Results 3,561-3,580 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Garda Operations (23 Jun 2011)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Question Nos. 7 and 17 together. The visits of Queen Elizabeth and President Obama required unprecedented security arrangements to be put in place by An Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces to ensure the safety of our visitors and the maintenance of public order. All Garda leave and rest days were cancelled for this period, and members on duty were required to work longer...

Garda Operations (23 Jun 2011)

Alan Shatter: I thank Deputy Calleary for his comments; we have made similar comments in the past so it is appropriate to again acknowledge the extraordinary job the gardaí did in circumstances of some difficulty, where a small minority who were intent on trouble had to be dealt with and that was done in a most efficient and appropriate manner, ensuring neither visit was disrupted or spoiled in the manner...

Garda Operations (23 Jun 2011)

Alan Shatter: That figure relates to Garda overtime and acquiring additional material necessary to facilitate the visit. The gardaí must have available to them the funding in the original Estimate in December to maintain operability and do the important work they do in a broad range of areas, including crime prevention and detection. This funding will be provided for in a manner that does not inhibit...

Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (23 Jun 2011)

Alan Shatter: A death in Garda custody is defined as a death which takes place in the period after a person comes into the custody and control of a member of the Garda Síochána and before they leave Garda custody and control. It includes, for example, not only a death at the time of arrest, or in a Garda station, but the death of a person in hospital for treatment while still in Garda custody. It is...

Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (23 Jun 2011)

Alan Shatter: The commission conducts its inquiries independently and I do not interfere with it. It is important that the commission takes the time it requires to investigate the deaths. I do not want to say anything about the particular events; those of us who are aware of the deaths that have occurred know something of the background and I assume the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission will publish...

Garda Deployment (23 Jun 2011)

Alan Shatter: Tackling serious and organised crime, and bringing those involved to justice, is a key priority for the Government. Implementation of specific operational measures to deal with criminal gangs and their criminal activities is a matter for the Garda Commissioner. In this context, the Commissioner has stressed, on many occasions, that the necessary resources have been made available and will...

Garda Deployment (23 Jun 2011)

Alan Shatter: In recent weeks the Garda has had substantial success in recovering drugs and arresting individuals engaged in drug related activities. It is a matter for the Garda Commissioner to determine issues of operation and how to best focus An Garda Síochána to tackle organised crime. I have had discussions with the Garda Commissioner on these areas and I have the utmost confidence in his...

Garda Deployment (23 Jun 2011)

Alan Shatter: I have the greatest confidence in the Garda. It has available the resources it requires. I am taking an initiative at a European level with my European colleagues to try to put in place arrangements whereby we can ensure that ultimately there are equivalents of our Criminal Assets Bureau in every EU country, and a framework in place whereby those engaged in serious crime in this State who...

Garda Deployment (23 Jun 2011)

Alan Shatter: I imagine the Ceann Comhairle will tell me if I am out of time on the next question.

International Time Zones (23 Jun 2011)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 and 16 together. I am aware of the Bill to which the Deputy refers. The Daylight Saving Bill 2010/11 passed its second reading in the House of Commons on 3 December, 2010. I understand that, if it became law, this Private Members' Bill would require the British Government to conduct a cross-departmental analysis of the potential costs and benefits of...

International Time Zones (23 Jun 2011)

Alan Shatter: During summer time our clocks are set at GMT plus one hour and at GMT during winter time. Were clocks to be put forward for an hour for all of the year, clocks would be set at GMT - this is becoming far too technical. I will simply conclude-----

International Time Zones (23 Jun 2011)

Alan Shatter: I am finding it difficult to keep a straight face for this length of time on this question, considering the details I have been given. This is not an issue on which we will make an untimely response and it is important that it be given further consideration but at this time I have no plans to change the time zone arrangements or to conduct the type of cross-departmental, cost-benefit analysis...

International Time Zones (23 Jun 2011)

Alan Shatter: I very much appreciate that this is a serious issue in the context of certain areas of business and of doing business with Europe and the United Kingdom. In advance of the second reading of the Bill, Mr. Edward Davey, Parliamentary Under-Secretary at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, sought a meeting with our ambassador in London to discuss issues concerning daylight hours....

International Time Zones (23 Jun 2011)

Alan Shatter: I will give some thought to Deputy Harrington's interesting suggestion. It would be interesting to get the views of the general public on this issue. We might consider establishing a process within which that could be done. I assure Deputy Stanton that I am aware of the change effected in the United States. I understand people are very happy with it. I put it to Deputy Wallace, in the...

Prison Accommodation (23 Jun 2011)

Alan Shatter: I assume the Deputy is referring to the 2010 annual report of the Inspector of Prisons which I published on 30 May 2011. In his report the inspector states the Irish Prison Service and local management should be aware of what he regards as best practice and that he expects all prisons will comply with this by 1 July. He also states he appreciates that prisons in certain areas will not be...

Prison Accommodation (23 Jun 2011)

Alan Shatter: I agree with the Deputy. It is important that we provide a safe environment. I would like drug-free spaces to be allocated in every prison. I would like prisoners who are addicted to drugs to have every opportunity to come off them, rather than merely substituting methadone for them. A substantial portion of the prison population are on methadone. I am examining what reforms I can...

Proposed Legislation (23 Jun 2011)

Alan Shatter: In line with a commitment in the programme for Government, a personal insolvency Bill is being developed in the Department of Justice and Equality. The Bill will provide for a new framework for the settlement and enforcement of debt and personal insolvency. The commitment made in the EU-IMF programme of financial support for Ireland is that the Bill will be published in the first quarter of...

Proposed Legislation (23 Jun 2011)

Alan Shatter: I hope the Bill will be published within the next 24 hours. It will address not just bankruptcy issues but other issues also. There is some realistic possibility that it will be enacted before the summer recess. As I am taking Dáil questions, that issue is being finalised. There is a possibility it will go to the Seanad before it comes to this House. I hope, with the help and...

Court Procedures (23 Jun 2011)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 and 29 together. All of the Fines Act 2010 has been implemented except for two sections. Section 15 will, when introduced, provide an option for the payment of fines in excess of €100 by instalment. It will allow a person on whom such a fine has been imposed to make an application to the court to discharge the payment in this way. If the court is...

Court Procedures (23 Jun 2011)

Alan Shatter: An unfortunate difficulty with this legislation, which, in fairness, was enacted by the previous Government and had support from the Opposition side of the House at the time, is that no arrangements were put in place in advance of the legislation's enactment to ensure that the software that the courts system required to operate the provisions on the payment of fines by instalments would be...