Results 4,641-4,660 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (27 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: I am informed by the Garda authorities that statistics relating to Garda response times for call-outs in the Meath Division are not readily available as incidents referred to the Divisional Control Room are currently manually recorded. I have been advised by the Garda authorities that the highest importance is given to emergency calls in the Meath Division and that they are responded to on a...

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (27 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the personnel strength of An Garda Síochána as at 31 December 1997 - 31 December 2010 and 31 August 2011 was as set out in the following table: Year Strength 1997 10,968 1998 11,235 1999 11,458 2000 11,640 2001 11,815 2002 11,895 2003 12,017 2004 12,209 2005 12,264 2006 12,954 2007 13,755 2008 14,412 2009 14,547 2010 14,377 2011...

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (27 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 386 to 389, inclusive, together. I am informed by the Garda authorities that the name of each Garda Station, together with its allocated personnel strength, in the Donegal Garda Division as at 31 December 1997 - 31 December 2010 and 31 August 2011 is set out in the following table. The current opening times for the Garda public offices are also listed. ...

Written Answers — Illegal Immigrants: Illegal Immigrants (27 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: A foreign national who is present in the State without permission or in contravention of the terms of a permission is in breach of Irish immigration law. In general, such persons may have entered the State either through covert means or through the use of false documentation at a port of entry or they may have entered lawfully but remained beyond the duration of a permission or have breached...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (27 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: As the name and reference number supplied by the Deputy do not match, it is not possible to definitively identify the person to whom the Deputy is referring to in his Question. However, if the Deputy wishes to contact my Department with the correct details a substantive response will be provided. In that context, I should remind the Deputy that queries in relation to the status of individual...

Written Answers — Legal Aid Service: Legal Aid Service (27 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: The 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 past three or four years has seen a considerable increase in demand to the Board for legal services and this coincides with the downturn...

Written Answers — Legal Aid Service: Legal Aid Service (27 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: I wish to inform the Deputy that the Legal Aid Board provides legal aid and advice in civil matters and is a body that is independent from the Minister for Justice and Equality by statute. I am informed that the amount spent on civil legal aid in each year is published in the Legal Aid Board's annual reports, which are laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas and are available to the Deputy...

Written Answers — Legal Aid Service: Legal Aid Service (27 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: The 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. I am informed that the Legal Aid Board does not prepare on an ongoing basis, detailed breakdowns on a county by county basis of the types of...

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (27 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: I can assure the Deputy and the House that it is a priority for this Government to maintain front-line services at the highest level possible. I have been advised by the Garda authorities that the Commissioner is currently carrying out a review of the entire Garda organisation in the context of ensuring that the Force will be in a position to match the deployment of resources to its policing...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (27 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: The deputy refers in his question to the recently announced Visa Waiver Programme for the holders of certain types of UK short stay visas from sixteen selected countries. This pilot programme allows persons who are in possession of the relevant type of UK visa and who have been granted permission to enter the UK on foot of that visa to also travel to Ireland without the need to apply for an...

Written Answers — Garda Recruitment: Garda Recruitment (27 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: The moratorium on Public Service Recruitment continues to apply to An Garda Síochána and no date has been fixed for future intakes into the Garda College or for the commencement of a recruitment competition of full time members. A decision on when recruitment will re-commence will take into account the rate of retirement in the Garda Síochána and Government targets for reductions in...

Written Answers — Court Procedures: Court Procedures (27 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: Under the law as it stands the costs that must be paid to the winning party to an action are calculated on the basis of what is necessarily and properly incurred for the conduct of the case. I have noted the Deputy's suggestion and will bear it in mind in the context of my development of proposals for reform of the law on legal costs.

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (27 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: I recently announced my intention to enact legislation to place the interim Parole Board on a statutory footing. I believe this will help to strengthen and improve its functions and, while it may not be possible to introduce the relevant legislation this year, it is my hope to do so next year. In that context I will be considering exactly what role it will play and what powers it should...

Written Answers — Prisoner Releases: Prisoner Releases (27 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: I can advise the Deputy there were 274 persons in custody serving life sentences for murder on 31 August, 2011. In addition, there were 61 persons serving life sentences for murder under the supervision of the Probation Service on extended temporary release subject to strict conditions as are specified. Some of these persons were first released into the community over 30 years ago. Of the...

Written Answers — Garda Vetting of Personnel: Garda Vetting of Personnel (27 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: I am informed by the Garda authorities that two vetting applications were received by the Garda Central Vetting Unit in respect of the person to whom the Deputy refers. A response to the first application was returned to the registered organisation involved on 9 August 2011. The second application is currently being processed and it is anticipated that a response will issue shortly.

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (27 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: The Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended, sets out the position as to which persons born in this State can claim an automatic entitlement to Irish citizenship by virtue of their place of birth. Essentially, any child born in the State seeking to claim an entitlement to Irish citizenship must have a parent who is an Irish citizen or, if not, one of the two parents must have...

Written Answers — Illicit Trade in Tobacco: Illicit Trade in Tobacco (27 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: It is a well recognised crime trend across many jurisdictions that the practice of tobacco smuggling is widely used by organised crime groups as a means of generating large amounts of criminal gains. This situation applies equally in this jurisdiction. I understand that the contribution of the Garda Commissioner to the report in question on tobacco smuggling relates exclusively to tobacco...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (27 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: I am advised by the Citizenship Division of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) that a valid application for a certificate of naturalisation was received from the person referred to by the Deputy in May, 2011. The application is currently being processed with a view to establishing whether the applicant meets the statutory conditions for the granting of naturalisation and...

Written Answers — Garda Transport: Garda Transport (27 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: I have been informed by the Garda authorities that the Garda Air Support Unit currently consists of one fixed wing Britten Norman Defender aircraft and two EC135 helicopters. The allocation of Garda resources is a matter for the Garda Commissioner and I am advised that there are no plans to expand the Unit at present.

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (27 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: I have been informed by the Garda authorities that there are currently twenty-six dogs attached to the Garda Dog Units. The allocation of Garda resources is a matter for the Garda Commissioner and I am advised that there are no plans to expand the Units at present.