Results 8,521-8,540 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Vetting of Personnel (20 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 471 and 473 together. I am further informed by the Garda authorities, that as of 31 October 2012 there were 1 Superintendent, 4 Gardaí and 92 Civilian whole-time equivalents, including 4 temporary positions, attached to the Garda Central Vetting Unit. A further 2 people are employed under the Job-bridge Scheme. The personnel levels and capacity of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (20 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: The person concerned has been granted Leave to Remain in the State for a three year period following the consideration of his case under Section 3 (6) of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended). This decision was conveyed in writing to the person concerned by letter dated 16th November, 2012. Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to the INIS by...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Vetting of Personnel (20 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: The Garda Central Vetting Unit (GCVU) provides employment vetting for a number of organisations (20,000 approximately) in Ireland registered with the Unit which employ personnel to work in a full time part time, voluntary or student capacity with children and or vulnerable adults. The average processing time for Garda Vetting applications for each month since January 2011 is outlined...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Vetting of Personnel (20 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the training period for new staff members at the Garda Central Vetting Unit is for a duration of 12 weeks including on-the-job training with intensive Quality Control. This is the standard training programme for all new personnel allocated to work at the Garda Central Vetting Unit. The programme provides in-depth training in relation to the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Proposed Legislation (20 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: My Department has been conducting a wide-ranging review of the law on sexual offences. The review is close to completion and I expect to bring a draft General Scheme to Government shortly with a view to seeking approval for the drafting of the necessary legislation.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Stations (20 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: The Deputy will recall that in my reply on 7 November 2012 to a Priority Question, in my role as Minister for Defence, I indicated that discussions have been taking place between the Department of Defence and other parties in relation to the future of the former Kickham Barracks in Clonmel, Co Tipperary. As I also stated in the course of supplementaries, these discussions include the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Seeker Accommodation (20 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: Clondalkin Towers is one of 35 asylum accommodation centres across 17 counties under contract to the Reception & Integration Agency (RIA), an operational unit of the Irish Naturalisation & Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department, currently providing accommodation to a total of 4,852 persons seeking international protection. There are currently 240 persons residing in Clondalkin...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (20 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: The Deputy will be aware that the detailed allocation of resources throughout the country is a matter for the Commissioner in consultation with his Senior Management and I have no direct function in this regard. I have however, asked the Commissioner for details on the issue referred to by the Deputy and I will revert to him directly on its receipt.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Strength (20 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 480 and 481 together. The Deputy will be aware that the Commissioner is responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, throughout the organisation and I have no direct function in the matter. This allocation of resources is constantly monitored in the context of crime trends, policing needs and other operational strategies in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Proposed Legislation (20 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: I want to assure the Deputy that I attach the highest importance to the fight against cyberbullying. As recent tragic events have shown, it can have the most serious and tragic consequences. Cyberbullying may amount to the offence of harassment under the 1997 Non Fatal Offences Against the Person Act. As Minister, my function is to ensure the removal of barriers hindering not only the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service (20 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: I am making enquiries in relation to the matter referred to by the Deputy. I will contact the Deputy again when the information sought is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Road Traffic Offences (20 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: I am informed by the Courts Service that court statistics are not compiled in such a way as to provide the information sought by the Deputy. I have, however, sought a report from the Garda authorities in relation to the matters raised and will respond to the Deputy as soon as the report is available.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (20 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: In accordance with Section 16 of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended, the Minister may, in his absolute discretion, waive some or all of the statutory conditions in certain circumstances i.e. where an applicant is of Irish descent or of Irish associations. It is open to the person concerned to make an application for naturalisation and all relevant information will be...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Recruitment (20 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 488 and 489 together. The Military Authorities have advised that the 2012 General Service Recruitment campaign along with the Army and Naval Service Cadetship Competitions were carried out by Permanent Defence Force personnel with assistance provided by the Public Appointments Service (PAS) in the staging of the Psychometric Testing element of these...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Reserve Defence Force (20 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: The Value for Money Review of the Reserve Defence Force was completed and submitted to myself and the Secretary General of my Department last month. In advance of its publication, and in line with the guidelines and normal procedure for Value for Money Reviews, the development of responses to the recommendations has been ongoing and is nearing completion. Until such time as these...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Irish Red Cross (20 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 491 and 492 together. The total grant-in-aid paid by my Department to the Irish Red Cross Society for 2012 amounts to €869,000. This consists of a grant of €739,000 towards the salary and administration costs of running the headquarters of the Irish Society and the Government’s annual contribution of €130,000 to the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Retirement Scheme (20 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is currently considering the introduction of a targeted Voluntary Redundancy Scheme in parts of the Public Service, primarily to address the issue of staff surpluses, where such staff cannot be redeployed within the system. I am not aware of any proposal for the introduction of a separate early retirement scheme or that consideration is being...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Pension Provisions (20 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: The person referred to would not have received a higher pension if he had retired after 21 years service. The basic position is that an ‘additional increment’ is paid over and above the 21-year pension for each additional year of service above 21 years to a maximum of 31 years. However, this additional element ceases to be payable when an individual reaches social welfare State...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Proposed Legislation (15 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: As the Deputy will be aware, the Government recently approved the drafting of the Fines (Amendment) Bill 2012, the Scheme of which is available on my Department's website (www.justice.ie). While the main purpose the Bill is to provide for the introduction of attachment of earnings to collect unpaid fines, the Bill will also amend section 15 of the Fines Act 2010 to provide an automatic right...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Training (15 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that there have been no advanced driving courses facilitated by the Garda College in 2012. These are highly specialised courses and as such are facilitated only as necessary. The need to hold such courses is constantly kept under review.