Results 5,781-5,800 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Written Answers — Coroners Service: Coroners Service (1 Dec 2011)

Alan Shatter: The Coroners Bill 2007 is before the Seanad having been restored to the Order Paper on my initiative. The Bill is in the course of being reviewed in my Department with a view, among other matters, to making it as cost-effective as possible. The Bill, as published, provides for the comprehensive reform of the existing legislation and structures relating to coroners and provides for the...

Written Answers — Legal Aid Service: Legal Aid Service (1 Dec 2011)

Alan Shatter: I wish to advise the Deputy that legal aid in Ireland falls under two separate categories, i.e civil legal aid and criminal legal aid and I will deal with these separately as follows. Civil legal aid in Ireland is delivered by the Legal Aid Board, which is a statutory independent body. Legal services are delivered through the Board's 29 law centres and a small number of specialist units. The...

Written Answers — Prison Visiting Committees: Prison Visiting Committees (1 Dec 2011)

Alan Shatter: The reports highlighted a number of issues across the prison system but there was also an acknowledgement of the efforts made by the Irish Prison Service to address the issues despite limited resources. As I outlined in the House last week, several issues have been addressed. These include, for example, increased Library access in the Dóchas Centre; consideration to increasing the number of...

Written Answers — Human Trafficking: Human Trafficking (1 Dec 2011)

Alan Shatter: The Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Act, 2008 came into effect on 7 June 2008. I am informed by the Garda authorities that since then An Garda Síochána have undertaken human trafficking investigations involving 49 suspected victims under the age of eighteen as follows: June to December 2008 - 6 2009 - 17 2010 - 19 2011 (to date) - 7 Administrative Immigration Arrangements...

Written Answers — Irish Prison Service: Irish Prison Service (1 Dec 2011)

Alan Shatter: A new Five Year Prison Capital Programme from 2012-2016 is currently being drafted by the Irish Prison Service in the context of the revised capital allocations which I announced recently. I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that it has not been the practice in the past to formally publish Prison Capital Programmes. However, the one currently being drafted can be made available to the...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (1 Dec 2011)

Alan Shatter: In the context of the fiscal difficulties being experienced in the economy and in keeping with the budgetary cutbacks which are consequently necessary, it is regrettably necessary to reduce the level of support which my Department is in a position to provide to Community Alert in 2011. Funding totalling €137,000 has been provided to Community Alert in 2011. I would like to emphasise that...

Written Answers — Prison Accommodation: Prison Accommodation (1 Dec 2011)

Alan Shatter: As I announced recently, the Government remains very much committed to addressing the twin problems of overcrowding and poor physical conditions, particularly in Mountjoy and Cork prisons. Since my announcement of its 2012 Capital Allocation (€24.1 million), the Irish Prison Service has commenced work on developing a five year strategy for the continued enhancement of the prison estate...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (1 Dec 2011)

Alan Shatter: The law as it stands allows children born through surrogacy arrangements to acquire Irish citizenship, provided the commissioning father is the biological father of the child. Such a father may apply to court for a declaration of paternity under section 35 of the Status of Children Act 1987. Once paternity is established the child can be determined to be an Irish citizen. Given the complex...

Written Answers — Probation Service Staff: Probation Service Staff (1 Dec 2011)

Alan Shatter: I am advised that the number of staff in whole-time equivalent terms in the Probation Service who are Probation Officers including Senior Probation Officers and Assistant Principal Probation Officers for each of the years is as follows: Year end 2005 : 280 2006 : 280 2007 : 285 2008 : 332 2009 : 296 2010 : 286 The Deputy will note that the current number of Probation...

Written Answers — Legal Services Bill: Legal Services Bill (1 Dec 2011)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 27 and 37 together. In the Programme for National Recovery 2011-16, the Government has undertaken to "establish independent regulation of the legal professions to improve access and competition, make legal costs more transparent and ensure adequate procedures for addressing consumer complaints". The Legal Services Regulation Bill 2011, published on 12 October,...

Written Answers — Criminal Assets Bureau: Criminal Assets Bureau (1 Dec 2011)

Alan Shatter: The Programme for Government includes a commitment to strengthen the powers of the Criminal Assets Bureau in relation to the forfeiture of the proceeds of crime. An Expert Group, established under the auspices of my Department, is currently reviewing the Proceeds of Crime legislation with a view to identifying possible improvements which would serve to enhance the powers of the Bureau. The...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (1 Dec 2011)

Alan Shatter: I am informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service that applications from non-EEA women in the situation outlined by the Deputy are dealt with on a case by case basis and independent status is granted where the known circumstances of the case warrant it. In considering the circumstances of each such application every effort is made to ensure that the most appropriate...

Written Answers — Juvenile Offenders: Juvenile Offenders (1 Dec 2011)

Alan Shatter: The powers of the Ombudsman for Children are determined by the Ombudsman for Children Act 2002. Section 11 (1) (e) (iii) of that Act limits the power of investigation as regards actions taken in the administration of prisons and places of detention. However, if an individual detained in the Irish prison system and who is less than eighteen years of age wishes to see the Ombudsman for...

Written Answers — Prisoner Complaints Procedures: Prisoner Complaints Procedures (1 Dec 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 Visiting Committees: Prison Visiting Committees (1 Dec 2011)

Alan Shatter: On 17 May last, the Government approved my proposals for preparation of the General Scheme of a Bill which will include provisions concerning the future role, composition and reporting arrangements of Prison Visiting Committees. These provisions are aimed at maximising the effectiveness and efficiency of the committees. The proposed legislation will also provide a statutory framework to...

Written Answers — Prisoner Releases: Prisoner Releases (1 Dec 2011)

Alan Shatter: A number of key recommendations contained in the Thornton Hall Review Group Report are receiving priority attention in my Department and many are in the process of being implemented, most notably the introduction of an incentivised scheme for earned temporary release under which offenders who pose no threat to the community are offered early temporary release in return for supervised...

Written Answers — Garda Vetting Service: Garda Vetting Service (1 Dec 2011)

Alan Shatter: Certain courses offered by the Higher Education Institutions through the Central Applications Office (CAO) require students to undertake placements that bring them into contact with children or vulnerable adults. Before a student can undertake such a placement, he or she must be vetted by the Garda Central Vetting Unit. This is a standard requirement that applies to all employment involving...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (1 Dec 2011)

Alan Shatter: I wish to draw the Deputy's attention to my statement when I announced the Government's plan to merge the Human Rights Commission and Equality Authority earlier this year. At that time I stated that the new Human Rights and Equality Commission will unequivocally keep faith with the UN Paris Principles on national human rights institutions. The position has not changed since I made that statement.

Written Answers — Prison Accommodation: Prison Accommodation (1 Dec 2011)

Alan Shatter: The numbers and locations of prisoners as at 28 November 2011 are outlined in the following table. Institution Number in custody Mountjoy 591 Dóchas 128 St Patrick's 188 Cork 287 Limerick 328 Castlerea 360 Cloverhill 411 Wheatfield 656 Portlaoise 267 Arbour Hill 151 Midlands 582 Training Unit 106 Loughan House 128 Shelton Abbey 105 Total 4,288 Portlaoise is maximum security...

Written Answers — UN Conventions: UN Conventions (1 Dec 2011)

Alan Shatter: It is the Government's intention to ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities as quickly as possible, taking into account the need to ensure that all necessary legislative and administrative requirements under the Convention are being met. As the Deputy may be aware, Ireland does not become party to treaties until it is first in a position to comply with the...