Results 4,061-4,080 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (19 Jul 2011)

Alan Shatter: The law on guardianship, custody of and access to children can be found in the Guardianship of Children Acts 1964 to 1997. The Programme for Government contains a commitment to reform and modernise aspects of family law. However, it is clear that certain areas relating to parenthood and guardianship rights, such as in the context of surrogacy, are complex. The issues are being examined with a...

Written Answers — Magdalene Laundries: Magdalene Laundries (19 Jul 2011)

Alan Shatter: I can confirm that I have received correspondence from the Justice for Magdalenes Group. I have noted their concerns which I might add, were discussed when I met this group on 4 July. I am confident that their concerns can be addressed through the inter-departmental committee's terms of reference which are to establish the facts of the State's involvement and clarify any State interaction...

Written Answers — Magdalene Laundries: Magdalene Laundries (19 Jul 2011)

Alan Shatter: I can refer the Deputy to Parliamentary Question No. 326 which was for written answer on 12 July, 2011. I can advise the Deputy that the inter-departmental committee is charged with establishing the facts of the State's involvement and clarifying any State interaction with the Magdalen Laundries and with producing a narrative detailing such interaction. The working arrangements of the...

Written Answers — Telephone Hacking: Telephone Hacking (19 Jul 2011)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 391 and 394 together. The interception of telecommunications messages is prohibited by the Postal and Telecommunications Service Act 1983, as amended, and the Criminal Damage Act 1991 provides for the offence of unauthorised accessing of data. I am informed by the Garda authorities that they are not aware of any reports of unauthorised access to voice-mails...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (19 Jul 2011)

Alan Shatter: I am informed by officials in the Visa Office of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) that the application in question was in respect of a long-stay visa for an adult son. The visa was refused as it was deemed the applicant did not meet the criteria for such a visa. An appeal was received against this refusal and following full consideration the original decision was...

Written Answers — Property Repossessions: Property Repossessions (19 Jul 2011)

Alan Shatter: The management and administration of the courts including responsibility for maintaining court statistics is a matter for the Courts Service. I take it the Deputy is enquiring about possession suits which include all cases in which a plaintiff seeks possession of lands and/or premises. These can be granted by the Circuit Court sitting locally or the High Court which has full jurisdiction....

Written Answers — Criminal Prosecutions: Criminal Prosecutions (19 Jul 2011)

Alan Shatter: I attach the highest priority to the full investigation of white collar crime and bringing the perpetrators of such crime to justice. I have expressed, both before and since my appointment as Minister, my unhappiness with the protracted nature of the investigations. In so doing, I am not criticising those carrying out the investigations. It is clear that the complexities of the matters...

Written Answers — Asylum Support Services: Asylum Support Services (19 Jul 2011)

Alan Shatter: The Reception & Integration Agency (RIA) of my Department is responsible for the accommodation of asylum seekers while their protection applications are being processed. By way of background to this question, as of today RIA has 45 asylum seeker accommodation centres across 18 counties accommodating just over 5,700 residents. The system is a constantly evolving one, taking account of the...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (19 Jul 2011)

Alan Shatter: A valid application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to by the Deputy was received in the Citizenship Division of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) in July 2009. The application is currently being processed with a view to establishing whether the applicant meets the statutory conditions for the granting of naturalisation and will be submitted...

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (19 Jul 2011)

Alan Shatter: The visits of Queen Elizabeth and President Obama required unprecedented security arrangements to be put in place by the Garda Síochána 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 than normal shifts. Movements of several thousand Garda members over a...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (19 Jul 2011)

Alan Shatter: Last month, due to difficulties experienced in some cases, I published proposals to clarify the method of enforcement of maintenance orders. These proposals are contained in the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011 which is currently before the House.

Written Answers — Witness Protection Programme: Witness Protection Programme (19 Jul 2011)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 400 to 402, inclusive, together. As the Deputy will be aware, the Agreed Programme for Government includes a commitment to provide statutory guidelines for the Garda Síochána's Witness Security Programme and measures to give effect to this commitment are being considered at present. I will bring forward proposals on the matter in due course. The Garda...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (19 Jul 2011)

Alan Shatter: The Irish Nationality and Citizenship (Fees) Regulations 2008, which came into effect on 1 August 2008, sets the prescribed fee to be paid by the applicant on the issue of a certificate of naturalisation. The standard fee is €950 with certain exceptions where a fee of €200 applies such as in the case of an application made on behalf of a minor or where the application is made by a widow...

Written Answers — Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal: Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal (19 Jul 2011)

Alan Shatter: I can inform the Deputy that under the terms of the Scheme of Compensation for Personal Injuries Criminally Inflicted, the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal is entirely independent in the matter of individual applications under the Scheme. In this regard, I am sure the Deputy will appreciate that it would be inappropriate for me as Minister for Justice and Equality to have any...

Written Answers — Gaming Regulation: Gaming Regulation (19 Jul 2011)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 405 and 406 together. I am aware that the authorities in Alderney issued a Suspension Notice to the company in question on 29 June requiring it to suspend all operations with immediate effect. The company provides on-line gambling services and it holds a licence from the Alderney Gambling Control Commission (AGCC) in respect of those services. According to the...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (19 Jul 2011)

Alan Shatter: An application for funding in respect of this measure was received yesterday. It will be assessed in the light of all relevant considerations and the outcome notified to the organisation concerned.

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (19 Jul 2011)

Alan Shatter: While the costs associated with the visits of Queen Elizabeth II and President Obama were significant, I am satisfied that the policing and security measures put in place by the Garda Síochána were appropriate. These costs are being managed to ensure that overall Garda services are maintained and they will be settled through ongoing discussions between myself and the Minister for Public...

Written Answers — Legal Aid Service: Legal Aid Service (19 Jul 2011)

Alan Shatter: I can inform the Deputy that, as the solicitor/client relationship is protected by privilege in accordance with the terms of section 32 of the Civil Legal Aid Act 1995, the Legal Aid Board does not provide information to third parties regarding a person who may or may not be a client of the Board. The Deputy may also wish to note that any person may make an application for legal aid to the...

Written Answers — Registration of Title: Registration of Title (19 Jul 2011)

Alan Shatter: I am assuming that the Deputy is referring to a land registration map. I am asking the Property Registration Authority to make direct contact with him setting out the method through which his constituent can obtain the information sought.

Written Answers — Courts Service: Courts Service (19 Jul 2011)

Alan Shatter: The Deputy will appreciate that an enormous number of cases and types of applications come before the Circuit and High Court jurisdictions each year. Waiting times can vary depending on the type of case before the court and/or the Circuit involved. Under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, the management and administration of the courts is a matter for the Courts Service. The...