Results 5,561-5,580 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (22 Nov 2011)

Alan Shatter: Ratification of the Optional Protocol to the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment requires legislation. On 17 May last, the Government approved my proposals for preparation of the General Scheme of a Bill to enable ratification of the optional protocol. Arrangements will be made to ratify the instrument as soon as possible...

Written Answers — Anti-Racism Measures: Anti-Racism Measures (22 Nov 2011)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 436 and 465 together. There are currently a number of official mechanisms in place to record complaints about both racist crime and racial discrimination. All crime statistics, including statistics on reports of racially motivated crime are collated by the Central Statistics Office, using the data elicited from the Pulse system of An Garda Síochána....

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (22 Nov 2011)

Alan Shatter: As a signatory to Protocol 12 to the European Convention on Human Rights, Ireland keeps the question of ratifying the Protocol under review. The major issue is the lack of clarity as to the precise extent of the obligations imposed on States Parties by the very broad general prohibition on discrimination in Article 1 of the Protocol. It is notable also that no definition of discrimination is...

Written Answers — Probation and Welfare Service: Probation and Welfare Service (22 Nov 2011)

Alan Shatter: I can assure the Deputy that Probation Service management prioritises its workload and allocates its resources in such a way as to maximise its efficiency and effectiveness. This prioritisation includes particular focus on the delivery of front-line services and the supervision of Community Service Orders. My Department obtained Department of Finance sanction to recruit 8 Probation Officers...

Written Answers — Probation and Welfare Service: Probation and Welfare Service (22 Nov 2011)

Alan Shatter: In 2011, my Department, through the Probation Service allocated funding to 48 Community Based Organisations working primarily with adult offenders engaged with the Probation Service. A further 16 Community Based Organisations who provide services with young persons are in receipt of funding from the Irish Youth Justice Service through the Probation Service. The provision of Probation Service...

Written Answers — Council of State: Council of State (22 Nov 2011)

Alan Shatter: I can inform the Deputy that I did not propose any names to President Higgins in relation to the Council of State.

Written Answers — Prison Medical Service: Prison Medical Service (22 Nov 2011)

Alan Shatter: All prisoners are medically assessed on committal to prison. The initial health screen is used as an opportunity to develop care plans, make appropriate referrals as necessary and offer advice on various aspects of health care. Health promotion among prisoners is a key priority for the Irish Prison Service. The Irish Prison Service has adopted a protocol for the management of Tuberculosis...

Written Answers — Court Procedures: Court Procedures (22 Nov 2011)

Alan Shatter: It is a matter for the court to determine liability for costs and generally costs follow the event although the court may in some circumstances direct otherwise. An exception to that general rule is provided for in section 50B of the Planning and Development Act 2000 as amended. Under that Act, my colleague the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government has provided that...

Written Answers — Special Criminal Court: Special Criminal Court (22 Nov 2011)

Alan Shatter: I have no plans to abolish the Special Criminal Court.

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (22 Nov 2011)

Alan Shatter: Ireland has a dualist system under which international agreements to which Ireland becomes a party do not become part of domestic law unless so determined by the Oireachtas through legislation. The European Convention on Human Rights has been indirectly incorporated into domestic law by the European Convention on Human Rights Act 2003. That Act provides that every organ of the State shall...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (22 Nov 2011)

Alan Shatter: The range of issues covered by international instruments and international treaty monitoring bodies is extremely broad. There is a need for the responsible Department to have expertise in the specific policy areas involved when reporting on implementation and following up on recommendations made by treaty monitoring bodies, . Therefore, the creation of a single, centralised, institutional...

Written Answers — Immigration Appeals Mechanism: Immigration Appeals Mechanism (22 Nov 2011)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 446 and 447 together. The Government's plans for the immigration system are outlined in the Programme for Government which commits to the introduction of comprehensive reforms to the immigration, residence and asylum systems including a statutory immigration appeals mechanism, which will articulate rights and obligations in a transparent manner and which will...

Written Answers — Prison Service: Prison Service (22 Nov 2011)

Alan Shatter: I can assure the Deputy that the Government is committed to the elimination of slopping out in all prisons and places of detention. The Programme for Government includes the objective to provide in-cell sanitation to all prisons, and in so far as resources permit, to upgrade prison facilities where possible. 72% of prisoner accommodation has in-cell sanitation at present. This will rise to...

Written Answers — Prison Service: Prison Service (22 Nov 2011)

Alan Shatter: At present, all prisoners in this jurisdiction undergo a form of assessment on committal which includes an interview by a Governor and Nursing Officer along with a Doctor's assessment within 24 hours of committal. I have asked my officials to examine the possibility of introducing formal risk assessment procedures and to report their findings in the near future.

Written Answers — Prison Service: Prison Service (22 Nov 2011)

Alan Shatter: At present the use of special observation cells is governed by rule 64 of the Prison Rules 2007 (S.I. no. 252). The original direction from the Governor for a person to be accommodated in such a cell must be for a period not exceeding 24 hours. Following consultation with the prison doctor, the Governor may direct that the period be extended for four further periods none of which may...

Written Answers — Prison Service: Prison Service (22 Nov 2011)

Alan Shatter: The Prisons (Visiting Committees) Act 1925 provides for a visiting committee to be constituted for every prison in the State and one of the statutory duties of such committees is to hear any complaints which may be made to them by a prisoner. Under new legislation to be prepared, I intend to make Visiting Committees more effective while they continue their role. The arrangements for...

Written Answers — Prison Medical Services: Prison Medical Services (22 Nov 2011)

Alan Shatter: Primary care is the model of care through which healthcare is delivered in the prison system. The service is currently delivered by a mix of part-time and full time doctors, who attend the various prisons for varying periods of time commensurate with the numbers and needs of the prison population. The service is provided using a multi-disciplinary model and intra-disciplinary working...

Written Answers — Prison Medical Services: Prison Medical Services (22 Nov 2011)

Alan Shatter: The Irish Prison Service seeks to ensure that prisoners receive the same standard of healthcare as members of the public who hold a medical card. Prisoners receive care through the primary care system (involving doctors, nurses and other in-reach healthcare professionals) delivered in each prison. Where a doctor or other healthcare professional operating in a prison determines that a...

Written Answers — Drugs in Prisons: Drugs in Prisons (22 Nov 2011)

Alan Shatter: The Irish Prison Service continues to implement its Drugs Policy & Strategy, entitled "Keeping Drugs Out of Prison", which was launched in May 2006. This has involved the implementation of stringent measures to prevent drugs from getting into prisons while, at the same time, continuing to invest in services to reduce the demand for illicit drugs in the prisoner population as well as meeting...

Written Answers — Prison Committals: Prison Committals (22 Nov 2011)

Alan Shatter: There is no basis for placing mentally ill individuals in prison because of their mental illness. However it is not sustainable to say that any person with a mental illness, no matter how mild, should be immune from imprisonment. There is a strong argument that persons with severe mental illnesses who are involved in minor offences should be diverted away from the criminal justice system and...