Results 1,941-1,960 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Covid-19 (Justice and Equality): Statements (4 Jun 2020)

Charles Flanagan: I would be happy to provide the Deputy with a written answer, but let me say that I will not rush to judgment on any particular direct provision centre-----

Covid-19 (Justice and Equality): Statements (4 Jun 2020)

Charles Flanagan: -----until I have further information. It was difficult over the past few weeks to have the type of inspection that the Deputy would like with particular reference to the Covid-19 crisis. However, I expect to be in a position to make a further announcement on this issue within a matter of 48 hours. I will contact the Deputy directly.

Covid-19 (Justice and Equality): Statements (4 Jun 2020)

Charles Flanagan: I have received the correspondence and am in the course of replying to it, but I want to do so with the appropriate level of information.

Covid-19 (Justice and Equality): Statements (4 Jun 2020)

Charles Flanagan: The Garda powers are temporary. I expect that there will be a full row-back and that normal service will be resumed.

Covid-19 (Justice and Equality): Statements (4 Jun 2020)

Charles Flanagan: There were a number of questions. I thank Deputy Murphy for her contribution and her support for the work of the Garda Síochána in the current challenging circumstances. The Deputy raised the issue of Garda strength in her constituency of Kildare North. While I do not have the figures with me tonight, I would be happy to provide her with them tomorrow. They will show an...

Covid-19 (Justice and Equality): Statements (4 Jun 2020)

Charles Flanagan: Deputy Smith raises several very important points that in one minute 48 seconds I will not have an opportunity to reply to in the type of detail that I would wish. I would of course be happy to engage on all of the points he raised. I note his representations on behalf of his colleagues, Deputies Nash and Ó Ríordáin, in respect of organised crime in their constituencies. I...

Covid-19 (Justice and Equality): Statements (4 Jun 2020)

Charles Flanagan: I thank Deputies Costello and O'Gorman for their contributions and questions. Deputy Costello indicated he might opt for a reply in writing in order to give me the opportunity to reply to Deputy O'Gorman, and I acknowledge his generosity in that regard. I agree with the points raised by Deputy Costello and would be happy to commit to a detailed reply in writing. I acknowledge what...

Covid-19 (Justice and Equality): Statements (4 Jun 2020)

Charles Flanagan: I thank the Deputy for raising the latter points. She will be pleased to hear that the Garda is currently investigating public order issues, which were also raised earlier by Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan. I understand that several investigations are ongoing in the context of the Covid-19 regulatory framework. It would not be appropriate for me to comment in any detail, but I assure...

Covid-19 (Justice and Equality): Statements (4 Jun 2020)

Charles Flanagan: I thank the Deputy for his comments. I remind him that I do not engage in operational issues with An Garda Síochána; that is a matter for the Garda Commissioner. However, I meet the Garda Commissioner regularly. While I do not have up-to-date figures with me now on the situation in Meath, I would be happy to provide the Deputy with these figures tomorrow and he will see an...

Covid-19 (Justice and Equality): Statements (4 Jun 2020)

Charles Flanagan: There have been many in the past few weeks.

Covid-19 (Justice and Equality): Statements (4 Jun 2020)

Charles Flanagan: I acknowledge what the Deputies have said and I thank them for their contributions. I welcome Deputy Flaherty to the House, although I note he has left the Chamber. As a fellow midlands Deputy, I wish to assure him that I will work closely with him on the matters raised. In response to the question posed by former Lord Mayor, Deputy McAuliffe, that we do care about the issue of...

Covid-19 (Justice and Equality): Statements (4 Jun 2020)

Charles Flanagan: I very much welcome the opportunity to address the House again on issues arising from the Covid-19 pandemic. Two weeks ago, only a few short days after I last spoke in the House about Covid-19, I attended a ceremony at Dublin Castle to mark the annual Garda Memorial Day, which commemorates gardaí who have lost their lives in the service of the State. It would be fitting at the outset...

Covid-19 (Justice and Equality): Statements (4 Jun 2020)

Charles Flanagan: The Deputy should wait to see the report. I welcome what he has said actually.

Covid-19 (Justice and Equality): Statements (4 Jun 2020)

Charles Flanagan: It is not a direct provision centre. It is emergency accommodation and there was an inspection in February of this year.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Parental Leave (3 Jun 2020)

Charles Flanagan: Section 6 of the Adoptive Leave Act 1995 provides for an entitlement to 24 weeks of paid adoptive leave for an employed adopting mother or a sole male adopter, and an additional 16 weeks of unpaid leave. Currently, adoptive leave is not available to a male same-sex couple where the couple is not married, cohabiting or civil partners, and adopted jointly. The Department of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Staff (3 Jun 2020)

Charles Flanagan: Promotion competitions within my Department are subject to the provisions of the Code of Practice for Appointment to Positions within the Civil Service and Public Service, issued by the Commission for Public Service Appointments (CPSA). This requires that competitions run within the Civil Service are fair, transparent and merit-based selection process, in line with its principles and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Student Visas (3 Jun 2020)

Charles Flanagan: I can inform the Deputy that the Third Level Graduate Programme is for graduates with an award at Level 8 or 9 on the National Framework of Qualifications. Graduates with level 8 awards are granted a 12 month permission to a maximum of 7 years’ student permission overall. Graduates with an award at Level 9 or above who qualify for the programme are granted permission for 24...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (3 Jun 2020)

Charles Flanagan: The Deputy will be aware that discussions on a new Programme for Government are ongoing and I understand that this proposal is among those under consideration. The Taoiseach and I have previously met with the Garda Commissioner and members of his senior management team in relation to serious crime incidents in the DMR North and the coordinated response mounted by An Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Closed-Circuit Television Systems (3 Jun 2020)

Charles Flanagan: Community-based CCTV is governed by section 38(3)(c) of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 and the Garda Síochána (CCTV) Order 2006.  This legal framework requires that any proposed community CCTV scheme must: - be approved by the local Joint Policing Committee, - have the prior support of the relevant local authority, which must...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (3 Jun 2020)

Charles Flanagan: The Deputy will be aware that discussions on a new Programme for Government are ongoing and I understand that this proposal is among those under consideration. The Deputy will recall that both the Taoiseach and I have visited Drogheda on a number of occasions to meet with Gardaí involved in tackling the ongoing and highly volatile feud as referred to. I am regularly briefed by the...