Results 1,421-1,440 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Data (23 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will be aware, the Central Statistics Office (CSO), as the national statistical agency, is responsible for the publication of recorded crime statistics. The CSO official recorded crime statistics for Q4 of 2016, show welcome decreases in a number of the main categories of crime that affect all our communities, including: burglary (30%), robbery (18%), theft (14%) and public...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: I take it that the Deputy is referring to the policy as set out in the UK Government's White Paper: The United Kingdom's Exit From and New Partnership with the European Union. The White Paper elaborates on the 12 guiding principles for their negotiations under the Article 50 withdrawal process. One of those principles relates to controlling immigration and states that the UK "will design our...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: I wish to advise the Deputy that certain restrictions on consideration of Irish visa applications from residents of Libya have been in place since August, 2014 due to the political and security situation in Libya. In doing so, all relevant considerations including the ongoing security situation in Libya and the potential economic impact of the restrictions were taken into account. There...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Costs (23 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Legal Aid Board provides civil legal aid and advice to people who cannot afford to pay for a solicitor from their own resources. In practice, the vast majority of applicants whose sole source of income is the contributory or non-contributory old age pension are likely to be paying the minimum contribution which is €30 for legal advice and a minimum of €130 for legal aid...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the visa application referred to has been approved on appeal. The applicant has been informed. The Deputy may wish to note that queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to INIS by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of resources, including personnel, among the various Garda Divisions and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. Garda management keeps this distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the optimum use is made of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Ministerial Correspondence (23 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will wish to be aware that access for all staff to web based emails is restricted by security infrastructure deployed by the Department of Justice and Equality. The Department provides a secure remote access service to staff who require access to Departmental systems including emails outside of work hours. I use my Departmental email address to conduct official business...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Deportation Orders Data (23 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the information sought by the Deputy is set out in the following tables. The Deputy will be appreciate that the issue of the letters under Section 3 is the start of a process whereby detailed consideration is given to each case taking into account all aspects before a decision is made to grant leave...

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 information sought by the Deputy is included in the following tables. It should be noted that persons issued with a notice under Section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999 have their cases considered in accordance with the provisions of the section, following which they may be issued with a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Deportation Orders Data (23 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the figures requested by the Deputy are as set out in the following tables. In each instance, the top five nationalities are shown with all other nationalities grouped under the 'Others' category. The Deputy might wish to note that orders effected and revoked in 2016 and 2017 may have been made in an...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised that the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department, in conjunction with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), offers voluntary assisted return and re-integration programmes for asylum seekers, failed asylum seekers and other illegally present migrants. Asylum seekers or failed asylum seekers who have not had a Deportation Order made in...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will appreciate, it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for managing and controlling generally the administration and business of An Garda Síochána and, as Minister, I have no direct role in relation to these matters. I have been informed by the Garda authorities that the information requested by the Deputy in relation to the company concerned is as follows: ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service Administration (23 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy is aware, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service, which is independent in exercising its functions. Furthermore the scheduling of court cases and the allocation of court business are matters for the President of the District Court and the presiding judge who are, under the Constitution,...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 138 and 139 together. The Deputy will be aware, further to parliamentary question number 64 of 29 March 2017, that I have requested a report from the Garda authorities on the matters raised by the Deputy and will contact the Deputy directly on receipt of this report. As I have indicated to the House previously, An Garda Síochána has...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: The Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service of my Department processes around 250,000 applications each year ranging across a wide range of avenues for immigration. The determination of certain types of immigration permissions are set down in national law, such as, the visa regime or applications for naturalisation under the Citizenship Acts, or linked to employment permits granted by...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will be aware the provision and allocation of Garda transport is a matter for the Garda Commissioner in the context of identified operational circumstances and the availability of resources and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. I am, however, advised by the Garda authorities that Garda vehicles are normally retired for a variety of reasons including, for...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: This Government is committed to ensuring a strong and visible police presence throughout the country in order to maintain and strengthen community engagement, provide reassurance to citizens and deter crime. To make this a reality for all, the Government has in place a plan to achieve an overall Garda workforce of 21,000 personnel by 2021 comprising 15,000 Garda members, 2,000 Reserve...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 143 and 148 together. I wish to assure the Deputy that when developing policy or legislation proposals on policing matters my Department would always have regard to international models. However, owing to a number of unique factors pertaining to the Garda Síochána, including the fact that it is a single national police force which provides a...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of resources, including personnel, among the various Garda Divisions and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. Garda management keeps this distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the optimum use is made of...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: Forensic Science Ireland (FSI) review forensic processes on an ongoing basis to accommodate new technologies, ensure compliance with best international practice and to improve efficiencies of service delivery. Progress in this regard is now being constrained in the current facilities at Garda HQ. Hence, my decision to accelerate the start date for the facility at Backweston, Celbridge. ...