Results 1,401-1,420 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Schemes (23 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The applicant referred to by the Deputy received a formal offer to participate in the ex gratiascheme in March this year, to which a reply is awaited. Officials from my Department are in contact with the applicant's legal representative.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Investigations (23 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The bomb attack in Belturbet on 28 December 1972 was an appalling act of violence, which claimed two innocent lives. Our thoughts are, of course, with the families of the victims who, like so many other families over the course of the Troubles, have had to face the pain and grief of the loss of their loved ones. The Garda authorities inform me that the Belturbet atrocity was the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Northern Ireland (23 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The murder of ten innocent workmen at Kingsmill in January 1976 was an appalling atrocity and the Irish Government is committed to co-operating fully in accordance with law with the Northern Ireland Coroner’s Inquest into the Kingsmill murders in order to provide answers for the victims’ families. In line with this commitment, relevant evidential material in the possession of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Commercial Rates Calculations (23 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Valuation Acts 2001 - 2015 provide for the valuation of all commercial and industrial property for rating purposes and the Commissioner of Valuation is independent in the performance of his functions under the Act and the making of valuations for rating is his sole prerogative and I, as Minister for Justice and Equality, have no function in decisions in this regard. Under section 28...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Surveillance Operations (23 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Interception of Postal Packets and Telecommunications Messages (Regulation) Act 1993 and the Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Act 2009 provide for dedicated and independent judicial oversight mechanisms, including a complaints mechanism. Anyone who believes they have been the victim of improper use of this legislation may make a complaint to the Complaints Referee. The Complaints...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Vetting Legislation (23 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Garda National Vetting Bureau carries out vetting checks and this is done primarily in respect of areas of employment where persons may have substantial, unsupervised access to children or vulnerable adults, including schools. This is carried out in accordance with the provisions of the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Acts 2012-2016. I am informed by the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Independent Review Mechanism (23 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy is aware, in May 2014 the Independent Review Mechanism (IRM) was established to consider allegations of Garda misconduct or deficiencies in the way that Gardaí had carried out investigations. A panel consisting of two Senior and five Junior Counsel was established for the purpose, all selected on the basis of their knowledge of the criminal justice system....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Commissions of Investigation (23 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Under section 19 of the Commissions of Investigation Act 2004 none of the following is admissible as evidence against a person in any criminal or other proceedings: - a statement or admission made by the person to a commission; - a document given or sent to a commission pursuant to a direction or request of the commission to the person, or - a document specified in an affidavit of documents...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Status (23 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that there is no record of a current application for a certificate of naturalisation from persons with the family name referred to by the Deputy. Section 15 of the Act provides that the Minister may, in her absolute discretion, grant an application for a certificate of naturalisation provided certain...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Transport Provision (23 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will be appreciate 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 and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. I am, however, informed by the Garda authorities that the allocation of Garda vehicles is monitored and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Proposed Legislation (23 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will be aware that Deputy Clare Daly proposed a Private Members Bill, entitled the Coroners Bill 2015, to address issues with regard to the investigation into maternal deaths. The proposals contained in this Bill would introduce mandatory reporting, post-mortem examinations and inquests into any maternal death. Deputy Daly's Bill also proposed the extension of the current scheme of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Leave to Remain (23 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the relevant details of the Spouse of Irish National scheme are available on the INIS website at www.inis.gov.ie/en/INIS/Pages/WP07000024. If the person concerned does not have current permission to remain in the State, they must complete the application form “Application for Residence...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Oversight (23 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 109 to 115, inclusive, 120 and 121 together. As the Deputy will be aware I have indicated publicly my concern at the findings of the Interim Internal Audit Report in relation to the financial procedures in the Garda College Templemore. As the Deputy will also be aware, the Committee is examining the Garda Commissioner in relation to the Interim Audit...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Vetting Applications (23 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have been informed by the Garda Authorities that there is at present no backlog in respect of Garda vetting applications for persons who are seeking recruitment into An Garda Síochána. I am further informed that the vetting process for applicants to become Garda Trainees may vary depending on the circumstances of each individual application. There may be individual cases...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Cyber Security Policy (23 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can inform the Deputy that significant steps have been undertaken in this area. The Criminal Justice (Offences Relating to Information Systems) Bill, passed by the Oireachtas last week, is the first piece of legislation in this jurisdiction that is specifically dedicated to dealing with cybercrime. In addition to giving effect to the EU Directive on attacks against information systems,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Recruitment (23 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will be aware, recruitment to An Garda Síochána is governed by the Garda Síochána (Admissions and Appointments) Regulations 2013 and the recruitment and training of An Garda Síochána is a matter for the Garda Commissioner, and I as Minister have no direct role in the matter. Recruitment competitions for full time members of An Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Closed-Circuit Television Systems (23 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will be aware that the Programme for a Partnership Government commits to providing investment in CCTV systems and that I have secured €1 million in Budget 2017 to begin a new round of community CCTV schemes in line with the Programme. In this context, I am pleased to inform the Deputy that, on 13 April 2017, I launched the new grant aid scheme to assist community-based...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Commercial Rates Valuation Process (23 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Commissioner of Valuation has responsibility under the Valuation Acts 2001 to 2015 to maintain a valuation list of all commercial properties in each Local Authority area, which is used to calculate the rates due from individual ratepayers. Section 9(10) of the Act provides the Commissioner is independent in the performance of his functions and decisions with regard to the selection of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Commercial Rates Exemptions (23 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Commissioner of Valuation is independent in the exercise of his duties under the Valuation Acts, 2001-2015 and the making of valuations for rating is his sole responsibility. The statute does not accord me, as Minister for Justice and Equality, any function in this regard. The basic premise under the Valuation Acts 2001 to 2015 is that all interests including buildings and lands used...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Programme for Government Implementation (23 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Since my appointment as Minister for Justice and Equality, I have overseen a significant programme of reform in Garda oversight and accountability. I was very pleased to establish an independent Policing Authority. The Policing Authority represents one of the most significant developments in policing since the foundation of the State. It constitutes a major element of the comprehensive...