Results 4,461-4,480 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Written Answers — Cash for Gold Trade: Cash for Gold Trade (20 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: 1My Department is currently finalising a report on the "Cash for Gold" trade and I can inform the Deputy that this report will be submitted to me shortly for consideration. Following consideration of the report I will make an assessment as to what, if any, action, legislative or otherwise, may be required. I will, in due course, make known the report's findings and any proposals which may...

Written Answers — Community Restorative Projects: Community Restorative Projects (20 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: 1The system of restorative justice in this jurisdiction is already part and parcel of the justice system. In the case of juveniles, restorative justice was introduced on a statutory basis for the first time in the Children Act 2001. There are two restorative justice initiatives provided for in the Act: A restorative conference or restorative caution included in the Garda Diversion Programme...

Written Answers — Garda Civilian Support Staff: Garda Civilian Support Staff (20 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: 1There are currently around 2,100 full-time-equivalent civilian support staff in the Garda Síochána. These staff provide vital support services in a wide range of areas, such as human resources, training & development, IT and telecommunications, finance and procurement, internal audit, research and analysis, accommodation and fleet management, scene-of-crime support and medical services....

Written Answers — Garda Resources: Garda Resources (20 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: 1I understand the Deputy's question to relate to the Garda resources that are made available to the combatting of drug misuse. The Garda Síochána Policing Plan, 2011 sets out the commitment of An Garda Síochána to pro-actively target groups and individuals engaged in organised criminal activities including drug trafficking. I am informed by the Garda authorities that a multi-agency...

Written Answers — Judicial Staff: Judicial Staff (20 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: 1I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 386 on 28 June, 2011 and for his convenience I have again set out below the information requested. As the Deputy will appreciate court districts and circuits have more than one court venue and judges are required to travel between venues. During 2010, the latest year for which figures are available, there were 17 District judges and 13 Circuit...

Written Answers — Victims of Crime: Victims of Crime (20 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: 1Shortly after I was appointed Minister I told the Victims of Crime Consultative Forum that I wanted to see the Victims Charter implemented in full by all bodies contributing to the charter. The current edition of the Charter, which was published in July 2010, has been certified as being written in plain English to increase its accessibility. It is available online in Irish and six other...

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (20 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: 1I am aware that family members of the deceased person referred to by the Deputy have made a number of complaints regarding the Garda investigation of that person's death. I am informed by the Garda authorities that the original Garda investigation in 2002 concluded that foul play was not suspected and the jury at the inquest held in 2004 found in accordance with the medical evidence. I am...

Written Answers — Legal Aid Service: Legal Aid Service (20 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: 1The Legal Aid Board is a statutory, independent body in accordance with the Civil Legal Aid Act, 1995. The matters raised by the Deputy are a matter for the Board. However, in order to be helpful to the Deputy I have had enquiries made with the Board. The new FÁS "Jobbridge" scheme is an important element of the Government's jobs initiative that is designed to facilitate the provision of...

Written Answers — Joint Policing Committees: Joint Policing Committees (20 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: 1The functions and powers of Joint Policing Committees (JPCs) are set out in the Garda Síochána Act 2005, which provides for a Committee in each local authority area. They provide the framework for a partnership process involving An Garda Síochána and elected members and officials of the local authority, which are the two organisations which make the most significant contribution to...

Written Answers — Garda Vetting of Personnel: Garda Vetting of Personnel (20 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: The information the Deputy seeks has been provided by the Garda authorities and is set out in the table below. 2010 2011 (to 18 September 2011) Month Received Processed Received Processed January 16,370 17,026 22,098 23,204 February 22,803 17,475 30,768 26,699 March 27,656 18,436 26,494 25,305 April 23,053 20,507 23,360 21,719 May 25,507 19,965 25,265 24,187 June 27,170 23,764 28,919...

Written Answers — Garda Training: Garda Training (20 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: An Garda Síochána has implemented a comprehensive review of its driver training programmes. This has resulted in a five (5) level suite of Competency Based Driving (CBD) courses, with each level specifically catering for the required knowledge base, skills set and the operational requirements of members undergoing the relevant training. In reverse order, the courses and course content are...

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (20 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: I am informed by the Garda Authorities that twenty six complaints were made since the commencement of works in 2005 to An Garda Síochána in relation to personnel employed by the company referred to by the Deputy or employees of companies contracted by that company. These complaints relate to alleged assaults and alleged breaches of the Road Traffic Acts and the Private Security Services...

Written Answers — Departments Bodies: Departments Bodies (20 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 81 and 403 together. Following the decision in principle by Government to merge the Human Rights Commission and the Equality Authority into a new Human Rights and Equality Commission in order to enhance the protection of human rights and the promotion of equality, I intend to appoint a small working group to advise me on how best the decision can be...

Written Answers — Sale of Alcohol: Sale of Alcohol (20 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: Below-cost selling of alcohol was one of the areas examined by the Government Alcohol Advisory Group (GAAG) in 2008. Due to the complexity of the pricing structures and incentives in operation in this area, the Group was unable within the time available to it to establish any standard costs for the purpose of prohibiting below-cost sales of alcohol products. However, I understand that a...

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (20 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 83, 408 and 409 together. I attach the highest priority to the full investigation of white collar crime and bringing the perpetrators of such crime to justice to the greatest extent possible. I have expressed, both before and since my appointment as Minister, my unhappiness with the protracted nature of the investigations. I do not intend this as any...

Written Answers — Constititonal Referenda: Constititonal Referenda (20 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: As the Deputy will be aware, the proposal to hold a Constitutional Referendum on judicial remuneration is a commitment in the Programme for Government. In keeping with that undertaking, the Government approved the Twenty-Ninth Amendment of the Constitution (Judges' Remuneration) Bill 2011 and it was published on 4 August 2011. Its publication well ahead of the scheduled debates was with a...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (20 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: When completing an on-line visa application the applicant is assigned a unique visa transaction number. This detail must be provided where a query on the status of a visa application arises. If the Deputy can provide the relevant detail I will ensure that officials in the Visa Office will make further enquiries and respond to the Deputy directly. Each application is considered on its...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (20 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: When completing an on-line visa application the applicant is assigned a unique visa transaction number. This detail must be provided where a query on the status of a visa application arises. If the Deputy can provide the relevant detail I will ensure that officials in the Visa Office will make further enquiries and respond to the Deputy directly. In general terms visa applicants are advised...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Accidents: Road Traffic Accidents (20 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the following table gives a breakdown of the number of collisions recorded at the location referred to for the years 2006 - 2010 and for 2011 to 15 September. Year Fatal InjuryCollisions Serious Injury Collisions Non-serious InjuryCollisions Material DamageCollisions 2011 1 - 2 - 2010 - - 5 3 2009 - - 2 5 2008 - 1 1 16 2007 - - 5 7 2006 - 1...

Written Answers — Visa Waiver Programme: Visa Waiver Programme (20 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: The indications from the tourism industry is that the numbers of tourists entering the country has increased this year. This is very much to be welcomed and while it is difficult to attribute what proportion of this may be attributable to the Visa Waiver Programme I introduced earlier this year, the response from the industry as a whole to the scheme has been overwhelmingly very positive....