Results 1,801-1,820 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Meetings (2 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I assume the Deputy is referring to meetings held in relation to the issues that are the subject of the Interim Audit Report on Financial Procedures in the Garda College in Templemore, which was published in March 2017. It is important to say that the Garda Commissioner is the Accounting Officer for the Garda Vote and that expenditure in relation to the Garda College and the financial...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Correspondence (2 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: A reply to the correspondence referred to by the Deputy will issue to the person concerned shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (2 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the person concerned was refused an application for a residence card, under the provisions of the European Communities (Free Movement of Persons) Regulations 2015. I understand that INIS wrote to the person on 28 April, 2017 setting out the basis for the decision. In line with the relevant...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Reserve (2 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will appreciate, the recruitment and training of the Garda Reserve is a matter for the Garda Commissioner, and I as Minister have no direct role in the matter. The Garda Reserve was established in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005 to enhance the links between An Garda Síochána and local communities and consists of voluntary unpaid members,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residential Institutions Redress Scheme (2 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I presume that the Deputy is specifically referring to the Magdalen Restorative Justice Ex-gratia Scheme which is administered in my Department and the Residential Institutions Redress Scheme which is administered in the Department of Education and Skills. In relation to the Magdalen Restorative Justice Ex-gratia Scheme, the position is that my predecessor as Minister for Justice and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Closed-Circuit Television Systems (2 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that, on 13 April 2017, I launched the new grant aid scheme to assist community-based groups in the establishment of community-based CCTV systems in their local areas. Under the scheme, which will be administered by my Department, eligible community groups can apply for grant-aid of up to 60% of the total capital cost of a proposed CCTV system, up to a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Child Abduction (2 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The International Child Abduction Unit is the Central Authority within my Department that provides assistance to parents and guardians of children who have been removed from the jurisdiction without their consent. This unit is a transmitting and receiving agency for applications for the return of children to the jurisdiction under the 1980 Hague Convention on Civil Aspects of International...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Criminal Law (2 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: In Irish law, provocation is a partial defence applicable only to murder. When raised successfully, it operates to reduce murder to the lesser charge of manslaughter. The basis for this is that the accused lost self-control in response to provocation. The test for the defence of provocation, set out by the Court of Criminal Appeal in the case of The People (DPP) v. MacEoin, is a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Criminal Law (2 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: There are mechanisms in place to deal with hate motivated crime. Where a criminal offence such as assault, criminal damage or a public order offence is committed against a person based on their race, religion, colour, ethnicity or some other ground, the offence is prosecuted through the wider criminal law. It is also accepted that such an offence is more serious on account of the hate or...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Station Closures (2 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will appreciate that the Garda Commissioner is primarily responsible for the effective and efficient use of the resources available to her, including in relation to Garda stations. The Programme for Government commits the Government to ensuring a strong and visible police presence throughout the country in order to maintain and strengthen community engagement, provide reassurance...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Building Programme (2 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: As I mentioned in my reply to Parliamentary Questions 75 and 76 of 30 March 2017, 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 and the Irish Prison...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (2 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I refer the Deputy to my answer to his Parliamentary Question No. 70 of 2 February 2017. The position remains as stated. I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the processing of the application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to by the Deputy is under consideration and has not yet reached a conclusion. As the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Training (2 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: As an open and democratic society in the European Union, Ireland cannot consider itself immune from the current international terrorist threat. The assessment of the threat is that while an attack on Ireland is possible, it is not considered likely. Nor is there at present any specific information that an attack on Ireland is planned. The level of threat from this source is kept under...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Land Issues (2 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The difficulties experienced by property owners arising from trees and high hedges on neighbouring land were raised in both the Dáil and Seanad during passage of the Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Act 2009. At that time, my Department consulted on the matter with the Law Reform Commission, which had been involved in drafting the 2009 Act, and the Commission took the view that...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Court Accommodation Provision (2 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will be aware, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts, including the provision of accommodation for court sittings, is the responsibility of the Courts Service, which is independent in exercising its functions. However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and the Courts Service has informed me that...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Civilian Staff Recruitment (2 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Government has agreed an overall vision for a Garda workforce of 21,000 personnel by 2021 comprising of 15,000 Garda members, 2,000 Garda Reserve members and 4,000 civilians. This very substantial investment in personnel is driven by our commitment to ensure all citizens have the reassurance of a visible, responsive and effective policing service. At present, there are approximately...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Road Traffic Accidents Data (2 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have requested a Garda report on the matter referred to in the Deputy's question and will contact the Deputy directly on receipt of a Garda report.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Road Traffic Offences Data (2 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have requested a Garda report on the matter referred to in the Deputy's question and will contact the Deputy directly on receipt of a Garda report.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Strength (2 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of resources, including to the Garda Traffic Corps and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. I am assured by the Commissioner that Garda personnel assigned throughout the country, together with the overall policing arrangements and operational strategies are continually monitored and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Investigations (2 May 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 167 to 169, inclusive, 188, 203 and 204 together. A number of serious allegations that had been raised with me in correspondence previously in respect of a tragic incident that took place at Omeath in October 2015 were aired publicly in a recent television programme. The House will understand the need for sensitivity in respect of those who have suffered...