Results 13,761-13,780 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (12 Jun 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 on behalf of one of the children of the person referred to by the Deputy. A letter issued to the parent requesting certain information on 12th May 2014. Upon receipt of the requested information the case will be finalised...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (12 Jun 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The person concerned was granted temporary permission to remain in the State in 2002, under the arrangements then in place for the non-EEA parents of Irish born citizen children. This permission was renewed on a regular basis and is currently valid until 13 June, 2014. I would advise the person concerned to contact the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) to request an extension of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (12 Jun 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I refer the Deputy to the Reply given to his Parliamentary Question No. 257 on Thursday 16th January 2014. The Status of the person concerned is as set out in that reply.I wish to inform the Deputy that the person referred to has no entitlement to residency. As outlined in a number of previous Dail replies in this matter the person concerned is the subject of a Deportation Order following a...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Forensic Evidence and DNA Database System) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 Jun 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: This is landmark legislation and I wish to take the opportunity to thank Senators for their support for it. I also pay tribute to everybody who has been involved in the development of the legislation over a long period, including the Law Reform Commission which did a report on this matter. In addition, the previous Government published a Bill. In particular, I pay tribute to my...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Forensic Evidence and DNA Database System) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 Jun 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: This amendment addresses the transfer of DNA samples or profiles to other states. I understand that the amendment seeks to ensure there are appropriate safeguards with regard to such transfers. I assure the Senator that insofar as the amendment purports to address mutual assistance such safeguards do exist and in fact go further than what has been proposed. In regard to subsection (1), I...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Forensic Evidence and DNA Database System) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 Jun 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I thank Senators for their support for the Bill. As I said on Second Stage, it is excellent that we are at this point in respect of the Criminal Justice (Forensic Evidence and DNA Database System) Bill. We have to ensure the legislation is on the Statute Book. There is an EU directive, the terms of which we have to meet by 1 December. I am aware this amendment was tabled on Committee and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Applications (11 Jun 2014)

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

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Applications (11 Jun 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised that the person concerned arrived in the State on 1 September 2005, and applied for asylum on the same date at the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner. This application was refused, and the person concerned was informed of this refusal by letter dated 31 May 2007. The person concerned also made an application for Subsidiary Protection under the European Communities...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service (11 Jun 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 inquiries made and have been informed that following a review...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (11 Jun 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that correspondence is due to issue to the person in question in the coming days in relation to the matter raised by the Deputy. Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to the INIS by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Investigations (11 Jun 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will be aware I have asked the Garda Commissioner for a report in relation to the issues arising with respect to the Tuam Home. I understand that Gardaí have been in contact with the Coroner as part of their preliminary examinations of this matter.Although the functions referred to by the Deputy relate to the independent role of the coroner under the Coroners Act 1962, my...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Magdalen Laundries (11 Jun 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will be aware that significant progress has been made on the implementation of the Magdalen Scheme. Within my own Department, a unit of 9 officials is working full time on engaging with the women and processing applications. To date, 346 women have been paid their lump sums at a cost of €12.4m. In addition to the lump sum payment each woman is entitled to a top up...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Magdalen Laundries (11 Jun 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: Judge Quirke recommended that "As an integral part of the ex gratia Scheme a card entitling its holder to health services equivalent to those provided to the holder of a HAA card should be given to each of the women who were admitted to and worked in a designated Magdalen laundry." Appendix G of Judge Quirke's report contains information extracted from the Guide to Community Services...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Equality Issues (11 Jun 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: We have been advised that while, as the Deputy indicates, Article 40.1 of the Constitution states that all citizens shall be treated equally, the institution of Marriage referred to in Article 41 of the Constitution has been interpreted by the courts as confined to unions between persons of the opposite sex. As recommended by the Constitutional Convention in its report to the Oireachtas of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Investigations (11 Jun 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.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) (Amendment) Bill 2014: Second Stage (10 Jun 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I thank Senator Zappone for introducing this important legislation and Senator Bacik for seconding it. I was glad to avail of the opportunity to meet with Senator Zappone, along with my departmental officials, to discuss the details of the Bill. I congratulate her on drafting this legislation and pay tribute to the advocates she mentioned who work in this area and supported her in this,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Dublin-Monaghan Bombings (10 Jun 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The atrocities which were perpetrated against innocent men, women and children in the bombings in Dublin and Monaghan in May 1974 stand out in our collective memory as particularly bloody episodes in the history of conflict on this island. I know that the resulting pain is still felt by the survivors and the victims' families, despite the passage of 40 years, and our thoughts are with them....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Judicial Appointments (10 Jun 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy may be aware, taxing masters are independent office holders attached to the High Court and are appointed by the Government.The positions of the Taxing Master and their offices are governed by the Courts Officers Act 1926 and the Courts (Supplemental Provisions) Act 1961. Their powers and duties are governed by the Courts (Supplemental Provisions) Act 1961 and the Courts and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (10 Jun 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The information requested by the Deputy is contained in the table. Provisions not yet enacted Commencement Order Date for Commencement Order Property Service (Regulation) Act 2011 Part 10 (Maintenance of Professional Competence of Licensees) Yet to be commenced. Intended to commence Part 10 during 2014. This will require the putting in place of a range of courses for licensed Property...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (10 Jun 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Irish visa application system does not require an applicant to state their sexual orientation nor is it relevant to the consideration of the application. Where the application is for the purpose of family reunification, applications based on same-sex or heterosexual relationship are treated in exactly the same way. This is made clear throughout the Policy Document on Third Country Family...