Results 9,081-9,100 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Investigations (24 Oct 2012)

Alan Shatter: The murder of Garda Richard Fallon was a terrible tragedy for his family and I want to, again, express my deepest sympathy to them. On top of that personal tragedy, his murder was also an event that can only be described as a heinous crime carried out by ruthless individuals. As the Deputy will be aware, this case is currently being examined by An Garda Síochána’s Serious...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Proposed Legislation (24 Oct 2012)

Alan Shatter: I refer the Deputy to my response to Question No. 221 of 17 October 2012 in which I said the following: "The Programme for Government contains a commitment to introduce a Bill that is in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The Bill is at an advanced stage of drafting. Work is ongoing to properly align the provisions of the Bill with the principles...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Services (24 Oct 2012)

Alan Shatter: I have previously addressed this matter in my reply to Priority Question number 4 of todays date, to which I would draw the Deputy's attention. The matters raised relate to the Conveyancing Conflicts of Interest Regulation which was adopted by the Council of the Law Society on 7 September 2012 with a view to it coming into effect on 1 January 2013. The Law Society is the independent...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Accommodation (24 Oct 2012)

Alan Shatter: I can advise the Deputy that there were 4,340 prisoners in custody on 22 October, 2012 against a bed capacity of 4,369 which represents an occupancy level of 99%. As the Deputy will be aware from my replies to previous Parliamentary Questions, the Irish Prison Service provides a wide range of rehabilitative programmes that include education, vocational training, healthcare, psychiatric,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Seeker Accommodation (24 Oct 2012)

Alan Shatter: The Reception and Integration agency of the Department of Justice and Equality is responsible for the accommodation of asylum seekers in accordance with the Government policy of direct provision. RIA is required to review its accommodation portfolio on an ongoing basis to reflect current and projected demand for bed spaces. There has in recent years been a consistent downward trend in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Child Detention Centres (24 Oct 2012)

Alan Shatter: I can advise the Deputy that on 20th September 2012 there were 20 seventeen year old prisoners in custody in St Patrick's Institution, 7 of which were held on remand. As you will be aware the Government committed, in the Programme for Government to remove 16 and 17 year old offenders completely from the adult prison system. In this context, the practice of sending 16 year old boys to St...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Operations (24 Oct 2012)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 21 and 22 together. I have been advised that the persons to whom the question relates have initiated legal proceedings in the matter and, accordingly, it would be inappropriate for me to comment at this time.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Charities and Voluntary Organisations (24 Oct 2012)

Alan Shatter: High standards of corporate governance should apply in the charities sector as in any other. Government policy in this area aims to support and encourage best practice. An aspect of particular importance is charity fundraising. To support best practice in this regard, my Department is currently providing grant funding to a project managed by umbrella charities organisation Irish Charities Tax...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Property Services Regulation (24 Oct 2012)

Alan Shatter: The Property Services Regulatory Authority was formally established on 3 April 2012 pursuant to the Property Services (Regulation) Act 2011. The Authority consists of a Chairperson and ten ordinary members. The Authority was established to control, supervise and regulate Property Service Providers (i.e. Auctioneers/Estate Agents, Letting Agents and Management Agents) and to set and enforce...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Stations (24 Oct 2012)

Alan Shatter: 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 place on a District, Divisional and Regional level to ensure...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Proposed Legislation (24 Oct 2012)

Alan Shatter: The requirement that a court may grant a dissolution of marriage only where the spouses have lived apart for four of the previous five years is prescribed in Article 41.3.2 of the Constitution. I have no plans to bring forward proposals for a constitutional amendment on this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Anti-Social Behaviour (24 Oct 2012)

Alan Shatter: I am informed by the Garda authorities that during the Halloween period appropriate policing measures are put in place in every Garda Division and District through Operation Tombola. Operational orders are prepared in every Garda Region, in particular in the Dublin Metropolitan Region and Border Divisions, to prevent and detect the organised importation for sale of fireworks and police the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Transport (24 Oct 2012)

Alan Shatter: The Deputy will appreciate that the withdrawal of Garda vehicles from service is an on-going process. In the overall context I am very pleased that arrangements have been put in place, with special funding being made available for that purpose, to allow the Garda authorities to purchase a significant number of new vehicles. This has been done at a time of severe budgetary constrains and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Juvenile Offenders (24 Oct 2012)

Alan Shatter: The Deputy will be aware that I published the Inspector's Report last week. I also published the Irish Prison Service's Action Plan for implementing the Inspector's recommendations. The report raises serious issues and major concerns including weak management, behaviour of some prison staff, the culture in the prison, the inattention to human rights norms, prisoners on protection and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Upward Only Rent Reviews (24 Oct 2012)

Alan Shatter: The primary responsibility which I have in relation to this matter relates to possible legislative intervention to ban upward only rent reviews in existing commercial leases. The Deputy will recall that following extensive consideration of this matter, the Government announced in December last that it had decided not to proceed with such legislation. There was a substantial concern that...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Road Traffic Offences (24 Oct 2012)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 32 and 37 together. My Department is reviewing certain allegations which have been made in recent correspondence concerning the enforcement of road traffic law by the Garda Síochána, and it would not be appropriate for me to comment further on them at this stage.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (24 Oct 2012)

Alan Shatter: I have been made aware of the motion the Deputy is referring to and I am advised that it was defeated. The Irish Short-stay Visa Waiver Programme, which was devised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department, commenced on 1 July, 2011 and was originally scheduled to run on a pilot basis until the end of October, 2012. It allows tourists or business people who...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Illicit Drugs Trade (24 Oct 2012)

Alan Shatter: An Garda Síochána continues to prioritise organised crime and the sale and supply of drugs as a core focus for 2012, through the Garda Síochána Policing Plan. Multi-agency approaches have been, and continue to be, used by An Garda Síochána whereby all of the National Units including the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Garda National Drugs Unit and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Transport (24 Oct 2012)

Alan Shatter: The provision and allocation of Garda resources, including transport, is a matter for the Garda Commissioner in the context of his operational requirements. In turn, at Garda Divisional level, the allocation of Garda vehicles is a matter for the Chief Superintendent who may make and revise arrangements for the deployment of vehicles throughout a Division in response to policing demands. This...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Seeker Accommodation (24 Oct 2012)

Alan Shatter: The Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) of the Department of Justice and Equality is responsible for the accommodation of asylum seekers in accordance with the Government policy of direct provision. At end September, 2012, RIA was providing accommodation and ancillary services to 4,965 asylum seekers at 36 accommodation centres throughout the State. The Direct Provision system is unique...