Results 8,361-8,380 of 11,894 for speaker:Niall Collins

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Judicial Appointments (5 Feb 2014)

Niall Collins: There is no doubt that all members of the Judiciary have acted independently since they were appointed. Nobody has ever offered to me, or anybody else of whom I am aware, any evidence that there have been examples of political bias exercised by members of the Judiciary. There is a debate around the appointments process. We need to look at it and possibly consider shortening the number of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Judicial Appointments (5 Feb 2014)

Niall Collins: This is an insider's debate. This is not an issue people queue up in our clinics or stop us in the street to discuss. However, it is a very important one to try to uphold the independence of the Judiciary. For some-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Judicial Appointments (5 Feb 2014)

Niall Collins: For some, there is a view that people who have a political affiliation are somehow fast-tracked. We need to find a mechanism to stamp this out. With regard to the Judicial Appointments Advisory Board, I make the point that for the two judges who were removed and are no longer on the Bench, namely, former Judge Brian Curtin and former Judge Heather Perrin, no pre-screening process could...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Penalty Points System (5 Feb 2014)

Niall Collins: This is a very important issue.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Penalty Points System (5 Feb 2014)

Niall Collins: I thank the Ceann Comhairle for that. I may not have heard his initial reply clearly or correctly so will the Minister provide confirmation in respect of three issues for me? Will the Garda Commissioner come under the remit of the Garda Ombudsman Commission in the aftermath of the proposed changes? Will the legislation be amended in order to allow serving members of An Garda...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Penalty Points System (5 Feb 2014)

Niall Collins: In the context of the questions he posed, I hope Deputy Niall Collins will understand that I must formally bring to Cabinet the proposals for the heads of a Bill to amend the Garda Síochána Act 2005. I do not, therefore, want to discuss in detail what will be those proposals. However, I can confirm - as I did not Monday evening last - that where serious allegations are made in...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Judicial Appointments (5 Feb 2014)

Niall Collins: 4. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to reform the judicial appointments process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5572/14]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Judicial Appointments (5 Feb 2014)

Niall Collins: The Minister is in the middle of a consultation phase at present, although I accept that this may have concluded on 31 January last. In view of the fact that there will be anything between ten and 15 retirements from the Judiciary during the coming year, will legislation to reform the judicial appointments process be brought forward? We discussed this matter in the House on a number of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Penalty Points System (5 Feb 2014)

Niall Collins: The Minister outlined why he has now decided to refer it to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, GSOC. The Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality was united in its view that the matter should have been referred much sooner. Be that as it may, we have had a number of public utterances from current and former members of GSOC about some of the constraints and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Penalty Points System (5 Feb 2014)

Niall Collins: 1. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the timeframe for the completion of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission investigation into allegations by Garda whistleblowers regarding the administration of penalty points; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5571/14]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Penalty Points System (5 Feb 2014)

Niall Collins: Concerns about the administration of the penalty points system have been raised in the Oireachtas since the publication of the O'Mahoney report. The matter has been discussed by the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality, the Joint Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions and the Committee of Public Accounts. In the absence of its being conclusively dealt with, public...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Insolvency Service of Ireland Data (5 Feb 2014)

Niall Collins: 14. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of deals concluded under the new personal insolvency regime to date; the number sought; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5298/14]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Insolvency Service of Ireland Administration (5 Feb 2014)

Niall Collins: 20. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding credit union loans under the new personal insolvency regime; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5300/14]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Remit (5 Feb 2014)

Niall Collins: 27. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality his planned reform of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5296/14]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Resources (5 Feb 2014)

Niall Collins: 34. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he has reviewed Garda resources in view of the spate of violent crimes committed in January 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5297/14]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Charities Regulation (5 Feb 2014)

Niall Collins: 41. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the timeframe for the creation of a charities regulator; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5299/14]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Finances (5 Feb 2014)

Niall Collins: 111. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the procedure for appointing members to the audit committees of local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5734/14]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Programme (5 Feb 2014)

Niall Collins: 145. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the Spent Convictions Bill; when will it be signed into law and come into operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5779/14]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Magdalen Laundries (5 Feb 2014)

Niall Collins: 152. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the total number of applications received for compensation from the Magdalene fund; the number and amounts paid out to date and the length of time it will take to process each application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5893/14]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Fuel Laundering (4 Feb 2014)

Niall Collins: 155. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will provide in tabular form a county breakdown of green diesel operations stopped by the Garda in 2010 to 2013, inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5136/14]