Results 1,521-1,540 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Criminal Justice (Victims of Crime) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (17 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I move amendment No. 141:In page 31, to delete line 3 and substitute the following:“(j) in section 19A(13), by the substitution of “subsection (11)” for “subsection (12)”, and”. This is a technical amendment to the new section 19A of the Criminal Evidence Act 1992 which regulates the disclosure of counselling records in sexual offence trials.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Criminal Justice (Victims of Crime) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (17 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I move amendment No. 144:In page 33, between lines 12 and 13, to insert the following:“Non-compliance with Act 30.(1) A failure by an individual to observe any provision of this Act shall not of itself—(a) render him or her liable to any criminal or civil proceedings, (b) prevent any criminal or civil proceedings relating to an offence from being instituted or prosecuted, or...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Criminal Justice (Victims of Crime) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (17 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Yes.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Criminal Justice (Victims of Crime) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (17 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Yes. Deputy O'Brien is right. We have to review the functioning of the Bill and report to the Oireachtas 12 months after its enactment. I have no problem with the amendment but it is not necessary.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Criminal Justice (Victims of Crime) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (17 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: It would be a significant decision to create another position of ombudsman for victims. We are at a critical point in this country, and in Europe, on victims' rights and we are at a turning point with the implementation of the victims' directive. I will examine the proposal but it would require a Government decision because it would involve significant resources. It will be on the agenda...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Criminal Justice (Victims of Crime) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (17 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: That is a fair suggestion. I appreciate it.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Criminal Justice (Victims of Crime) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (17 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I move amendment No. 154:In page 5, line 8, after “amend” to insert “the Criminal Procedure Act 1967,”. This amendment amends the Long Title of the Bill to include a reference to the amendment of the Criminal Procedure Act 1967. The Act of 1967 is amended by section 25 of this Bill but the reference in the long title was omitted in error. I thank members for...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Procedures (17 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The information requested by the Deputy spans a large period of time and arrangements are in train in my Department to prepare a response. I will revert to the Deputy when the specific information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Procedures (17 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 86 and 87 together. I have requested a Garda report on the matters referred to in the Deputy's questions and will contact the Deputy directly on receipt of a Garda report.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Aid Service Staff (17 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 88 to 91, inclusive, together. As I previously informed the Deputy I am informed by the Legal Aid Board that three of the board's law centres - Smithfield, Dublin 7; Seville House, Galway; and Popes Quay in Cork - are directly involved in protection cases and a number of additional staff have been assigned to those offices. Another office, the Refugee...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Expenditure (17 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: In respect of my Department, office accommodation at Montague Court is rented under lease agreement where 25 car parking spaces are included, and where the individual cost of car parking is not specified in the lease agreement. All other property and associated parking occupied by my department is provided by the Office of Public Works (OPW).

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Bodies Expenditure (17 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The information requested by the Deputy is not readily available and is currently being collated. I will contact the Deputy directly when this is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Code of Ethics (17 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will appreciate that neither I nor my Department would be directly involved in arrangements for or the conduct of day-to-day policing activities, including the conduct of intelligence-gathering operations, whether overt or undercover. The policing powers and duties of members of An Garda Síochána are set out in the Garda Síochána Acts 2005-2015, including...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Expenditure (17 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 the matter. I am, however, advised by the Garda Authorities that there are currently 13 horses attached to the Garda Mounted Unit, which is staffed by 1 Sergeant, 13...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service Data (17 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have requested reports from the Courts Service in relation to the matters referred to in the Deputy's question and I will contact the Deputy directly as soon as all of the relevant information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Staff Recruitment (17 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 97 and 98 together. I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department and the Agencies under its remit use the services of the State's independent recruitment office, the Public Appointments Service, to the maximum extent possible. However, in order to deliver the business of the organisation, it is occasionally necessary for my Department and its Agencies to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Consultancy Contracts Data (17 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The total monetary value of work contracted out to external agencies and consultants from my Department and agencies under my aegis from January 2016 to date is as follows: Services Provided Fees Workplace Investigations € 81,318 Recruitment Services € 84,304 Legal Services € 38,423 Total €204,045 The Deputy may also wish to note that from time to time my...

Leaders' Questions (16 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Public hearings.

Leaders' Questions (16 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Independent appointments and a Policing Authority.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Building Programme (16 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 156 of 2 May 2017, in which I outlined that a Working Group was established by the Secretary General of the Department of Justice and Equality in January 2015, to examine options for the future use of the Thornton Hall site. This group, comprising of officials from the Department of Justice and Equality, the Office of Public Works...