Results 3,021-3,040 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Proposed Legislation (18 May 2011)

Alan Shatter: A personal insolvency Bill is in the course of being developed in my Department to provide for a new framework for settlement and enforcement of debt and for personal insolvency. I have engaged in detailed discussions with officials in my Department with regard to the content of such a Bill. The provision of this legislation is a commitment under the EU-IMF programme and is intended for...

Proposed Legislation (18 May 2011)

Alan Shatter: What is envisaged is the enactment of comprehensive legislation in the area of insolvency which will substantially reform current law and provide new structures to facilitate addressing issues of debt. The structures will vary depending on the level of debt and the nature of the debts held by the individuals concerned. I am sure the Deputy will appreciate that as we are in the developmental...

Legal Services (18 May 2011)

Alan Shatter: I have no function as Minister in the investigation of complaints against a solicitor or barrister for overcharging. Generally, when a person takes issue with costs incurred as a result of a legal action he or she opts to have them taxed by the Office of the Taxing Master. The Taxing Master, as a court officer attached to the High Court structure, provides an independent and impartial...

Legal Services (18 May 2011)

Alan Shatter: I thank the Deputy for asking so many questions. The Leas-Cheann Comhairle may not allow me to answer all of them but I will do my best to work my way through. On the first issue, the State can appeal to the Taxing Master but the reality is that the State is not normally in conflict with the Chief State Solicitor's office over a costs issue. However, if, for instance, the State or a State...

Prisoner Releases (18 May 2011)

Alan Shatter: Part 10 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006 provides for the introduction of electronic monitoring, or tagging as it is also known, in this jurisdiction. My predecessor made the relevant order in 2010 commencing the provisions in the context of a restriction of movement condition applying to the granting of temporary release. In tandem with the publication of the discussion document on the...

Prisoner Releases (18 May 2011)

Alan Shatter: As the Deputy will be well aware, I cannot anticipate what funding will be available to my Department for 2012. However, as he accurately recalled, this is a useful mechanism to use within the criminal justice system. I am conscious of the pilot project and I am anxious not to prejudge it. In the context of the cost benefit analysis I hope it will be shown to be a beneficial way of dealing...

Sexual Offences (18 May 2011)

Alan Shatter: I share the concern of Members for the plight of victims who have found themselves caught up in the unfortunate situation referred to in the Deputy's question. I am informed that a person practising as a nurse in the sexual assault treatment unit of Letterkenny General Hospital was removed from the register of An Bord Altranais, the Nursing Board, for non-payment of fees, for an 18-month...

Sexual Offences (18 May 2011)

Alan Shatter: The problem in this area is not a matter of legislation but a matter of procedure with the failure of a nurse to register and the failure of the HSE to have in place a system of checks and balances to ensure the nurse appointed in this instance was registered and dealing with matters relating to her continuing nursing in an appropriate manner. I cannot give a definitive timescale for the...

Proposed Legislation (18 May 2011)

Alan Shatter: While there is undoubtedly a case for consolidating the law on sexual offences for greater accessibility, my immediate priority is to implement a commitment in the Government's legislative programme to bring forward legislation to enhance the protection of children and other vulnerable persons from sexual exploitation and abuse. My Department has been conducting a wide-ranging examination of...

Proposed Legislation (18 May 2011)

Alan Shatter: As the Deputy knows, the Judiciary is independent. Neither this House nor the Government can compel members of the Judiciary to undergo any specific or particular training. The Judiciary has established its own body to deal with specific issues and to inform itself and keep up to date on areas in which it is engaged. It is open to the Judiciary to do so in the context of this area. Was...

Proposed Legislation (18 May 2011)

Alan Shatter: At present there are no plans to do so. A considerable number of persons are instructed by the Director of Public Prosecutions to prosecute offences. The DPP is rightly independent in the function he performs in selecting those to process prosecutions. I would expect that the DPP in doing so does pay regard to the expertise of those who are asked to process prosecutions on his behalf.

Northern Ireland Issues (18 May 2011)

Alan Shatter: If I can take the second part of the question first, the North-South Ministerial Council to which I assume the Deputy is referring, was as the Deputy will recall, established under the Good Friday Agreement to implement policy and take forward co-operation on an all-Ireland basis to the mutual benefit of all those who reside here. It is a body to which the Government attaches great...

Northern Ireland Issues (18 May 2011)

Alan Shatter: I have no difficulty with what the Deputy suggests.

Garda Transport (18 May 2011)

Alan Shatter: I understand from the Garda authorities that, between 2009 and to date in 2011, 294 Garda cars were withdrawn from use and that in the same period 172 new cars were purchased. Of these, 165 were purchased in 2010 and seven so far this year. Garda vehicle purchases are managed centrally and I understand that a divisional breakdown of these figures is not readily available. Clearly budgetary...

Garda Transport (18 May 2011)

Alan Shatter: I could not resist his smile.

Garda Transport (18 May 2011)

Alan Shatter: What the Deputy is missing is that new cars were purchased at a time when there would have been a substantial number of cars that were at the end of their life. One does not get rid of the ones that are no longer reliable to use until one has the new cars in place. The figures do not in fact result in the Garda being in a worse position today than it would have been previously. The Deputy...

Garda Transport (18 May 2011)

Alan Shatter: I anticipated that someone would not miss the opportunity to ask that question. As I said on previous occasions in reply to questions, that is an operational matter for the Garda Commissioner. In so far as there is any useful purpose to retain some of those cars I expect he will retain them. He previously said that those not required will be sold. It was only approximately two weeks ago...

Residency Permits (18 May 2011)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 41 and 66 together. Currently my Department's records show that 929 persons who have no current right of residency have applied to have their case to remain in the State examined in accordance with the principles set out in the Zambrano judgment. All these cases require careful consideration in advance of any decision on whether they are comprehended by this...

Garda Operations (18 May 2011)

Alan Shatter: The Garda Síochána, along with the Defence Forces, is responsible for the security of the visit of President Obama and I have the utmost confidence in the Garda Commissioner and his officers, who I know are totally committed to ensuring that these events pass off without incident. I am fully satisfied that the commissioner has available to him all the necessary and appropriate resources to...

Garda Operations (18 May 2011)

Alan Shatter: I thank the Deputy for his comments on the work undertaken by the Garda for this week's visit. Substantial work of a security nature has been undertaken, with the assistance and contribution of the Defence Forces. The conduct of a small minority of individuals, in making threats against the State and a distinguished visitor and her husband, is regrettable. It is also regrettable that a...