Results 13,421-13,440 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Process (1 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The General Scheme of the Children and Family Relationships Bill was published on 31 January this year and referred to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality for pre-legislative scrutiny. The Committee's report, containing a number of recommendations, was received on 29 May 2014. The recommendations, together with the recommendations of the Ombudsman for Children...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Referendum on Marriage Equality (1 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: After considering the recommendations of the Convention on the Constitution, Government agreed at its meeting on 5 November 2013 to hold a referendum on marriage equality. My Department is engaged in the early stages of developing the wording of the proposed constitutional amendment and the accompanying legislation including a General Scheme of an Implementation Bill that will be required if...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Employment Equality Act (1 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: Proposals to amend section 37 of the Employment Equality Act are contained in the Employment Equality (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2013 which is currently before the Seanad at Committee Stage. The objective of the Bill is to better balance the right of religious freedom and the right of employees to protection from discrimination. The Government, as announced previously, has accepted the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Stations Refurbishment (1 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The programme of refurbishment of Garda stations is based on priorities which are established by An Garda Síochána. The programme is advanced in co-operation with the Office of Public Works, which has responsibility for the provision and maintenance of Garda accommodation. Funding for such works is met by the Office of Public Works. In that context, I am informed by the Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Drugs Seizures (1 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am informed by the Garda authorities that in circumstances where controlled drugs including cannabis have been seized and are subsequently made the subject of a court destruction order, or in circumstances where no offender is prosecuted in relation to the seizure of the controlled drugs, they are destroyed in a safe and secure manner in accordance with the policy of An Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Anti-Social Behaviour (1 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am assured by the Garda authorities that any complaints made to the Gardaí in relation to anti-social behaviour by a person's neighbours are fully investigated. In this regard there is a range of strong legislative provisions available to an An Garda Síochána, including provisions under the Criminal Damage Act 1991, Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994, the Criminal...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Investigations (1 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 377 to 379, inclusive, together. The Deputy will be aware that the Garda investigation into the death of the person referred to is the subject of a complaint which has been received by my Department. I am currently considering my response and I will contact the Deputy again in relation to it. I should point out, however, that I do not have a role in the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Investigations (1 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will be aware, Mr. Dominic McGinn, Senior Counsel, is at present carrying out an independent examination of the report of the Serious Crime Review Team relating to the Garda investigation into the death of Fr. Niall Molloy. In accordance with its terms of reference, this independent examination comprises two elements. Firstly, Mr. McGinn is to examine the Review Team's...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Transfers (1 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can advise the Deputy that prisoners being considered by the Irish Prison Service for a transfer from a closed prison to an Open Centre are identified by a number of different means but primarily on the recommendation of the Prison Governor or the therapeutic services in the prisons. The prisoner, their family or their legal representative can also apply for consideration of such a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Career Breaks (1 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that all members were invited to make an application for the incentivised career break. In the invitation, the Commissioner pointed out that Divisional and District Officers may make recommendations to grant or refuse a career break. While Divisional and District Officers are asked to facilitate applications for career breaks as far as...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (1 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will appreciate, as well as being a significant event in the life of its recipient, the granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation as provided for in law is also a major step for the State which confers certain rights and entitlements not only within the State but also at European Union level and it is important that appropriate procedures are in place to preserve the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Firearms Licences (1 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: On the 1 August 2009, the remaining sections of the Criminal Justice Act 2006 and Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 relating to firearms were commenced. The legislation now provides for three year certificates, rather than the one year certificates which applied up to 2009 and which expired on 31 July each year. According to PULSE (Garda computer) Records, from 1 January...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Road Traffic Offences (1 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy is aware the primary purpose of section 63 of the Road Traffic Act 2010 is to ensure that the driving licence number of individual offenders is recorded to enable the application of appropriate penalty points to the licence on conviction by the court. As indicated in my response to Question 324 of 6 May 2014 where an accused is brought before a Court in relation to a penalty...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Magdalen Laundries (1 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: There is no record of an expression of interest or application form being received from this individual for the Magdalen Scheme. If this lady was admitted to and worked in one of the 12 specified institutions under the Magdalen Scheme she should contact my officials in the Restorative Justice Implementation Unit of my Department at Tel: 01 4768628 and they will assist her. Alternatively,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Data (1 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy may be aware, 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 relevant available statistics directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Numbers (1 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Irish Prison Service publishes on its website (www.irishprisons.ie) prisoner population figures for all institutions on a daily basis.I wish to advise the Deputy that on Monday 30th June, 2014, there were five 17 year old remand prisoners detained at St Patrick's Institution. In line with recommendations of the Inspector of Prisons to effect changes in regime and culture and to ensure...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (1 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the person concerned was, by letter dated 3rd September, 2008, granted permission to remain in the State as the Spouse of an EU National who was exercising their EU Treaty Rights in this State. This permission to remain was valid to 6 August, 2012. This permission was not renewed as the circumstances...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Recruitment (1 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 390 and 419 together. The Public Appointments Service (PAS) are managing this recruitment process on behalf of the Garda Commissioner and I have no direct involvement in the matter. However, I am informed that following receipt of 24,000 applications, PAS invited candidates to complete Stage 1 of the competition which consisted of an assessment...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (1 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can advise the Deputy that information and advice on establishing text alert schemes in any particular area, including the area referred to by the Deputy is available from local community Gardaí. In addition, guidelines for establishing and operating community text alert schemes have been published by the Garda Commissioner and are available on the Garda website. The Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Transport Provision (1 Jul 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 392 and 393 together. Decisions in relation to the provision and allocation of Garda vehicles are a matter for the Garda Commissioner in the light of her identified operational demands and the availability of resources. As the Deputy will be aware, a further €9m was secured towards the end of 2013 for investment in the Garda fleet. This investment...