Results 12,781-12,800 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Misconduct Allegations (24 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy is referring to the independent review mechanism, which was established to review allegations of Garda misconduct or perhaps inadequacies in the investigation of certain allegations, which had been made to me as Minister for Justice and Equality, to the Department or to the Taoiseach or other Deputies, including Deputy Niall Collins, with a view to determining to what extent and in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Coroners Service (24 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I should explain that coroners are appointed and paid by local authorities. Coroners are drawn from both the legal and medical professions and are of course very aware of the importance of dealing with bereaved families in a sensitive, humane and caring manner. My understanding is that the remuneration for a coroner is made up of a basic retainer, which varies according to the case load and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (24 Sep 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. Currently, 4,330...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Funding (24 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: In recent months, my Department has been engaged with the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre in exploring the possibility of undertaking a follow-on study to the Sexual Abuse and Violence in Ireland (SAVI) study which was undertaken in 2001 and published in 2002. Since I took up office in the Department, I have been provided with an outline proposal from the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre in regard to the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Firearms and Ammunition Security (24 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: It is unfortunately the case that gun crime has for some time been an inherent part of organised criminal activity in Ireland, as it is in other similar jurisdictions. This demands a robust response, and this is precisely what is happening. Gardaí tackle this type of crime through a range of targeted and intelligence based operations, often disrupting and preventing incidents, as well...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Anti-Social Behaviour (24 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the deployment of Garda personnel and for the management and organisation of Garda operational units. I am assured that Garda management in the Dublin Metropolitan Region keep this deployment under continuing review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities, including with respect to concerns about public...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Office of the Ombudsman Remit (24 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The question of extending the remit of the Ombudsman is in the first instance a matter for the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and that remit was significantly extended under the Ombudsman (Amendment) Act 2012. However, after careful consideration of all the issues involved, it was determined that the administration of the law relating to immigration or naturalisation, including...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Magdalen Laundries (24 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department has had detailed consultation with the Department of Health in order to prepare a draft scheme of a Bill to provide health benefits as recommended by Justice Quirke. This Bill is currently being drafted and I intend to publish the Bill as soon as possible in order for it to be enacted in the current Oireachtas session. The Bill will enable the Health Service Executive to make...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Releases (24 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I wish to advise the Deputy that the principle of a rate of remission greater than the standard rate of 25 per cent, was introduced as a means of incentivising prisoners to engage with as wide a range of activities and services available to them throughout the prison estate as a means of assisting them in increasing their likelihood to successfully reintegrate back into society when their...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Magdalen Laundries (24 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: 770 applications have been received under the scheme and to date decisions have been made in 80% of the cases. Over €16m has been paid out under the scheme. The situation regarding records was addressed in detail in the Report of the McAleese Committee and was well known when the decision to introduce a scheme was made. The most extensive and detailed records of those who entered...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Commissioner Appointment (24 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will be aware that an open competition for the selection of the next Garda Commissioner is currently under way and an information booklet setting out all the details is available on the website of the Public Appointments Service. Applications are invited from any person who believes they possess the requisite competencies, skills and experience to carry out this very challenging...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Foreign Conflicts (24 Sep 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. The compilation of accurate statistics in relation to the numbers of actual foreign fighters is problematic due to the secretive nature of those travelling and the many and circuitous routes some...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Proposed Legislation (24 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will be aware that Ireland already has an extensive legislative framework prohibiting the trafficking of persons for the purposes of exploitation (including sexual exploitation) with stringent penalties. The Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Act 2008 prohibits trafficking for the purposes of sexual exploitation. Any person found guilty of such an offence shall be liable to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Health Services Access (24 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy is aware, the Health Service Executive has appointed a four person Inquiry Team to establish all the factual circumstances in relation to the case of Ms. Y and the chain of communication between different service providers. The inquiry team seeks to establish the full facts surrounding the matter including the sequence of events and the care given to the woman involved. It...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Oireachtas Joint Committee Reports (24 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The recommendations contained in the Report on the Recognition of Traveller Ethnicity by the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality form part of the ongoing consideration of this issue which is underway in my Department. My Department has been engaged in consultation with all Government Departments in relation to the issue of the recognition of Travellers as an Ethnic Group and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Drugs Dealing (24 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I do appreciate the issue of concern which the Deputy has raised. I am aware that the practice of illegal street selling of prescription medicines, including benzodiazepines, has been acknowledged as a problem in the Dublin city centre area. As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the deployment of Garda personnel and Garda operations in tackling such...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Equality Issues (24 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: Section 37 (1) of the Employment Equality Act 1998 provides for circumstances where a religious, educational or medical institution which is under the direction or control of a body established for religious purposes or whose objectives include the provision of services in an environment which promotes certain religious values shall not be taken to discriminate against a person if more...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Accommodation Standard (24 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am informed by the Irish Prison Service that as of Friday 19 September 2014, there was a total of 20 women in custody in Limerick Prison. The bed capacity as recommended by the Inspector of Prisons is 24. The Deputy will be aware that the primary role of the Irish Prison Service is the provision of safe and secure custody for prisoners. The Deputy will also be aware that the Prison...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Programme (24 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The General Scheme of the Children and Family Relationships Bill has now been finalised, taking account, inter alia, of the report of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality. It is intended that drafting should begin shortly, following Cabinet approval of the draft Scheme. I am working towards a deadline of December for publication of the Bill and for its...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Resources (24 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will be aware that the allocation of resources and the direction and control of Garda resources is a matter for the Garda Commissioner under Section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 - 2007 and I have no direct function in such matters. Where appropriate, An Garda Síochána attend the scene of incidents where protests, including industrial relations disputes,...