Results 3,901-3,920 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (7 Jul 2011)

Alan Shatter: -----states. For the first time, the legislation opens up eligibility for appointment to this tribunal to a wider group of legal professionals who have expertise. It moves away from this being a closed shop appointment confined to a small group of individuals. I do not believe it is in the public interest that we maintain the current position. I also say to both Senators, had the...

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (7 Jul 2011)

Alan Shatter: The only skeleton in the cupboard is one left behind by the previous Administration. Let us be absolutely clear about this. I did my best to set out very clearly how matters stand. I have listened to Senator Mullen and, at greater length, to Senator O'Donovan making exactly the same speech as if I had given no explanation of any description to the House. Perhaps Senators O'Donovan and...

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (7 Jul 2011)

Alan Shatter: Senator Mullen says it is five individuals. He is accusing me of trying to enact legislation to benefit an individual when we know this legislation will extend eligibility for appointment to thousands of barristers and solicitors. However, for some reason, both Senators have made a mountain out of a molehill with regard to this legislation and seem to be engaging in special pleading for...

Seanad: Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011: Report Stage and Final Stages. (7 Jul 2011)

Alan Shatter: This is a technical amendment to ensure the citation reference to the Equal Status Acts is correct. It is very minor amendment.

Seanad: Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011: Report Stage and Final Stages. (7 Jul 2011)

Alan Shatter: Amendment No. 2 corrects an omission in the Equality Act 2004. That Act moved the existing provision for delegation of functions by the director of the Equality Tribunal from section 75(4) of 1998 Act to a new subsection (4B). However, section 75(6) of the 1998 Act, which refers to the delegation of such functions by the director was not amended by the 2004 Act to reflect the amendment...

Seanad: Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011: Report Stage and Final Stages. (7 Jul 2011)

Alan Shatter: We had an extensive discussion on reform of our law on bankruptcy on Second Stage and Committee Stage. It is fair to say my proposals received a positive welcome from most Senators. However, I emphasised these early reforms were in advance of the more comprehensive reform required under the EU-IMF programme of financial support for Ireland. Essentially, I am providing in section 20 for an...

Seanad: Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011: Report Stage and Final Stages. (7 Jul 2011)

Alan Shatter: I thank Senator Zappone for tabling the amendment. I welcome the reception it has received in the House. I advised the House on the last occasion that I would be bringing forward further amendments. I envisaged I would be bringing forward an amendment on this issue, which addresses certain technical matters. We also looked at sections 22 and 23, as mentioned by Senator Zappone. Work on...

Seanad: Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011: Report Stage and Final Stages. (7 Jul 2011)

Alan Shatter: Members may be interested to hear that the pilot ceremony went well and we learned from it. Arrangements are being made in my Department for a series of ceremonies to take place during the last week in July. We are hoping in that context that hundreds of people granted citizenship and who would otherwise have to wait until late autumn before having the opportunity to formally become Irish...

Seanad: Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011: Report Stage and Final Stages. (7 Jul 2011)

Alan Shatter: These are technical amendments to correct the text in Part 11 concerning amendments to the Immigration Act 2004. They are very minor technical amendments, and we hope that Act will be reformed by the end of the year.

Seanad: Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011: Report Stage and Final Stages. (7 Jul 2011)

Alan Shatter: I will comment generally on citizenship before returning to the specific question. Our citizenship laws are spread across a series of Acts, and it is my objective to bring together our laws in one codified Act with some reforms therein. In the context of the significant legislative agenda of the Department and obligations we must meet under the EU-IMF agreement, the objective is unlikely to...

Seanad: Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011: Report Stage and Final Stages. (7 Jul 2011)

Alan Shatter: I am merely pointing out that it is not a simple issue when one takes into account the traditions of this country and the different positions people take. It may be more difficult than addressing the issue in the UK or the United States. It is a reasonable issue to be raised by Senator Mooney. It is something that might form part of an interesting public debate. In so far as it is an...

Seanad: Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011: Report Stage and Final Stages. (7 Jul 2011)

Alan Shatter: These are similar technical amendments to reflect the transfer to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform of the consent function of the Minister for Finance in the setting of fees relating to immigration matters. They are to take account of the new configuration of the Government.

Seanad: Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011: Report Stage and Final Stages. (7 Jul 2011)

Alan Shatter: I thank the Senators for tabling the amendments. I listened carefully to what was said the last day and, as Senator Bacik pointed out, we are tabling an amendment to return the age to 70; nothing more needs to be said about that. I want to put into context what we are doing and why we are doing it and why I cannot take on board the other amendment. As Senator Barrett correctly said, there...

Seanad: Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011: Report Stage (Resumed) (7 Jul 2011)

Alan Shatter: I thank Senators for their comments and assure them that there is no evil plan attached to this. I should inform the Senators from Fianna Fáil who contributed that the previous Government made a decision that it was necessary to introduce a similar provision in the law. One was being prepared to be included in the somewhat smaller Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill that my...

Seanad: Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011: Report Stage (Resumed) (7 Jul 2011)

Alan Shatter: The Bill deliberately reads, "in one official language". It may be possible to deal with things differently in the future. The reality is that legislation is enacted in the English language and that amendments are furnished in English. The legislation we are dealing with is in English and when it goes to the Dáil it will be in English. The final print will be instantly available in...

Seanad: Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011: Report Stage (Resumed) (7 Jul 2011)

Alan Shatter: We were acting on the advice of the Attorney General and the previous Attorney General, neither of whom believed there was a constitutional difficulty of any nature.

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2011: Report and Final Stages (8 Jul 2011)

Alan Shatter: Ducks do not have teeth.

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2011: Report and Final Stages (8 Jul 2011)

Alan Shatter: The Senator is mentioning everyone else.

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2011: Report and Final Stages (8 Jul 2011)

Alan Shatter: Go on, mention him.

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2011: Report and Final Stages (8 Jul 2011)

Alan Shatter: The Senator is being very helpful.