Results 13,101-13,120 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Guardian Status (17 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The law as it stands provides two routes for a non-marital father to obtain guardianship in relation to his child. Where the child's mother is in agreement, she and the father can jointly make a statutory declaration (referred to in section 2(4) of the Guardianship of Infants Act 1964, as amended by the Children Act 1997) appointing him as a guardian of the child. If the child's mother is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (17 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: Any public or private sector college wishing to recruit non-EEA national students must apply to have the relevant courses listed on the Internationalisation Register. Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) has administered the Internationalisation Register on behalf of the Department of Justice and Equality and the Department of Education and Skills. The Internationalisation Register is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Ministerial Adviser Appointments (17 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 605 and 616 together. In my capacity as Minister for Justice and Equality I have appointed three Special Advisors as set out in the table below. Each is paid at the Principal Officer standard scale on a pro-rata basis to a full time officer where appropriate. Special Advisor Full Time Equivalent Salary Marion Mannion 1 €75,647 - €92,550 ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Appointments to State Boards (17 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Government's Programme for National Recovery 2011-2016 reaffirms the Government target that all State Boards shall have at least 40% representation of each gender. The gender balance on State Boards is monitored by my Department for progress towards this target. In April 2011, the Government approved a transparency proposal to allow future vacancies on State Boards to be advertised on...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Ministerial Priorities (17 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: Since taking office on 8 May, I have been actively involved in delivering the Government’s comprehensive programme of justice reform which is aimed at ensuing ongoing confidence in the performance, administration and oversight of policing and justice in Ireland. Implementation of this programme will be a key priority for the remainder of my term in office, including the establishment...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Communications (17 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The briefing is being published on my Department's website today.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Transport Provision (17 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will be aware the provision and allocation of Garda vehicles is a matter for the Garda Commissioner in the light of her identified operational demands and the availability of resources.Responsibility for the efficient deployment of Garda vehicles in each Division is assigned to the Divisional Officer, who may allocate vehicles between stations, as required by operational...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Sentencing Policy (17 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The mandatory sentence for murder is life imprisonment, as provided by section 2 of the Criminal Justice Act 1990. A sentence of life imprisonment means that the prisoner is subject to that sentence for the rest of his or her life. Such a prisoner has no right to be released early at any stage. If granted temporary release, the prisoner remains subject to the life sentence and can be recalled...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (17 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have been informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS), of my Department that there is no record of an application for a Certificate of Naturalisation having being submitted on behalf of the children of the first and second person concerned. Where sections 6A and 6B of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended, are applicable, a child born in the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Vetting Applications (17 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am informed by the Garda authorities that no vetting application form has been received in respect of the person to whom the Deputy refers. In the circumstances, I can only suggest that the person contacts the registered organisation involved.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Financial Services Regulation (17 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will appreciate, I do not have a direct role in the investigation or prosecution of offences and decision making in that regard is a matter for the relevant authorities, having regard to the applicable law and the evidence available in each case. Insofar as the reports referred to by the Deputy are concerned, as I have previously advised, the majority of such reports received...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Recruitment (17 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The first intake of approximately one hundred Garda Trainees to the Garda College is scheduled to take place in early September 2014. The student/probationer training programme has been radically restructured into three phases instead of the previous five phases. Phase I will take 32 weeks at the Garda College, at the end of which successful students will be attested, that is, become...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Criminal Law (17 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: Section 40 of the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 inserted new subsections under Section 9 of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act 1990, dealing with air and gas powered guns (also known as airsoft guns). These provisions deal with Realistic Imitation Firearms (RIFs) which includes airsoft guns with a muzzle energy less than or equal to one joule which are capable of...

Seanad: Court of Appeal Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: With regards to section 28, I wish to make the point that precedence and the order does not have anything to do with salaries. It is a well established hierarchical structure. It is interesting to note, for example, that in some legislation one will have inbuilt in the legislation a particular order in which a particular issue is dealt with. Therefore, the listing and, if one likes,...

Seanad: Court of Appeal Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I wish to make the point again that the legislation is a very important milestone in modernising our courts system. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Senators from all sides of the House for ensuring the passage of this very historic Bill.

Seanad: Court of Appeal Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I agree we have been well served by our Judiciary. During our debate on this Bill in the Dáil, a number of Deputies pointed out that many people are calling for change in regard to the appointment of judges, but at the same time they say we have been well served by the judges we have had. People give out about the appointment process, but in the same breath say we have been well served...

Seanad: Court of Appeal Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I do not have the full details of the new pension scheme to hand but can give the Senator some information that I hope will deal with some of his concerns. I assure the House that the provisions in respect of judges appointed from 1 January 2013 are not more advantageous than those applying to judges who were appointed at an earlier date. For instance, the full pension benefit now accrues...

Seanad: Court of Appeal Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I will ask the courts policy section to furnish a note to the Senator on the way in which the pension regime applies in regard to various judges. I understand that what the Senator is saying is not the case and that the pension is index-linked and capped. I will get a detailed note on it.

Seanad: Court of Appeal Bill 2014: Second Stage (16 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The vast majority. It is an important direction to head in. A number of Senators mentioned the new case management system, which is very important and will ensure a more efficient system. Senator Jillian van Turnhout referred to the importance of a Supreme Court that functions in a way that conforms to the best practice in other jurisdictions. For this to happen, the Supreme Court needs to...

Seanad: Court of Appeal Bill 2014: Second Stage (16 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I thank the Senators who have contributed to the debate this evening. I acknowledge the support and co-operation shown by the House in making the time available. The goal and deadline is to ensure that we establish the court of appeal in sufficient time to have it operational in the autumn. As several Senators have noted, basically we are giving effect to the decision of the people in a...