Results 12,541-12,560 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (16 Oct 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that without proper identification details or reference numbers it is not possible to identify the person in question. However, if this person is unlawfully present in the State they should present themselves to their local Immigration Officer. Queries in relation to the status of individual...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (16 Oct 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 was granted permission to remain in the State as a Student in 2005 as an exceptional measure having being unlawfully present since 2003. Records indicate that the person in question has again been unlawfully present since 08/04/2008 and should make arrangements...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Staff (16 Oct 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I wish to advise the Deputy that in the absence of the specific details I can only comment in a general way. I can say however that there are a number of ways officers can leave the Prison Service: they can resign, retire, be retired on grounds of ill-health, on expiry of probationary contract or by termination of employment for breach of terms and conditions. Authority to terminate the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service (16 Oct 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I wish to inform the Deputy that, 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. The Courts Service has advised that the information sought by the Deputy is not readily available and could only be...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Illegal Moneylenders (16 Oct 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 135 and 136 together. As the Deputy may be aware, the regulation of licensed moneylending is a matter primarily for my colleague, the Minister for Finance. The Central Bank of Ireland is the competent authority in this jurisdiction with regard to licensed moneylending and in overseeing and regulating such activity. Legislative provisions relating to the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Proposed Legislation (16 Oct 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will be aware that there are laws in this country which make it an offence to use words or publish or display material which is threatening, abusive or insulting or likely to stir up hatred. I am, as the Deputy will also be aware, progressing a Bill which will create an offence of public provocation to terrorism. Furthermore there is a discretion to refuse entry to the State on...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: EU Regulations (16 Oct 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will appreciate that I do not have responsibility for the introduction of the EU standards referred to by the Deputy, or for the National Standards Authority of Ireland, as the official standards body. I can however advise him that An Garda Síochána have published a number of Crime Prevention leaflets on Home Security which are available on the Garda website, and that...

Financial Resolutions 2015 - Financial Resolution No. 3: General (Resumed) (15 Oct 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: Absolutely. Many thousands of people have applied to join the Garda and it is great to see that despite the difficulties faced by the force, there is such interest in becoming part of An Garda Síochána.

Financial Resolutions 2015 - Financial Resolution No. 3: General (Resumed) (15 Oct 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: People are motivated to be part of the force. There is an allocation of a further €10 million to support the purchase and fit-out of over 400 new vehicles. That is a key priority, as we need a modern and efficient Garda fleet for both urban and rural policing. I want to see a particular focus on the provision of marked Garda vehicles so as to provide for enhanced visibility of the...

Financial Resolutions 2015 - Financial Resolution No. 3: General (Resumed) (15 Oct 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The budget announced yesterday marks a significant step forward for Ireland. It is a budget that is fair, progressive - as just outlined by the Minister of State - responsible and forward-looking. It is fair in respect of the 80,000 people taken out of the USC net and it provides for thousands of much-needed social housing units to be built over coming years. It supports families in which...

Seanad: Joint Policing Committees: Motion (15 Oct 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I thank the Senators for their contributions to the debate today and Senator Martin Conway and the Fine Gael group for tabling this motion. I will also refer to some of the points made in the amendments. I will revert to Senator Bradford in regard to the Garda Reserve individually and to members who have raised individual points to which I am not in a position to respond at this point in...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Mutual Assistance) (Amendment) Bill 2014: Second Stage (15 Oct 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I thank all of the Senators who made contributions to this Bill here today for the thoughtful nature of them. Everybody recognised the importance of these directives in tackling crime. Certainly, the question of borders does not apply to a lot of crime, as Senator Brennan stated. So much crime is now cross-border and international, and needs to be dealt with by international mechanisms. We...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Mutual Assistance) (Amendment) Bill 2014: Second Stage (15 Oct 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am pleased to be in the Chamber to present the Criminal Justice (Mutual Assistance) (Amendment) Bill 2014, the primary purpose of which is to amend the Criminal Justice (Mutual Assistance) Act 2008. The Act gives effect to 12 international agreements that establish the existing legislative framework for the provision of mutual legal assistance. The Bill is necessary in order to give...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (15 Oct 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the installation of water meters is governed by the Water Services Act, 2007 to 2013. An Garda Síochána has no role in the installation of these meters under the 2007 to 2013 Act. Where complaints are made regarding criminal activity or a breach of the peace and to comply with its statutory function under section 7 of the Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Staff Remuneration (15 Oct 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can inform the Deputy that no such payments have been made to any staff in my Department during the years in question. The Performance-related Awards Scheme, which applied to staff at Assistant Secretary, Deputy Secretary and equivalent grades in the Civil and Public Service, was abolished in 2009.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (15 Oct 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 59 and 60 together. The Garda Commissioner is the Accounting Officer for the Garda Vote. In that context I am informed by the Garda authorities that neither GMC Sierra nor Uisce Éireann are contributing financially towards the costs incurred by An Garda Síochána policing protests in respect of the installation of water meters. The Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Investigations (15 Oct 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have requested a report from the Garda authorities in relation to the matter referred to by the Deputy. I will contact the Deputy directly as soon as the report is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Foreign Conflicts (14 Oct 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: There is considerable concern across Europe and elsewhere at the phenomenon of individuals travelling to conflict areas in the Middle East and the consequential threat posed to national security. While the number of Irish citizens who are believed to have travelled to the conflict zones is estimated at between 25 and 30, within that number are individuals who would have travelled to Libya and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Reserve (14 Oct 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of all resources, including 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. The Commissioner has...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Reserve (14 Oct 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of personnel, including the Garda Reserve, 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...