Results 1,161-1,180 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Northern Ireland Issues (27 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: I would say at the outset that the killing of Denis Donaldson, to whom the Deputy refers in his question, is the subject of an ongoing murder investigation by the Garda Síochána. In that context, I am sure the House will appreciate that we must be judicious in our comments with regard to the case. I am informed by the Garda authorities that the investigation into this crime is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Child Sex Abuse Victims (27 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: The Criminal Justice (Withholding of Information on Offences against Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012 makes it an offence for any person to deliberately withhold information regarding sexual and other serious offences committed against a child or other vulnerable person. Under section 2 of the Act, a person who knows or believes that an offence has been committed against a child and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Complaints Procedures (27 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 15 and 201 together. I understand that the Deputy's question is in respect of instances where complaints of corruption or malpractice were raised by whistleblowers within An Garda Síochána. The Garda Síochána (Confidential Reporting of Corruption or Malpractice) Regulations 2007 provide for the appointment of an independent Confidential...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Investigations (27 Feb 2014)

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 with no respect for human life. In view of the fact that Garda Richard Fallon was carrying out his duties as a member...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Refugee Status Application Numbers (27 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: The number of persons refused refugee status in 2013 at both first instance and on appeal was 773. The corresponding figures for 2012 to 2009 were 927, 1678, 3573 and 4230 respectively. The number of persons granted refugee status in 2013 at both first instance and on appeal was 192. The corresponding figures for 2012 to 2009 were 92, 132,160 and 394 respectively. Regarding recognition...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Seeker Accommodation (27 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: The Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) of my Department is responsible for the accommodation of protection applicants in accordance with the Government policy of direct provision and dispersal. Direct provision provides for full board accommodation supports while a final decision is awaited by a person on their protection or any related leave to remain application. The operation of the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Investigations (27 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: As the Deputy will appreciate I have no role in the investigation of criminal offences, which is a matter for An Garda Síochána. The Garda authorities have previously indicated that they have no record of any complaint or investigation arising from the matters referred to by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Equipment (27 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: I wish to advise the Deputy that there are considerable sensitivities around the provision of information of the nature sought by him and that it is not the practice for obvious security reasons to reveal details of equipment in use by An Garda Síochána in tackling serious crime and terrorism. What I can say is that there are statutory provisions in place governing interception of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Magdalen Laundries (27 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: Judge Quirke recommended that "As an integral part of the ex gratia Scheme a card entitling its holder to health services equivalent to those provided to the holder of a HAA card should be given to each of the women who were admitted to and worked in a designated Magdalen laundry." Appendix G of Judge Quirke's report contains information extracted from the Guide to Community Services...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Releases (27 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: The Deputy will be aware that I spoke on this issue, as a Topical Issue, in January of this year and outlined the background to the detention of the individual (details supplied) concerned. I am advised by my officials in the Irish Prison Service, that on committal, the prisoner was advised of the existence of Temporary Release and the procedure involved in applying for same. I am further...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Personal Insolvency Act (27 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: The Insolvency Service of Ireland (ISI) has indicated that in the interest of confidentiality it will not be providing details or breakdowns of the numbers of applications for the various debt solutions received or being processed at this time. The ISI has indicated that it fully intends to provide quarterly statistics once a statistically meaningful number of applications have been...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Civil Partnership Legislation (27 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: The Government's decision to hold a referendum on making marriage available to same-sex couples was subject to a commitment to guarantee freedom of religion for solemnisers. There is no question of obliging priests or ministers, for example, to perform marriage ceremonies where their churches would not permit or recognise such marriages. My Department is engaged in the early stages of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Property Services Regulation (27 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: The Property Services Regulatory Authority, which was established on 3 April 2012 in accordance with the provisions of the Property Services (Regulation) Act 2011, is responsible for the control and supervision of Property Service Providers (i.e. auctioneers/estate agents, letting agents and management agents) and for ensuring the maintenance, by such providers, of high standards in the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Confidential Recipient (27 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 26, 31 and 217 together. The independent Confidential Recipient enables members of the Force, and civilian support staff, to report, in confidence, instances where they believe there may be corruption or malpractice within the Garda Síochána. Mr Oliver Connolly was appointed as Confidential Recipient with effect from 18 July 2011 for a 3 year...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Investigations (27 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: The murder of Eddie Fullerton was a callous and unjustifiable act of brutality, and I extend my sympathies to the Fullerton family. The UFF loyalist paramilitary group subsequently claimed responsibility for the murder. It is a matter of regret that to date no person has been made amenable for this appalling crime and I am conscious that this must add to the family’s grief. ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Irish Council for Civil Liberties Report (27 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: The report for The Irish Council for Civil Liberties, referred to by the Deputy, highlights some of the added difficulties that victims who have disabilities may face in the pre-trial, trial and post-trial stages of the criminal process. I am very conscious of the need to ensure that all victims of crime are helped to navigate the criminal justice system with the minimum level of discomfort...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Releases (27 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: I wish to advise the Deputy that it is not possible to provide the statistical breakdown, as requested, as this would require the manual examination of tens of thousands of individual prisoner records. This exercise would entail the diversion of a disproportionate and inordinate amount of staff time which could not be justified in current circumstances where there are other significant...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Numbers (27 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: I can advise the Deputy the number of prisoners who are in prison for non-payment of a court ordered fine or for the non-payment of a debt is a tiny fraction of the overall prisoner population. To illustrate this point, on 25 February, 2014, 4 people or 0.10%, out of a prison population of 4,053 were in custody for non-payment of fines. There were no prisoners in custody for non-payment of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Issues (27 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission was established under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 to provide independent oversight of complaints made against members of the Garda Síochána. The Garda Ombudsman Commission has a hugely important role in ensuring that public confidence in the Garda Síochána is safeguarded. The recent coverage in the media of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Proposed Legislation (27 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission was established under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 to provide independent oversight of complaints made against members of the Garda Síochána. The Garda Ombudsman Commission has a hugely important role in ensuring that public confidence in the Garda Síochána is safeguarded, and has extensive powers under the 2005...