Results 3,421-3,440 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Written Answers — Courts Service: Courts Service (15 Jun 2011)

Alan Shatter: Last month I formally launched the Dolphin House Family Mediation Initiative which is a joint initiative by the Legal Aid Board, the Family Mediation Service and the Courts Service. This pilot initiative provides the availability of both mediation and legal aid services within the one location with a view to encouraging more people to avail of mediation when seeking to resolve disputes...

Written Answers — Asylum Support Services: Asylum Support Services (15 Jun 2011)

Alan Shatter: The Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) of my Department is responsible for the accommodation of asylum seekers in accordance with the Government policy of direct provision. Persons in the asylum process are not entitled to access social welfare supports, including rent supplement, and are therefore not entitled to State-funded private accommodation. The basic needs of such persons are...

Written Answers — Drug Courts: Drug Courts (15 Jun 2011)

Alan Shatter: Drug treatment courts can make an important contribution as a restorative justice measure but international studies also indicate that they need to evolve and develop on an ongoing basis. My Department carried out a review of the Dublin Drug Treatment Court which was published in May 2010 and identified particular issues to be addressed in terms of the court's management and operation. As a...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (15 Jun 2011)

Alan Shatter: The National Traveller Monitoring & Advisory Committee (NTMAC) was established in March 2007 following a commitment in Towards 2016 from all social partners to give concentrated attention to developing a more integrated approach towards the provision of services for the Traveller community, and to improve communication between Travellers and the settled community. Membership of the NTMAC...

Written Answers — Garda Vetting of Personnel: Garda Vetting of Personnel (15 Jun 2011)

Alan Shatter: I am informed by the Garda Authorities that the Garda Central Vetting Unit has no record of a vetting application in respect of the person to whom the Deputy refers. In the circumstances, I can only suggest that the person seeks clarification from the organisation submitting the application.

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (15 Jun 2011)

Alan Shatter: Further to Parliamentary Question No 290 of 5 April 2011, I am informed by the Citizenship Division of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) that the Division is currently commencing further processing of applications received in late 2009. As I outlined in response to Parliamentary Question Number 69 of 7 April last, I can inform the Deputy that I have initiated steps...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (15 Jun 2011)

Alan Shatter: I can inform the Deputy that since my appointment as Minister for Justice and Equality my Department has borne no costs relative to my Constituency Office and home in respect of telephones, IT services, office lease or rent, etc. The staff numbers currently assigned to my Constituency Office are as follows: 2 Clerical Officers (salary scale applicable: €23,177 - €37,341) and 1 Personal...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (15 Jun 2011)

Alan Shatter: I have been informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) that there is no record of the person referred to by the Deputy as having contacted them. In general, a person who enters the State as a visitor may be given permission by an immigration officer to remain for a period of up to 90 days. If the person concerned wishes to seek an extension to their period of...

Written Answers — Official Travel: Official Travel (15 Jun 2011)

Alan Shatter: My Department and agencies staffed by it, administer a number of schemes which promote the use of sustainable transport to and from the workplace. For example there are currently 286 people participating in the Travel Pass Scheme. This scheme was introduced as part of Government policy to encourage greater use of public transport. Under arrangements agreed with the Revenue Commissioners, it...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (15 Jun 2011)

Alan Shatter: Under the Children First National Guidelines for the Protection and Welfare of Children the HSE are required to inform an Garda Síochána if there is evidence of abuse of a child and to agree with An Garda Síochána how any enquiry or investigation will be conducted. I plan to seek Government approval in the next month or two for drafting of a National Vetting Bureau Bill which will place...

Written Answers — Garda Ombudsman Commission: Garda Ombudsman Commission (15 Jun 2011)

Alan Shatter: Under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 as amended, the role of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission in relation to any allegation of misconduct by a member of the Garda Síochána is investigative only. Section 101 of that Act provides that if the Ombudsman Commission is of the opinion that the conduct under investigation may constitute an offence by a member of the Garda Síochána it...

Written Answers — UN Committee Against Torture: UN Committee Against Torture (15 Jun 2011)

Alan Shatter: As the Deputy is aware, the UN Committee against Torture (UNCAT) issued its concluding observations on Monday 6 June following Ireland's first examination in Geneva last month under Article 19 of the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhumane or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. The Committee in its statement acknowledged Ireland's commitment to engage with them in a...

Written Answers — Garda Recruitment: Garda Recruitment (15 Jun 2011)

Alan Shatter: Recruitment to An Garda Síochána is governed by Statutory Regulations, namely the Garda Síochána (Admission & Appointments) Regulations 1988/2005. The recruitment age was considered as recently as 2004 when, on the recommendation of the Garda Commissioner, the maximum recruitment age was increased from 26 to 35 years. This upper age limit of 35 was set having regard to equality...

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (15 Jun 2011)

Alan Shatter: My Department is currently finalising a report on the Cash for Gold trade and, in this context, has been in close contact with the Commissioner of An Garda Síochána with a view to monitoring the position. I can inform the Deputy that the Commissioner has recently reported that all Cash for Gold premises in the State have been visited by An Garda Síochána and the operators have been made...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (15 Jun 2011)

Alan Shatter: I should clarify that the Programme for Government commitment to require all public bodies to take due note of equality and human rights in carrying out their functions does not refer to the introduction of new legislation. Public bodies are already under clear statutory and constitutional obligations in relation to the treatment of individuals from a human rights and equality perspective....

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (15 Jun 2011)

Alan Shatter: I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that as of the 31 May 2011, there were 14,262 serving Gardaí.

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (15 Jun 2011)

Alan Shatter: I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that the total strength of the Garda Reserve, on the 31 May 2011, was 761 with a further 181 in training.

Written Answers — UN Committee Against Torture: UN Committee Against Torture (15 Jun 2011)

Alan Shatter: The UN Committee against Torture (UNCAT) issued its concluding observations on Monday 6 June following Ireland's first examination in Geneva last month under Article 19 of the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhumane or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. The Committee in its statement acknowledged Ireland's commitment to engage with them in a constructive manner and indeed...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (15 Jun 2011)

Alan Shatter: The position is that Part 8 (Chapter 1) of the Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Act 2009 has updated the law concerning the acquisition of easements based on recommendations of the Law Reform Commission. Section 35 of the Act, which entered into operation on 1 December 2009, provides that easements shall be acquired at law by prescription only on registration in the Land Registry or the...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (15 Jun 2011)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 481 and 488 together. I am informed by the Garda authorities that the use of a skimming device in relation to debit and credit cards or ATM cards will amount to offences under the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001. In addition, a person who uses a credit or debit card which has been skimmed may be committing a number of offences under the...