Results 13,801-13,820 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Recruitment (10 Jun 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: It is intended that the first intake of new Garda trainees who have successfully completed all stages of the recruitment process will enter the Garda College in July of this year. They will participate in the new training programme over the remainder of 2014 and it is expected that they will attest in early 2015. At that stage they will be assigned to Garda stations throughout the country...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Training (10 Jun 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: A recruitment campaign for new recruits to An Garda Síochána is currently underway, the first since 2009. It is intended that the first intake of new Garda trainees who have successfully completed all stages of the recruitment process will enter the Garda College in July of this year. They will participate in the new training programme over the remainder of 2014 and it is expected...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Investigations (10 Jun 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will be aware, an interdepartmental process is underway to examine how these complex and tragic circumstances can be best addressed, beginning by gathering information from all relevant Departments. My Department is participating in this process but as it did not have a role in relation to the inspection of institutions of this nature, or in monitoring levels of infant...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Transport Provision (5 Jun 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: 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. 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: Residential Institutions Issues (5 Jun 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: While I understand that the matters referred to by the Deputy are not the subject of a criminal investigation, as the Deputy will be aware, relevant Government Departments, including my own, have been tasked with working together in preparation for the Government's early consideration and determination of the best course of action in relation to this deeply disturbing matter.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Communications (5 Jun 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am informed by the Garda authorities that auditing of all updates to the PULSE computer system has been in place since PULSE was first implemented. The audit record includes the date and time when the update on the system took place and contains details of the user signed onto the system at that time. Auditing of PULSE enquiries against core items of interest, such as persons and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Information and Communications Technology Issues (5 Jun 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table: Year Other Department/Public Body Service/Cost Driver Amount 2010 Dept. Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs Managed Service Support on per user basis (user nos. varied from 150 to 171) + database project €224,212.55 - National Museum of Ireland Financial Shared Services annual licensing for...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Firearms Licences (5 Jun 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can inform the Deputy that an application for a firearms certificate is forwarded to the local Garda station of the applicant. Details of the application are then entered onto the Garda PULSE system, after which a letter of receipt of the application is automatically printed and then posted to the applicant from the local District Office. This letter of receipt is signed by the issuing...

Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (4 Jun 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I wish to make a general point first about sections 32 to 34 and 36 to 38. These are all continuations with little substantive change of existing provisions in the Employment Equality Act 1998 and as such, they form part of our EU equality law obligations. This is so on the basis of provisions in the relevant directives that prohibit a regression in existing standards of protection. This...

Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (4 Jun 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can see that the Deputy is suggesting a formal impact assessment but such a process cannot substitute effectively for the ongoing responsibility the commission or any public body would have to manage its functions effectively or for the ultimate responsibility of the Government and this House to make political choices in the allocation of resources. I do not need to speak here about the...

Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (4 Jun 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: Section 42 places a positive duty on public bodies to have due regard to human rights and equality and reflects a commitment in the Government’s Programme for National Recovery 2011 to 2016, which states: "We will require all public bodies to take due note of equality and human rights in carrying out their functions". The commission will assist public bodies to comply with that...

Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (4 Jun 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The key feature of secondment, which distinguishes this concept from leave of absence or from being on a career break, is that the person seconded remains under the direction and control of the sending organisation. Section 24(6) of the Bill allows for temporary engagement by the commission of staff of other organisations but prohibits such temporary postings from being on a secondment basis...

Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (4 Jun 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: It would weaken what is there already, which is that no secondment is allowed by the current provisions. Therefore, the clear policy decision is to separate the commission from the Government but if we accepted the amendment, it would weaken that separation.

Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (4 Jun 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I move amendment No. 8:In page 20, to delete lines 37 and 38 and substitute the following:“(a) comprise—(i) the key objectives and related strategies, including the use of resources of the Commission, and (ii) having had regard to subparagraph (i), the key priorities and objectives of the Chief Commissioner for his or her term of office,and”.This amendment is in response...

Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (4 Jun 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I should say that it is a good try. Most bodies would like that but the idea is somewhat problematic in view of what I stated regarding the Constitution earlier. In our system, money may only be voted for a public body on foot of a request from the Government. Within that constitutional imperative, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform’s consent is required for any...

Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (4 Jun 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I move amendment No. 10:In page 22, line 26, to delete "equality remuneration term" and substitute "equal remuneration term".This is to correct an error in the wording of the Bill and I hope the amendment can be agreed without discussion.

Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (4 Jun 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I move amendment No. 3:In page 10, to delete lines 16 to 20 and substitute the following:“(d) to encourage good practice in intercultural relations, to promote tolerance and acceptance of diversity in the State and respect for the freedom and dignity of each person, and (e) to work towards the elimination of human rights abuses, discrimination and prohibited conduct.”.The...

Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (4 Jun 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: No, if something prohibited, it is prohibited. As I said, the amendment brings clarity.

Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (4 Jun 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The existing text of section 14(3) on page 15 provides that a member of the commission ceases to be a member automatically on conviction for a criminal offence. The case the Deputy describes would not necessarily be a criminal offence, unless there was assault. The amendment seeks to raise the threshold to conviction for an indictable criminal offence. The commission will have very...

Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (4 Jun 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: Yes, it is very clear that "is convicted" refers to convictions now or in the future, not past convictions. That has been confirmed by the Attorney General.