Results 12,861-12,880 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Expenditure (23 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The reduction in the Departments budget for 2014 (Vote 24) was €15.8 million on a full year basis and it is expected that the reduction in question will be in realised in full.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Programme (23 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I refer the Deputy to the Government's Legislation Programme for Autumn Session 2014 and set out below in tabular format, the list of those Bills for which I have responsibility; several of which I expect to be brought before the Dáil in the next year. The Bills are grouped into 'A' list Bills; those which are expected to be published this Session, 'B' list Bills; those which are...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Programme (23 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 302 and 304 together. The Legal Services Regulation Bill 2011, which has completed both Second and Committee Stages in the Dáil, commenced Report Stage in the Dáil on 11th July 2014 which is due to resume next month. The Government's proposed amendments will be made available in advance for consideration. It remains the intention that the Bill be...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Aid Service Expenditure (23 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: Criminal Legal Aid Scheme: The Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) Act 1962 provides that free legal aid may be granted, in certain circumstances, for the defence of persons of insufficient means. Under the Act, the grant of legal aid entitles the applicant to the services of a solicitor and, in certain circumstances, up to two counsel, in the preparation and conduct of their defence or appeal....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Data (23 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The information requested by the Deputy is not readily available. The compilation of these statistics would require a disproportionate and inordinate amount of staff time and effort to prepare and could not be justified in current circumstances where there are other significant demands on resources.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Data Protection (23 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: Following an extensive consultation process, in January 2012 the European Commission published proposals for a General Data Protection Regulation to replace the 1995 Data Protection Directive (Directive 95/46/EC) and proposals for a Directive on data protection in the police and criminal justice area to replace the 2008 Data Protection Framework Decision (Framework Decision 2008/977/JHA)....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service (23 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: 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, including the provision and maintenance of accommodation for court sittings. The Deputy may be aware that the Criminal Courts of Justice (CCJ) is delivered on the basis of a design, construct,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Court Accommodation Provision (23 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy may be aware, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts, including the provision of accommodation for court sittings, is the responsibility of the Courts Service which is independent in exercising its functions. However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and I am informed that there are no plans at...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Operations (23 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: Since Operation Fiacla commenced, significant inroads have been made into targeting those involved in burglary. As of 30 July, 9,992 persons have been arrested and 5,801 persons have been charged with burglary offences under Operation Fiacla. I have requested a report from the Garda authorities in relation to the specific information requested by the Deputy and I will contact the Deputy...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Children First Guidelines (23 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will appreciate that overall responsibility for policy with respect to Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children rests with the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. Along with other relevant Departments and agencies, my Department is represented on the Children First Implementation Inter-Departmental Group (CFIDG), chaired by the Department...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Commissions of Investigation (23 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The order establishing the Commission of Investigation into the fatal shooting in May 1998 of Ronan MacLochlainn by members of the Garda Síochána in Ashford, County Wicklow, was signed on 23 July 2014 and the Commission commenced its work in late August. The terms of reference provide for this Commission to report to me within 6 months. As the Deputy is aware, the Government has...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Liquor Licensing Laws (23 Sep 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: Immigration Policy (23 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Programme for Government contains a commitment to promote policies which integrate minority ethnic groups in Ireland, and which promote social inclusion, equality, diversity and the participation of immigrants in the economic, social, political and cultural life of their communities. A significant level of activity is taking place in pursuit of this commitment. The Office for the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Releases (23 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Irish Prison Service is developing a comprehensive approach to prisoner release planning, to include a prisoner release policy, related protocols and standard operating procedures. It is intended to have these completed by October 2014. The Irish Prison Service aims to ensure all releases from Irish prisons and places of detention are planned releases. The policy will standardise...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Deportation Orders (23 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that no deportation order has been made in the case of the person referred to by the Deputy. The person concerned was first registered as a Student in the State in 2010 and kept this permission up to date until November 2012. The individual concerned has not had permission to reside in the State since...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Human Trafficking (23 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: Over the past number of years strong legislative, administrative and operational measures have been put in place in Ireland to combat and prevent trafficking in human beings. The Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Act 2008, with penalties of up to life imprisonment for human trafficking, greatly strengthened the law in this area and this legislation was further bolstered in 2013 with new forms...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (23 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the person referred to is the subject of a Deportation Order and therefore has no entitlement to residency in the State. The effect of the Deportation Order is that the person concerned must leave the State and remain thereafter outside the State. The enforcement of the Deportation Order is an...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Appointments to State Boards (23 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that, following the appearance of the new chairperson before the Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality last Thursday, the new board of the National Disability Agency is now in place. I can also inform the Deputy that the first meeting of the board took place yesterday. Details of the membership have been published on my Department's website...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Irish Prison Service (23 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will be aware that in accordance with Government Decision S180/20/10/0964C of 3 February and 24 March 2009 on the implementation of savings measures on public service numbers, more generally referred to as the moratorium on public sector recruitment, filling of vacancies in the Irish Prison Service is subject to the approval of the Minister for Finance. I can advise the Deputy...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Data (23 Sep 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Garda Síochána Act 2005 makes provision for the compilation and publication of crime statistics by the Central Statistics Office (CSO), as the national statistical agency, and the CSO has established a dedicated unit for this purpose. I have requested the CSO to provide statistics directly to the Deputy.