Results 1,581-1,600 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald
- Questions on Promised Legislation (11 May 2017)
Frances Fitzgerald: I will ask for the information in regard to that report to be sent to the Deputy. While I do not have details as to when it will be published, I will ask both Ministers to liaise with the Deputy. I am not familiar with the publication date.
- Questions on Promised Legislation (11 May 2017)
Frances Fitzgerald: I will ask the Minister, Deputy Naughten, to respond.
- Questions on Promised Legislation (11 May 2017)
Frances Fitzgerald: When the Minister introduced that initiative, he made it clear that there could be reviews. I will ask him to correspond with the Deputy directly to see when that review in regard to Kildare will be finalised.
- Leaders' Questions (11 May 2017)
Frances Fitzgerald: I will do what I believe is the right thing to do. That has been my guiding principle in politics - to support the right actions that need to be taken in my portfolio in the Department of Justice and Equality and the reform that we are committed to as a Government. The work that is being led by the Commissioner is important. The work being done by the oversight bodies needs to be...
- Leaders' Questions (11 May 2017)
Frances Fitzgerald: -----for six or seven years.
- Leaders' Questions (11 May 2017)
Frances Fitzgerald: I am not suggesting that it is an excuse. Rather, some of the cultural and imbedded issues in terms of management that we are now seeing were not helped by a starvation of resources to An Garda Síochána. I ask the House to support the work of the oversight bodies. Deputies have said time and again that they do not want to see political interference in the work of An Garda...
- Leaders' Questions (11 May 2017)
Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will recall, motions in the House some weeks ago were not passed, but we had a detailed discussion on the issues that he has raised.
- Leaders' Questions (11 May 2017)
Frances Fitzgerald: I thank Deputy Lowry for raising this important issue. I recognise the difficulty, stress and challenge posed by the recent decision for everyone involved. Having received the review conclusions, the company has begun a process of engagement with the group of unions and employees. It has also confirmed that no redundancies are being contemplated in the current year. That is an important...
- Leaders' Questions (11 May 2017)
Frances Fitzgerald: I recognise Deputy Lowry's concern for the individuals who are caught up in this situation. The Minister has stated that he is examining the recommendations of the unions, Deputy Lowry and other Deputies and is open to exploring a range of options. The suggestions that the Deputy is making today will be taken on board by the Minister. Regarding redundancy, I expect the Minister will...
- Leaders' Questions (11 May 2017)
Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy seems to think that calling people to account means asking them to resign. What I mean by accountability is having in place procedures and organisations, such as the Policing Authority, where there is that accountability. What I mean by accountability is that all of the facts are brought out into the public arena. The Garda Commissioner of the day does not hold office on the...
- Leaders' Questions (11 May 2017)
Frances Fitzgerald: In fairness to Deputy O'Callaghan, he highlighted publicly the specific legal provisions relating to the tenure in office of the Garda Commissioner. My only concern is to have an effective and accountable police service which keeps our communities safe and preserves our national security, which is what gardaí do must do in their day-to-way work. They protect our communities. I have to...
- Leaders' Questions (11 May 2017)
Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy raised a number of issues, the first of which relates to civilians who work in An Garda Síochána. The Government is committed to increasing the number of civilians who hold senior posts in An Garda Síochána.
- Leaders' Questions (11 May 2017)
Frances Fitzgerald: I will come to the Deputy's question. It is absolutely essential that we have increasing civilianisation in An Garda Síochána and it is essential that those civilians have a constructive, positive working relationship with members of An Garda Síochána. I am absolutely committed to ensuring there are more civilians in the Garda. Part of the modernisation, renewal and...
- Leaders' Questions (11 May 2017)
Frances Fitzgerald: I take that responsibility very seriously and I am very happy for anyone to examine my record. The reality is that we now have a Policing Authority-----
- Leaders' Questions (11 May 2017)
Frances Fitzgerald: -----and a strengthened GSOC. These issues are emerging. They did not emerge before under any previous Administration.
- Leaders' Questions (11 May 2017)
Frances Fitzgerald: Section 41 of the Garda Síochána Act places a requirement on the Garda Commissioner to report certain matters to me. In practice, it is a matter for the judgment of the Commissioner as to when to make reports specifically citing section 41 of the Act. It is a decision for her as to when she-----
- Leaders' Questions (11 May 2017)
Frances Fitzgerald: It is not just a question of legal judgment; it is a question of determining whether a particular set of circumstances fall within the criteria set out in the Act. There are issues too-----
- Leaders' Questions (11 May 2017)
Frances Fitzgerald: -----about the stage at which the Garda Commissioner might consider it appropriate to make a report citing section 41. They are used rarely enough. I can also refer a section 41 matter to the Commissioner. Most contacts between the Garda and me do not involve the citation of that specific legal provision, as it happens. Whether a report regarding particular circumstances is made and when...
- Leaders' Questions (11 May 2017)
Frances Fitzgerald: -----as has been indicated by some people. It is also worth making the point-----
- Leaders' Questions (11 May 2017)
Frances Fitzgerald: I suggest to the Deputy that what the public will find extraordinary is that she, as a member of the Committee of Public Accounts, which this morning discussed for two and a half hours how it would approach an examination of this issue, has already made up her mind on the issue of Templemore while it is still before the committee. I suggest to her that what the public will find quite...