Results 2,601-2,620 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Garda Operations (7 Apr 2011)

Alan Shatter: The functions and powers of joint policing committees, JPCs, are set out in the Garda Síochána Act 2005, which provides for a committee in each local authority area. The committees provide the framework for a partnership process involving the Garda Síochána and elected members and officials of the local authority - the two organisations that make the most significant contribution to...

Garda Operations (7 Apr 2011)

Alan Shatter: As I must continually remind Deputies, the Government has only been in place for four weeks. Rome was not built in a day, we cannot address every issue in the programme for Government immediately but the work on that is under way and work was done on the issue prior to the general election. As soon as he can, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government will bring forward...

Garda Operations (7 Apr 2011)

Alan Shatter: The pilot phase is essentially over. Once they were completed, general guidelines were introduced and each local authority can now operate a joint policing committee. The legislation prescribes a minimum number of meetings but no maximum for the committees. I was briefly a member of the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown committee and I know it is up to the members of the policing committees to...

Garda Operations (7 Apr 2011)

Alan Shatter: I take it that the Deputy is referring in his question to public roads as it is generally open to companies to take whatever security measures are appropriate in relation to their own property. The permission of the local authority is required before any person or company may lawfully set up a checkpoint or roadblock on a public road. As far as I have been able to ascertain, no such...

Garda Operations (7 Apr 2011)

Alan Shatter: I have no information about private security companies vetting traffic on main roads. On the matter raised by the Deputy about the allegations in respect of Garda conduct towards two young women, it is incorrect to say they were directly subjected, as the Deputy put it, to obscene language, but there are allegations of an event occurring in the context of gardaí travelling in a car in which...

Garda Operations (7 Apr 2011)

Alan Shatter: This House enacted legislation to establish the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission. That body is independent and is appointed to conduct independent investigation and to address issues of alleged Garda misconduct. That body is engaged in this investigation at the moment. I have confidence in the capacity of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission to address the issue that has arisen....

Garda Investigations (7 Apr 2011)

Alan Shatter: As Deputies across the Chamber may be aware, I have in the past expressed concern about the level of progress with regard to the investigations into Anglo Irish Bank. I am most anxious that the investigations are fully and properly completed and papers in so far as is appropriate furnished to the Director of Public Prosecutions, DPP. I am informed by the Garda authorities that investigations...

Garda Investigations (7 Apr 2011)

Alan Shatter: As the Deputy is aware, the DPP is entirely independent in his function. It would be completely inappropriate for me, as Minister, to communicate about these matters directly to him. I understand and appreciate that the investigation is extremely complex and a substantial amount of documentation has had to be accessed and considered. It is unfortunate that we did not reform our laws in...

Legislative Programme (7 Apr 2011)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 12 and 14 together. The programme for Government indicates that legislation will be introduced to end upward-only rent reviews for existing leases. I am conscious of where it appears that unrealistically high rent levels are being maintained in the retail sector and that this has consequent negative effects on business viability and on employment. Given the...

Legislative Programme (7 Apr 2011)

Alan Shatter: As the Deputy will be aware, there are substantial reports, particularly from the retail sector, of businesses being in substantial difficulty in circumstances in which they negotiated rents, particularly in the 2003 to 2007 period, which no longer reflect market reality and in circumstances in which in the context of the leases to which the businesses are tied there is provision for upward...

Crime Levels (7 Apr 2011)

Alan Shatter: The Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009 entered into force, in its entirety, on 23 July 2009. The primary purpose of the Act is to provide for additional measures with respect to the combating of organised crime, including measures in aid of the investigation of such crime. I am informed by the Garda authorities that since the enactment of the legislation there have been117arrests recorded...

Crime Levels (7 Apr 2011)

Alan Shatter: I share the Deputy's concern with regard to the small number of prosecutions that have been initiated in this area. Ultimately, when a file goes to the Director of Public Prosecutions it is for him to determine whether it is appropriate that a prosecution be taken. This was a area to which I had given particular attention on the Opposition side of the House and arising from my concern about...

Sexual Offences (7 Apr 2011)

Alan Shatter: I welcome Deputy O'Dea's questions but it is unusual he did not regard them as sufficiently important to attend before the House but perhaps on the next occasion we have justice questions he might deem it appropriate to join us. In the context of this question, the commitment to which the Deputy refers is the introduction of a series of post-imprisonment restraint orders for violent and...

Sexual Offences (7 Apr 2011)

Alan Shatter: It is important that we should consider this issue in a comprehensive way. It is not just a question of what happens when an offender who has served a prison sentence is released. It also relates to how we approach these matters in the context of the Prison Service. There is a particular need to ensure those convicted of sexual offences participate in whatever sex offenders programmes...

Garda Deployment (7 Apr 2011)

Alan Shatter: The Government's National Recovery Plan 2011-2014 calls for a higher priority to be attached to community policing. Such policing lies at the heart of policing in Ireland. This point has been emphasised by the Garda Commissioner and endorsed by the Garda Inspectorate. It has informed the development of the recent Garda national model of community policing. This model, which has now been...

Garda Deployment (7 Apr 2011)

Alan Shatter: If I could be parochial and refer to Dublin South, which is the constituency I represent, I am aware that community gardaí have attended events in Marlay Park, at the Dundrum festival and elsewhere over the years. These officers find it particularly valuable to be in attendance at such events because it gives them an opportunity to talk to many members of local communities who also attend...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (7 Apr 2011)

Alan Shatter: The Government's plans for the immigration system are outlined in the Programme for Government which commits to the introduction of comprehensive reforms to the immigration, residence and asylum systems including a statutory immigration appeals mechanism, which will articulate rights and obligations in a transparent manner. Deputies will be aware that the Immigration, Residence and Protection...

Written Answers — Official Transport: Official Transport (7 Apr 2011)

Alan Shatter: The Government's Programme for National Recovery 2011-2016 contains a commitment to halve the costs associated with providing official transport and to secure the release of Garda drivers for normal policing duties. In line with that commitment, the Government has decided that former Taoisigh will no longer be supplied with official transport, other than for important State occasions. The...

Written Answers — National Disability Strategy: National Disability Strategy (7 Apr 2011)

Alan Shatter: It is the Government's intention to ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities as quickly as possible, taking into account the need to ensure that all necessary legislative and administrative requirements under the Convention are being met. As the Deputy may be aware, Ireland does not become party to treaties until it is first in a position to comply with the...

Written Answers — Control of Livestock: Control of Livestock (7 Apr 2011)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 67 and 68 together. I assume the Deputy is referring to the Animals Act 1985 which amended the law relating to liability for damage done by animals. The Act at section 2 provides for an amendment to the former immunity in the common law of negligence in respect of animals on the highway, and, subject to certain conditions, provides for a duty on a person to...