Results 2,741-2,760 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Other Questions: Garda Investigations (10 Dec 2013)

Alan Shatter: To use that awful phrase, "I am not ruling anything out or anything in". I do not want to prejudge what has been requested to be undertaken in this context. I did not envisage a timeline because there is a very detailed document for the senior counsel to read, consider, make recommendations on and to address according to the terms of reference. I do not envisage it being unduly long but I...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Proposed Legislation (10 Dec 2013)

Alan Shatter: I intend to publish the Bill early next year. The Bill, which is currently at an advanced stage of drafting, will promote mediation as a viable, effective and efficient alternative to court proceedings, thereby reducing legal costs and speeding up the resolution of disputes. It will introduce an obligation on solicitors and barristers to advise any person wishing to commence court...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Proposed Legislation (10 Dec 2013)

Alan Shatter: On this issue the Deputy is preaching to the converted. I should make a declaration of interest, in that I am a qualified mediator. My view of the world is that far too many disputes end up in court hearings or are resolved outside the doors of the courts, after people have incurred very substantial expense, that could be dealt with at an earlier stage through the assistance of mediation....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Property Trusts (10 Dec 2013)

Alan Shatter: I am sure the Deputy will understand and appreciate that it is not appropriate for me to go into the detail of any investigation the Garda Síochána might be conducting. I can tell him the Garda Commissioner is aware of this matter. I hope the Deputy will understand if I do not take it any further. I agree entirely with what Mr. Justice Ryan had to say in court about this...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Property Trusts (10 Dec 2013)

Alan Shatter: I hope the Deputy will be satisfied if I say two things. First, I hope this activity is no longer a work in progress. I hope its progress has been halted. Second, I encourage and ask the media outlets that gave such prominence to this activity at an early stage to give much more prominence to the court decision. I am surprised the decision was not given greater prominence because it is a...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Investigations (10 Dec 2013)

Alan Shatter: Some of the protestors who visit are tourist protestors. They turn up in the summer when the weather is good and then they disappear again. I regard it as a scandal that €16 million of taxpayers' money has been utilised to maintain law and order so that people can engage in lawful business engagement in that location. It is a waste of public money and Garda resources. Does Deputy...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Investigations (10 Dec 2013)

Alan Shatter: -----in respect of individuals who seek to prevent bringing in an important natural resource to the detriment of the economy of this country and of that region and who are intent on trying to sabotage jobs that are available to people in the local community?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Property Trusts (10 Dec 2013)

Alan Shatter: As Deputy Collins is aware, this matter was the subject of a Topical Issue debate on 27 November 2013 which was dealt with by the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, in my absence. I should explain first that to address the problem of over-indebtedness, the Government has brought forward significant modernisation of the law, primarily through the enactment of the Personal Insolvency...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Investigations (10 Dec 2013)

Alan Shatter: The Deputy still has not told us if he can identify a single action of benefit that An Garda Síochána do in the public interest. Regarding the specific allegations concerning the supply of alcohol, I am informed by the Garda authorities that on 19 September the allegations were referred by An Garda Síochána to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, GSOC,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Investigations (10 Dec 2013)

Alan Shatter: The role of the gardaí with regard to Corrib is to preserve law and order. The role of the gardaí is to facilitate a lawful engagement in the development of that resource and its utilisation. The role of the protestors is to disrupt and sabotage and the gardaí have a very specific role.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Law Reform Proposals (10 Dec 2013)

Alan Shatter: I have dealt with the Deputy's questions. Robust legislation is in place that addresses organised prostitution and human trafficking for sexual exploitation, including the prostitution and trafficking of children. It is sometimes forgotten that such legislation is in place. I need to get the responses we have sought from the Department of Health and Children and from the Attorney General...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Investigations (10 Dec 2013)

Alan Shatter: I am looking forward to the day when Deputy Wallace tells the House what work of the Garda Síochána he supports. It would be an interesting revelation.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Investigations (10 Dec 2013)

Alan Shatter: Significant protest activity over a number of years has occurred in the north Mayo area connected with the development of a very important natural resource. This has necessitated the temporary redeployment of large numbers of gardaí, including specially trained personnel, from throughout the western region into the Belmullet district. It is deeply regrettable that so much Garda...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Law Reform Proposals (10 Dec 2013)

Alan Shatter: However, the Deputy appears to have greater insight into the area of prostitution than the conflict that took place on this island for 30 years. In respect of the Deputy's question on this area, no policy decisions have been taken in this matter as yet. The Deputy will be aware the joint committee published its report on hearings and submissions on the review of prostitution legislation on...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Law Reform Proposals (10 Dec 2013)

Alan Shatter: Obviously, the Deputy has greater insight into this area than that with which Members were dealing earlier.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Law Reform Proposals (10 Dec 2013)

Alan Shatter: I have treated the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality with great seriousness. As the Deputy is aware, the Department held its own detailed one-day seminar on this particular issue some considerable time ago now. Some issues arise from the report, including issues relevant to the Department of Health, based on the approach taken to this issue by the World Health...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Law Reform Proposals (10 Dec 2013)

Alan Shatter: I hope to receive observations from the Department of Health, as well as legal clarification from the Attorney General's office, early in the new year after which my Department will be in a position to bring matters for final consideration.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Northern Ireland Issues (10 Dec 2013)

Alan Shatter: The Deputy is asking me again what he previously asked me, and I am going to repeat what I previously said, that is, I do not believe it would be helpful for me to comment on Mr. Larkin's proposals which were made in the context of ongoing consideration on how to address the past. Dr. Richard Haass has been asked to do that. Everyone across the floor of the House may have views in respect...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Law Reform Proposals (10 Dec 2013)

Alan Shatter: It is unfortunate that the Deputy continues to defend murder and assassinations. If we want to deal with the truth of what happened in the North, we should confront the reality of conduct in which people were engaged.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Northern Ireland Issues (10 Dec 2013)

Alan Shatter: I thank the Deputy for his remarks. The Deputy himself dealt with the matter in a responsible and correct way, following on from the Smithwick report. I assumed the Deputy was alluding in his question to the comments made recently by the Northern Ireland Attorney General, Mr. John Larkin, QC, in which he spoke about drawing a line, set at the time of the Good Friday agreement in April...