Results 13,361-13,380 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Seanad: Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Bill 2014: Committee Stage (3 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I take the point made by Senator Barrett. It is an important point, in respect of which we will be very vigilant. I would like to point out that under section 10 one of the functions of the commission is to participate in the joint committee with the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission in accordance with the multi-party agreement annexed to the British-Irish Agreement within the...

Seanad: Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Bill 2014: Committee Stage (3 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: These are technical amendments which need to be made in two places, namely, section 10 and the Long Title to the Bill. They transpose into Irish law the EU directive referred to. The directive was one of a package of competitiveness measures published by the Commission at the time of our Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Essentially, the idea is to ensure that we remove any...

Seanad: Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Bill 2014: Committee Stage (3 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: In regard to the competencies of the new body, it does have all the competencies necessary to fulfil what is provided for in the directive. There is no concern in that regard. In regard to the resource issue, this is about the body being the contact point and attending the relevant networking meetings. I would be confident that the resources allocated would encompass the body's work in...

Seanad: Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Bill 2014: Committee Stage (3 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: No, I do not accept that. I believe the extra costs will be marginal and can be met by the additional resources provided. Obviously, once the body is up and running I have no doubt the resource issue will be ongoing, as it is for all bodies.

Seanad: Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Bill 2014: Committee Stage (3 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I thank the Senator. He will recall that this amendment was discussed on Committee and Report Stages in the Dáil. The position remains that the amendment's text is technically inappropriate for legislation. Were the Government to undertake actions along the lines suggested, they would either be matters of policy and resource allocation or would need to be addressed in detail in...

Seanad: Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Bill 2014: Committee Stage (3 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I reject the Senator's assertions of an "unpicking" of the Good Friday Agreement. There are no adverse implications for the Agreement. Nor do I accept the Senator's points about the powers of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, NIHRC, versus those of the IHRC. I invite him to cite an example of where the NIHRC is stronger. I put it to the Senator that the Bill's proposals on the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (3 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation & Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the person concerned has permission to reside in the State until 2 November 2014. I am further advised that for the purposes of obtaining permission to reside in the State, based on the type of permission currently held by the person concerned, their spouse and children are considered to be...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (3 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The question of residency status does not arise at this time in the case of the person whose details were supplied. If the person has made an application for asylum or subsidiary protection, the position is that it is not the practice to comment on such applications for so long as they are in the protection process.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Staff Sick Leave (3 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The information sought by the Deputy in relation to sick leave for the years 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 (to date) is set out in the table below. For the purpose of long term sick absence, the figures provided refer to absences in excess of 92 days. Year Certified sick days Self certified sick days Long term sick absence (in excess of 92 days) Total 2014 (to date) 6286 819 855 7960 2013...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Consultancy Contracts Data (3 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I wish to advise the Deputy that in the time available to do so it is not been possible to gather all the information requested. I will contact the Deputy directly when the information comes to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Insolvency Service of Ireland Application Numbers (3 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I should advise the Deputy that the Insolvency Service of Ireland (ISI) releases its statistics on a quarterly basis and the most up to date figures reflecting Quarter 2 of 2014 will be published on the ISI’s website later this month. As outlined in the ISI’s Quarter 1 Statistical Report, the number of cases as at 31 March 2014 was as follows: - 55 Debt Solution Arrangements...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Deportation Orders (3 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the person concerned is part of a family unit who have all consented to deportation. The precise arrangements are being made for the various family members, including the person concerned, and are expected to be finalised in the near future. I would also refer the Deputy to my response to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Applications (3 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: If the person whose details were supplied has made an application for asylum or subsidiary protection, the position is that it is not the practice to comment on such applications for so long as they remain in the protection process.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Investigations (3 Jul 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 again when the report is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Organised Crime (3 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: Any person who is a victim or a witness to crime including any form of intimidation or threatening behaviour should report the matter to An Garda Síochána. In this regard I am informed by the Garda authorities that An Garda Síochána will in line with its obligations take appropriate steps in dealing with such cases, including the use of relevant provisions of the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (3 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the person mentioned by the Deputy entered the State on 02/07/2003 and had permission to remain in the State on foot of being the holder of a work permit until 22/06/2004. This person failed to renew their permission since that date. Therefore it would seem that they have remained in the State...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (3 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation & Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the person in question made an application for Long-Term Residency which was received by INIS on 20 September 2013. However, as the application did not satisfy the eligibility criteria, the applicant was informed by letter dated 24 September 2013 that their application could not be accepted at...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (3 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that a valid application for a certificate of naturalisation has been received from the person referred to by the Deputy, who currently has permission to remain in the State until 10 October 2014. The application is currently being processed with a view to establishing whether the applicant meets the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (3 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service of my Department that the person concerned has applied for a right of residency in the State, accompanied by a right to work, based on their parentage of an Irish born minor citizen child, and based also on the principles of the Zambrano Judgment. This application is under consideration at present. When consideration of this...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (3 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that an application for renewal of permission to remain has been received from the person concerned. This application is under consideration at present. When consideration of this application has been completed, and a decision is arrived at, the person concerned will be notified in writing. Queries in...