Results 12,241-12,260 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service Data (23 Nov 2017)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy is aware, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service, which is independent in exercising its functions, which include the provision of information on the courts system. However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and the Courts Service has informed me...

Questions on Promised Legislation (22 Nov 2017)

Charles Flanagan: There are a number of initiatives in this regard that encompass areas beyond the scope of the Department of Justice and Equality. Only yesterday evening there was a preliminary meeting with a view to closer contact between the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment and me on the specific question of the cybercrime Bill. That...

Questions on Promised Legislation (22 Nov 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I met the Coroners Society of Ireland yesterday and am very keen to report progress on the Bill, the heads of which were approved by Government in May this year. Priority drafting work is underway. I do not have a date for prelegislative scrutiny but I would expect that this will be some time in the new year. I am happy to keep the Deputy informed.

Seanad: Judicial Council Bill 2017: Second Stage (22 Nov 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I am very pleased to have the opportunity to introduce this important legislation in the Seanad this afternoon. I recall that in October of last year the Government accepted a motion tabled in this House which called for the setting up of a judicial council and the publication of a Bill which would provide for it. This is important and long-awaited legislation and I look forward to hearing...

Seanad: Judicial Council Bill 2017: Second Stage (22 Nov 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I acknowledge what was a very constructive debate. Many important points were raised and I thank Senators Wilson, McDowell, Ó Donnghaile, Bacik, Boyhan and Conway for their contributions. Valid points have been made. Almost all of the Senators who spoke made reference to the length of time involved in the preparation of this legislation. In this regard I will be very open to giving...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 24 - Justice and Equality (Revised) (22 Nov 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I am pleased to have the opportunity to present the further Revised Estimate for 2017 in respect of Vote 24 - Justice and Equality. The only reason for the further Revised Estimate is to reflect the transfer of the responsibility of the Charities Regulatory Authority to the newly established Department of Rural and Community Development following a transfer of functions effective from 26...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 24 - Justice and Equality (Revised) (22 Nov 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I think that is unfair. This was the decision of Government following due and careful consideration. The key rationale for the transfer is that the Department of Rural and Community Development has specific responsibility, as stated in the title, for community development. I felt, as did ministerial colleagues, that it would be appropriate to vest policy responsibility for the community...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 24 - Justice and Equality (Revised) (22 Nov 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I do not envisage any legislative changes being necessary in the matter of the transfer. Members will be aware that a change in designation of the Valuation Office, the Property Services Regulatory Authority and Ordnance Survey Ireland is currently under consideration. I think references to these changes are included in the programme for Government. If they are not already aware of them, I...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 24 - Justice and Equality (Revised) (22 Nov 2017)

Charles Flanagan: Yes, I would expect that it would be the responsibility of the new Department. In respect of the other agencies, I should have referred to the Property Registration Authority rather than the Property Services Regulatory Authority, which regulates auctioneers. That is, I meant what was known as the Land Registry. That will come under the overall umbrella of Tailte Éireann.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Reform (22 Nov 2017)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy will be aware, earlier this year the Government established the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland to undertake an independent, comprehensive examination of all aspects of policing in the State. By definition this includes all functions currently carried out by An Garda Síochána - community safety, security and immigration.  The...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Controls (22 Nov 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The Deputy will be aware that requirements for which countries are visa required to come to Ireland are kept under regular review in consultation with my colleague, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade. As indicated previously, there are no plans to implement the change referred to by the Deputy.  My Department pursues a strategy of co-ordination and co-operation on...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (22 Nov 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the application for naturalisation referred to by the Deputy was refused for reasons provided to the person concerned and their legal representative in a letter issued on 23 March 2017 advising of the decision. A new application for naturalisation was received...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (22 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: Family Reunification Data (22 Nov 2017)

Charles Flanagan: As a refugee may include a number of family members in his or her application for family reunification there can be multiple outcomes to any particular application, with some family members approved and some refused following an examination of the application. Statistics are therefore maintained on the number of decisions made on the subjects of an application rather than on the number of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Refugee Data (22 Nov 2017)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy will be aware, the International Protection Act 2015 was commenced on 31 December 2016. The 2015 Act introduced a single procedure which enables all grounds for seeking international protection (refugee status and subsidiary protection) or permission to remain in the State for other reasons to be examined and determined in one process. At the end of October 2017, there...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Coroners Service (22 Nov 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The Coroners (Amendment) Bill 2016, a Private Members Bill was presented at Second Stage in Seanad Eireann on 18 October, 2017 by Senator Padraig Mac Lochlainn. It proposed to provide for the possibility of a verdict of Iatrogenic Suicide at a coroner's inquest. The primary motivation for the Bill derived from the tragic experience of the family of Jake McGill Lynch. ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Data (22 Nov 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The breakdown of the data in the format requested by the Deputy is not available.  Our data system is not designed in such a way that that we can provide this information, retrospectively, as at the first of each month.  I can advise the Deputy that as of 1 January 2017 a total of 635 persons who had been granted international protection (317) or leave to remain (318) were...

Rural Crime: Motion (21 Nov 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I move amendment No. 2:To delete all words after “Dáil Éireann” and substitute the following: “strongly condemns: — all criminality and reaffirms its strong commitment to upholding law and order; and — recent violent burglaries and wishes to see the perpetrators of such crimes brought to justice; recognises: — that in rural locations...

Order of Business (21 Nov 2017)

Charles Flanagan: A Leas-Cheann Comhairle, the Deputy is correct in so far as this was the subject matter of discussion at Government this morning. I would be happy to furnish the Deputy with a copy of the Government's decision. I also would be pleased to have this matter debated in the House at the earliest opportunity. Matters are complete and the Government has formed a view which I will communicate to...

Order of Business (21 Nov 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I welcome Deputy MacSharry's interest in the matter and I would be happy to engage with him bilaterally.