Results 13,861-13,880 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Dissident Republican Activity (27 May 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The discovery recently of an explosive device in a car at a hotel in Dublin showed the scant regard which some people have for the lives and safety of innocent persons. Deputies will also be aware that the Gardaí interdicted another explosive device last Sunday at Kilcurry in County Louth and made a number arrests. The Garda authorities, with the assistance of the Defence Forces, are...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Employment Rights (27 May 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I would draw the Deputy's attention to section 14 of the Parental Leave Act 1998, which provides that all employment rights (with the exception of the right to remuneration or superannuation benefits, or any obligation to pay contributions in or in respect of the employment), are protected while on parental leave. A period of time spent on parental leave accordingly reckons towards...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: UN Conventions Ratification (27 May 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The criminal law elements of the Optional Protocol have largely been implemented by the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act 1998 and the Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Act 2008. On 17 December last, the Government approved the drafting of a wide ranging Sexual Offences Bill. This will include measures to enable full compliance with the criminal law provisions of a number of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: European Court of Justice Rulings (27 May 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Court of Justice of the European Union delivered its judgment in the Google Spain case on 13 May. In this case, the Court found that when a search engine operator searches for and presents personal information, such an operator 'collects' data within the meaning of the 1995 Data Protection Directive. For the purposes of the Directive, the operator is therefore a data 'controller' and the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Investigations (27 May 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 643 to 645, inclusive, and 682 to 684, inclusive, together. I am informed by the Garda authorities that there are currently investigations relating to 16 complaints in total involving the National Asset Management Agency (NAMA). I am further informed that a Detective Inspector from the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation (GBFI) has been designated as Senior...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: EU Directives (27 May 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I believe that the provisions of the Victims of Crime Directive will strengthen support to victims, including those who have suffered sexual violence. The Directive, which covers all victims of crime, is due to be implemented by the Member States by the 16th of November 2015. The Directive provides that the victim should receive appropriate information about their case, have access to victim...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Fines Administration (27 May 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I wish to advise the Deputy that the Fines (Payment and Recovery) Act 2014 was signed into law by the President on 16 April 2014. The aim of the legislation is to improve the rate of fine default and reduce to the greatest extent possible the use of imprisonment as a sanction for fine default. It provides that the Court imposing a fine shall take into account a person's financial...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Applications (27 May 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: Naturalisation Applications (27 May 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended provides that the Minister for Justice has absolute discretion to grant an application for a certificate of naturalisation provided certain statutory conditions are fulfilled. One such condition is that Minister must be satisfied that the applicant is of good character. The case was submitted to my predecessor for decision and he...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: UN Conventions Ratification (27 May 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am assuming that the Deputy is referring to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, for which my Department has responsibility. I would like to refer him to the response given by my colleague, Minister of State Kathleen Lynch on 27 February 2014, in which she informed the House that the Government intends to proceed to ratification of the Convention as quickly as...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Applications (27 May 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy is aware, 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 are in the protection process.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (27 May 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: All applications for a certificate of naturalisation are processed and assessed individually in accordance with the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. Section 15 of the Act provides that the Minister may, in her absolute discretion, grant an application for a certificate of naturalisation if satisfied certain statutory conditions are fulfilled. In...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Services Regulation (27 May 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: As some of the matters raised by the Deputy have been brought before the Law Society and a case is going before the Office of the Independent Adjudicator under the relevant complaints procedures of the Solicitors Acts 1954 to 2013, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on the details of the specific case involved. The matters raised have also been responded to in separate...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Proposed Legislation (27 May 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 654, 698, 704 and 705 together. The Deputies will appreciate that I have not yet had an opportunity to fully review this matter. Following the publication of the report of the Justice Committee in June last year, the committee was requested to clarify and elaborate some of its recommendations for a new approach to prostitution legislation. The relevant...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Investigations (27 May 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am informed by the Garda authorities that a statement was taken from the person referred to, a full investigation was carried out by An Garda Síochána into the incident, and that this is reflected in Garda records. If there are outstanding issues of concern, I will raise the matter with the Garda authorities.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Vetting Applications (27 May 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will appreciate that vetting procedures in this country are in place to protect children and vulnerable adults. As such they demand rigorous procedures to ensure their integrity and to maintain the highest level of confidence by the public and organisations availing of them. Any vetting process will take a certain minimum amount of time to complete. In that regard, I am informed...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Misconduct Allegations (27 May 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 657 and 700 together. I would like to express my sincere condolences to the family concerned for the tragic loss of life in the case referred to by the Deputy. The Deputy will appreciate that I do not have a role in the investigation of criminal cases or the conduct of inquests. However, the Deputy may be aware that the Garda investigation into the death of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Transport Provision (27 May 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: Court Accommodation Refurbishment (27 May 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy is 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, I have had enquiries made and I am informed that while works have recently been carried out to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Strength (27 May 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of personnel, including Community Gardaí, among the Garda Regions, Divisions, and Districts. Garda management keep this distribution under continuing review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the best possible use is made of these resources. The Deputy will...