Results 1,541-1,560 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Medical Negligence Cases (16 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The main purposes of the Civil Liability (Amendment) Bill 2017 are to empower the courts to make awards of damages by way of periodic payments orders in cases of catastrophic personal injury, including catastrophic injury resulting from medical negligence, and to provide for open disclosure of patient safety incidents. The Bill, which has already been passed by the Seanad, commenced Second...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Education Policy (16 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I would refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 100 of 10 May 2017 which also concerned this matter. As I stated on that occasion, I intend to jointly announce, with my colleague the Minister for Education and Skills, the details for an approved updated Third Level Graduate Programme in the coming weeks. I can, however, say that the revised programme will not be retrospective.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Commercial Rates Calculations (16 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I wish to advise the Deputy that the Valuation Office is responsible for the provision of valuations on which commercial rates are based. The Commissioner of Valuation is independent in the exercise of his statutory functions and I as Minister for Justice and Equality have no role in the matter. Regarding the valuation for rating of bar areas in sporting complexes, historically the premises...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Registration of Title (16 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can inform the Minister that under the Registration of Deeds and Title Act 2006, the Property Registration Authority (PRA) was established as and from 4 November 2006. The PRA replaces the Registrar of Deeds and Titles as the registering authority in relation to property registration in Ireland and, subject to the above Act, is independent in the performance of its functions. The...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Human Trafficking (16 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: There are already a number of offences under Irish law which address the trafficking of persons for the purpose of exploitation (including sexual exploitation) and which can attract significant penalties. Under the Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Act 2008, any person found guilty of trafficking for the purposes of sexual exploitation shall be liable to imprisonment for a period up to life....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (16 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: Law Reform Commission Recommendations (16 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The position is that section 96(2) of the Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Act 2009 provides that a mortgagee's right to foreclosure is abolished. This implements the recommendation of the Law Reform Commission in its 2004 Consultation Paper "Reform and Modernisation of Land Law and Conveyancing Law" (paragraph 9.16) that foreclosure be abolished on the ground that it was not an appropriate...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Forensic Science Ireland Laboratory (16 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: For quite some time, I have regarded the need for a new Forensic Science laboratory appropriate to the State's requirements as one of the most critical capital projects in the justice sector. The construction of the new laboratory is being managed by the Office of Public Works (OPW) on behalf of my Department. I am informed by the OPW that the deadline of 8th May 2017 referred to by...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Housing Management Companies (16 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will appreciate that I am not in a position to provide legal advice in respect of such matters. The general position is that section 24 of the Multi-Unit Developments Act 2011 contains provisions for the resolution of disputes involving multi-unit developments. It provides that a person, including any member of the Owners Management Company, may apply to the Circuit Court for an...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Controls (16 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that civil/legal marriages that take place in Thailand between a citizen of the State and a Thai citizen are recognised in this State provided that they have gone through the relevant declaration process in accordance with Section 29 of the Family Law Acts 1995. Marriage to an Irish National does...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Magdalen Laundries (16 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Ombudsman notified my Department that he is undertaking an investigation into complaints regarding the administration of the Scheme by the Department of Justice and Equality. My officials' understanding is that it relates to the inclusion of an institution that is not one of the 12 covered by Scheme. That investigation is ongoing and it is a matter for the Ombudsman to determine how it...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Resources (16 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. Accordingly, decisions in relation to the provision and allocation of Garda resources and the training of Garda members and civilian staff are matters for the Garda Commissioner and, as Minister, I have no direct...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Station Refurbishment (16 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will be aware, the programme of replacement and refurbishment of Garda accommodation is progressed by the Garda authorities working in close co-operation with the Office of Public Works which has the responsibility for the provision and maintenance of Garda accommodation and I, as Minister, have no direct role in these matters. I have, however, been informed by the Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Equipment (16 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is primarily responsible for the operation of the Garda CCTV network and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. I have, however, been informed by the Garda authorities that the estimated capital cost of installing an additional 50 CCTV cameras in Dublin city centre would be of the order of €1,750,000 (excluding...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Refugee Legal Services (16 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 114 to 116, inclusive, together. The Legal Aid Board is committed to providing all international protection clients with early legal advice on all aspects of their application. In their initial consultation, (pre-questionnaire stage) the applicant is informed of the Permission to Remain (PTR) procedure. This includes the potential for consideration of an...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda College (16 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department received a copy of the draft Interim Internal Audit Report regarding the finances at the Garda College at Templemore from An Garda Síochána's Head of the Internal Audit on 16 September 2016. I understand that the draft report was sent to all interested parties for their observations before being finalised. A copy of the final Report was received by my Department from...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Road Traffic Offences Data (16 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have requested reports from An Garda Síochána and the Courts Service in relation to the matter referred to in the Deputy's question and will contact the Deputy directly on receipt of these reports.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Road Traffic Offences Data (16 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have requested reports from An Garda Síochána and the Courts Service in relation to the matter referred to in the Deputy's question and will contact the Deputy directly on receipt of these reports.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Penalty Points System Data (16 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: This question is primarily a matter for the Road Safety Authority, an agency under the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport. I have asked Minister Ross to forward this statistical request to the Road Safety Division for direct reply. I have also requested a report from An Garda Síochána and will contact the Deputy directly on receipt of a Garda report.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Station Closures (16 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, as Minister, I have no direct role in the matter. I am advised by the Garda authorities that the policing requirements for the Barraduff Garda sub-District are administered from Killarney Garda station, a distance of...