Results 8,941-8,960 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Personal Insolvency Bill 2012: Report Stage (6 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: Amendments Nos. 10 and 11 seek to raise the limit for the aggregate of qualifying debt under a debt relief notice from €20,000 to either €30,000 or €50,000. I accept that these proposals are well intentioned, but they fail, unfortunately, to recognise the nature of a debt relief notice. The latter is designed to assist debtors with essentially no income or assets and with...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Judicial Pay (6 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: Payments are made to members of the judiciary in respect of travel and subsistence necessarily incurred on court business. The cost is largely determined by the number and location of court sittings and the travelling expenses payable to judges cover the use of their own private car. In addition vouched costs may be claimed relating to judicial attire. Such expenses are paid exclusive of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Refugee Status (6 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: In Ireland, the Refugee Act 1996 (as amended), the European Communities (Eligibility for Protection) Regulations 2006, the European Communities (Asylum Procedures) Regulations 2011 and the Refugee Act 1996 (Asylum Procedures) Regulations 2011 are the principal domestic legal instruments which reflect current national policy in the area of asylum. Asylum applications are not generally...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Expenditure (6 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: I am advised that the number of Property Registration Authority (PRA) staff currently located in the in the Setanta Centre, Nassau Street is 84. The property is leased by the Office of Public Works (OPW) at a cost of €996,164 per annum. The lease for this accommodation expires in March 2013 and staff will have to be re-located before the expiry of the lease. The PRA has been in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Gender Recognition (6 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: I refer the Deputy to the reply I gave to PQ ref 38842/12 on this topic, answered on 18 September 2012, as follows: "I understand that discussions are still ongoing at European Commission level in relation to a proposal by Commission Vice-President Reding to strengthen the role of Women on Corporate Boards. A policy orientation discussion was held during the Danish Presidency and this was...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (6 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: The person in question has not yet lodged the necessary supporting documentation for their application with the Consulate General for Ireland in Manila. Until the signed Declaration, supporting documents and appropriate fee are lodged in the Consulate, the Visa application cannot be processed. However, given the circumstances of the case, I will arrange for the Consulate to be contacted by...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (6 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: I would refer the Deputy to my answers to previous Parliamentary Questions on this issue. My most recent reply to Parliamentary Question 42802/12 on 9 October last is reproduced for the Deputy's information. While I am not averse in principle to the establishment of an immigration regime specifically geared to the technology sector, it would have to be on the basis that there was concrete...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Staff (6 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: In the period 01 March 2011 to date, a total of 89 staff retired from my Department, none of whom have been rehired. It should be noted that, on occasion, retired public servants may be engaged mainly on a short term basis because of their specific knowledge and expertise in a particular area, for example, to serve on interview boards, complete investigations etc.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Complaints Procedures (6 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: Complaints relating to the alleged misbehaviour of any member of An Garda Síochána come within the remit of the Garda Síochána Act, 2005, and the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission. Such complaints can be made either directly to the office of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission or to An Garda Síochána by stating, giving or sending it-...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Investigations (6 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 772 and 787 together. I have been informed by the Garda authorities that local Garda management in the area referred to are unaware of any incident reported to Gardaí of the kind referred to in the Deputies' questions. I want to make it clear that I have been assured by the Garda authorities that if the incident referred to is reported to them it will be...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Private Security Authority (6 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: I wish to inform the Deputy that the Private Security Authority (PSA), an independent agency under the remit of my Department, is the regulatory body with responsibility for regulating and licensing the private security industry in the State. The Private Security Services Act 2004 (as amended) sets out the activities in the private security industry which are, or will be, subject to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Resources (6 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: As you are aware, the Commissioner is responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, throughout the organisation and I have no direct function in the matter. Notwithstanding this, the Commissioner informs me that there are approximately 224 Gardaí assigned to the Coolock District in the Dublin Metropolitan North Division. The Division is also supported by...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Criminal Prosecutions (6 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: I wish to advise the Deputy that I have had enquiries made with the relevant authorities concerning the availability of the information requested. In this regard, I am advised by the Courts Service that data of the detail being sought is not readily available. The collation of such information would require a disproportionate use of available resources. However, detailed information in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (6 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: I am informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that there is no record of applications for re-entry visas in respect of the children concerned. The mother of the children concerned was granted temporary permission to remain in the State on 14 June, 2005 for a two year period, under the revised arrangements applicable to the non-EEA national parents...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Employment Rights (6 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: Disputes about entitlements under the Maternity Protection Acts, the Parental Leave Acts and the Adoptive Leave Acts are referred in the first instance to a rights commissioner. Decisions of a rights commissioner are subject to appeal to the Employment Appeals Tribunal. There is no further appeal other than to the High Court on a point of law. Decisions of a rights commissioner or a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Child Protection (6 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: If the Deputy could provide more detail in relation to this case, I would be happy to examine the matter further.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Seeker Accommodation (6 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: The Reception & Integration Agency (RIA) is an operational unit of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department and is responsible for the accommodation of asylum seekers while their applications for protection are being processed. On 28 October 2012, RIA was providing accommodation for 4,917 persons in 36 centres located in 17 counties. The Value for Money...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Structured Court Settlements (6 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Questions Nos. 466 and 484 of 23 October 2012 in which I said the following: "The Programme for Government includes a commitment to introduce legislation to facilitate courts making provision for structured settlements in circumstances where lump sums are currently awarded as a consequence of individuals suffering catastrophic injury because of the negligence...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Staff (6 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: I wish to advise the Deputy that there are no mechanisms available for a Prison Officer to directly transfer to the mainstream Civil Service or other Public Service Bodies. However, in the case of Officers who have suffered occupational injury, the medical advice of the Chief Medical officer is always sought. In the event that the Chief Medical Officer's prognosis confirms that an injury...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Illegal Moneylenders (6 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: I wish to advise the Deputy that the regulation of money lending is provided for in the Consumer Credit Act 1995 which is the responsibility of the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. Persons who engage in money lending and who do not hold the necessary licence granted by the Central Bank are committing an offence under section 98 of the Act, which provides for a prohibition on...