Results 12,401-12,420 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Proposed Legislation (4 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 494 and 496 together. The position is that section 2 of the Landlord and Tenant (Ground Rents) Act 1978 introduced a prohibition on the creation of new leases reserving ground rents on dwellings. As regards existing ground rents, Part III of the Landlord and Tenant (Ground Rents) (No.2) Act 1978 contains a statutory scheme whereby a person may, at...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Constitutional Convention Recommendations (4 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Government has undertaken to look at the question of the most appropriate wording to be presented to the people arising from the recommendations in the Second Report of the Convention on the Constitution in relation to amending the language in Article 41.2 on the role of women in the home. It has also undertaken to look at the feasibility of including the principle of gender equality as...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Recruitment (4 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will be aware that I recently announced a further intake of 200 recruits into the Garda College, Templemore. The intake will be in two batches, one later this year (late November / early December) and the second in January 2015. This will bring to 300 the number of recruits in the Garda College and is a measure of this Government's commitment to ensure that recruitment to An...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Criminal Law (4 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The fact that a person who has committed an offence in Ireland is from another jurisdiction will not prevent a court, when sentencing the person, from imposing the sanction it considers appropriate in all the circumstances of the case, subject to the maximum penalty provided in law for the offence concerned. An offender who is subject to a community service order will be required to reside...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (4 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have no plans to extend the deadline for the commencement of the reforms to the international education sector and student immigration system which I announced on 2 September in conjunction with my colleague, the Minister for Education and Skills, Ms. Jan O'Sullivan, TD. From 1 January 2015, non-EEA national students coming to study in Ireland can only receive an immigration permission to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Public Order Offences (4 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The law on begging is set out in the Public Order Act 2011. The Act defines begging as requesting or soliciting money or goods other than in accordance with a licence, permit or authorisation. Section 2 of the Act provides that it is an offence while begging in any place to harass, intimidate, assault or threaten any other person or persons, or obstruct the passage of persons or vehicles....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Investigations (4 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy's Question arises in the context of the recent allegations of the rape and sexual abuse of a young woman, and her subsequent mistreatment at the hands of members of Sinn Féin and the Provisional IRA. It is obviously a very difficult story to tell and she has taken a brave, public stance in telling it. It is a pity that those who have questions to answer in relation to her...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (4 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the person in question was issued with a letter granting them permission to remain in the State on 15 October 2014. This permission will now regularise this person's former illegal status in the State. His case will be reviewed upon the expiration of this initial permission. Queries in relation...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Data (4 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the PULSE system is upgraded periodically to support the introduction of new offences and changes to existing offences. These technical upgrades require a very short period of downtime and are carried out using well-proven processes designed to avoid impacting upon Garda operations. The next such upgrade is planned before the end of this year.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Resources (4 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. This necessary ongoing flexibility in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Investigations (4 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The complaint to which the Deputy refers is amongst those being considered under the mechanism established for the independent review of certain allegations of Garda misconduct, or inadequacies in the investigation of certain allegations, which have been made to me as Minister for Justice and Equality, or the Taoiseach, with a view to determining to what extent and in what manner further...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (4 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The first meeting of the Working Group to report to Government on improvements to the protection process, including direct provision and supports to asylum seekers, will take place on Monday 10 November 2014. I will be in attendance at that meeting and look forward to the work of the Group getting underway. [As the Deputy will be aware the establishment of the Group arises from the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Ministerial Meetings (4 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can confirm to the Deputy that I have arranged to meet representatives of the Sex Workers Alliance of Ireland. An appointment was made on 24 October and is scheduled to take place shortly. My Department has sought the views of all sides of the debate concerning the future direction of prostitution legislation. In June 2012, my Department published a discussion document on the future...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Ministerial Meetings (4 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can advise the Deputy that neither myself nor officials from my Department have met with the person referred to in the last twelve months.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (4 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) of my Department is responsible for the accommodation of protection applicants in accordance with the Government policy of direct provision and dispersal. Direct provision provides for full board accommodation supports while a final decision is awaited by a person on their protection or any related leave to remain application. At 12 October, 2014,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Restorative Justice (4 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can confirm that the correspondence from Ernest J. Cantillon Solicitors, dated 11th July, in respect of an applicant to the Restorative Justice Scheme which was established by Government for the benefit of those women that were admitted to the Magdalen laundries, was received by my Department. My officials issued an acknowledgement letter to the Solicitor on the 14th July. As provided...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (4 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: As I have advised the Deputy previously, in my Replies to his Parliamentary Questions dated 10th July, 2014 (PQ No. 158) and 18th September, 2014 (PQ No. 164), I am informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the persons concerned were granted permission to remain in the State in August, 2007 for an initial three year period, valid to 14th August,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Resources (4 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will be aware, one of the primary functions of the Garda Commissioner under the Garda Síochána Acts, is to direct and control An Garda Síochána. In this regard, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of all resources, including fully sworn members and Reserve Gardaí, among the Garda Regions, Divisions and Districts. Garda management...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Station Closures (4 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The formulation of proposals in relation to the opening and closing of Garda stations is a matter, in the first instance, for the Garda Commissioner in the context of her annual policing plan, as provided for in section 22 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005. In that context, I am advised by the Garda authorities that there are no plans to close Cabra Garda Station.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Misconduct Allegations (4 Nov 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 514, 517, 519 and 533 together. The Deputies are referring to the mechanism established for the independent review of certain allegations of Garda misconduct, or inadequacies in the investigation of certain allegations, which have been made to me as Minister for Justice and Equality, or the Taoiseach, with a view to determining to what extent and in what...