today and emerging trends was considered by the Cabinet Committee on Social Policy at a meeting on 16 November. Ms Dorothy Watson, Associate Research Professor, Economic and Social Research...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Bodies Data (28 Nov 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The question is being read to cover the period subsequent to my appointment on 14th June 2017. The information requested by the Deputy in relation to persons appointed to State boards under my Department's remit that have not come through the Public Appointments Service list of suitable candidates is laid out below. Name of Board  Name of person appointed and position on board Where...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (28 Nov 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The Report of the Working Group to Report to Government on Improvements to the Protection Process, including Direct Provision and Supports to Asylum Seekers, also known as the Justice McMahon report, was published in June 2015. Its recommendations have implications for a number of Government Departments and services. My Department has since published three progress reports on...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (28 Nov 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The Supreme Court judgment in the case of N.V.H. v. The Minister for Justice and Equality found, on 30 May last, that in an international protection system with no temporal limits as to when the application process will be concluded, an absolute prohibition on the right to work for international protection applicants is contrary to the right to seek employment under the Constitution. The...