Results 12,261-12,280 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Policing Authority Establishment (18 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The establishment of the Independent Policing Authority is a major element of the comprehensive programme of justice reform which is being delivered by the Government. In that context the Government has indicated its intention that the new Authority should be in operation as soon as possible. I have recently published the General Scheme of the Garda Síochána (Amendment) Bill 2014...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Strength (18 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will appreciate, it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for the distribution of personnel among the Garda Regions, Divisions and Districts. Garda management keep this distribution under continuing review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the best possible use is made of these resources. I have been informed by the Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Proposed Legislation (18 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 268 and 279 together. As the Deputies are aware, there is an ongoing debate as to the approach to be adopted in tackling the exploitation associated with prostitution which includes the recommendations of the Joint Committee on Justice Defence and Equality following its review of legislation on prostitution. There are a wide range of issues involved which...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Reserve (18 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to takes Questions No. 269 and 285 together. I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the personnel strength of the Garda Reserve on 30 September 2014, the latest date for which figures are readily available, was 1,112 with a further 84 in training. The Commissioner has advised that the Garda Reserve continue to be a significant additional resource available to the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Probation and Welfare Service (18 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have been advised by the Probation Service that there are currently 80 Probation Officers working in the Dublin region who are engaged in a range of duties including the preparation of assessments for court, the supervision of court orders, and the delivery of focused offender intervention programmes. The typical caseload of a Probation Officer ranges from 20 to 50 cases at any given time...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Data (18 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: There is no provision for solitary confinement in the Irish Prison Service. However, the Deputy will appreciate that, on occasion, it is necessary for vulnerable prisoners and others to be separated from the general prison population. The restriction of a prisoner's regime can occur due to a number of factors including, the protection of vulnerable prisoners. This is provided for under...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Certificates (18 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The number of certificates of naturalisation granted in each month from March 2011 to October 2014 are 400, 300, 600, 800, 1,800, 2,100, 2,200, 700, 0, 800, 300, 2,600, 300, 3,800, 300, 4,900, 200, 4,300, 500, 3,200, 500, 4,100, 500, 200, 3,100, 1,500, 3,000, 500, 4,900, 200, 4,300, 500, 3,200, 500, 4,100, 500, 200, 3,100, 1,500, 3,000, 500, 4,900, 5,100, 600, 4,300, 400, 0, 3,600, 900,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (18 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: Statistics are not compiled in such a way as to provide the information requested by the Deputy. However, over 70% of applications are being decided within 6 months of the date of receipt and most applicants are invited to and attend a citizenship ceremony within 2 months of this timeframe. Applications are continuously processed from date of receipt. Enquiries are made to establish if the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (18 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that a valid application for a certificate of naturalisation has been received from the person referred to by the Deputy. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (18 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) that all applications for residence in the State on the basis of EU Treaty Rights by non-EEA family members of EU or EEA citizens are currently being processed within the six month statutory time frame set out in Directive 2004/38/EC as implemented in Ireland by Statutory Instrument 656/2006 as amended by Statutory...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (18 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the person referred to by the Deputy made an application for retention of permission to reside in the State on an individual and personal basis under Regulation 9 of the Regulations on 16 April, 2014. By letter dated 23 October, 2014 the person concerned was granted permission to remain in the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (18 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 277 and 278 together. The Deputy will be aware that I consider the deliberate ramming of a Garda vehicle to be a very serious matter. It is the case that all incidents of this nature are subject to full and determined investigation by An Garda Síochána. The Deputy will also be aware from my previous correspondence with him in relation to his...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Investigations (18 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities and I will be in contact with the Deputy again when the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Investigations (18 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities and I will be in contact with the Deputy again when the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Drugs Crime (18 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy may be aware, methadone is a Schedule 2 controlled drug under the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 1988 which means that strict prescription, recording and storage requirements apply. Further requirements are set out under the Misuse of Drugs (Supervision of Prescription and Supply of Methadone) Regulations 1998, made under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977, reflecting the fact that it...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Transport Provision (18 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The provision and allocation of Garda transport is a matter for the Garda Commissioner in the light of identified operational circumstances and the availability of resources. In that context, I am advised by the Garda authorities that there are currently no plans to purchase additional marked jeeps for the Garda Traffic Corps. The Deputy will be aware that I recently secured an additional...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (18 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the person concerned is currently registered in the State as the spouse of an Irish national under Stamp 4 conditions. This permission is valid until 07 May 2015 and is renewable by attending at their local immigration officer accompanied by their Irish spouse prior to its expiry. If there has...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Investigations (18 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have made enquiries with the Garda authorities about the case referred to by the Deputy and I am informed that the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation have no record of a complaint being received in relation to this matter. If the Deputy has additional information which he can provide I will be happy to make further enquiries on his behalf.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Investigations (18 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy is aware I have no function in relation to the direction or initiation of criminal investigations, which are a matter for the Garda authorities. I can however advise the Deputy that a complaint relating to the particular case to which he is referring is amongst those being considered under the mechanism established for the independent review of certain allegations of Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Student Visas Application Numbers (18 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that on 11 March 2014 there were 830 non-EEA national students registered as studying in the institution referred to by the Deputy.