Results 5,981-6,000 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Written Answers — Ministerial Appointments: Ministerial Appointments (13 Dec 2011)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 358 and 360 together. In response to the Deputy's question, Áine Kilroy was appointed as my Special Advisor on 18/4/2011 and was placed on the first point of the salary scale appropriate for the position i.e. €80,051. Her salary has not changed since she was appointed. Ms Kilroy provides general policy advice to me on a range of areas including...

Departmental Staff (14 Dec 2011)

Alan Shatter: I thank the Deputy for his interest in this matter, one about which Deputy Coonan was in contact with me earlier this week. The Garda central vetting unit provides employment vetting for a large number of organisations registered with the Garda for this purpose and which employ or engage persons in a full-time, part-time, voluntary or training capacity to positions where they would have...

Departmental Staff (14 Dec 2011)

Alan Shatter: I emphasise there is no question of people being displaced by those on the internship scheme. I expect the Deputy would welcome the usage of the scheme, as it will specifically give some unemployed people in his constituency an opportunity to gain skills and competencies to re-enter the workforce in the difficult circumstances that exist in the context of the large number of individuals...

Written Answers — Registration of Title: Registration of Title (14 Dec 2011)

Alan Shatter: I wish to inform the Deputy that under the Registration of Deeds and Title Act 2006, the Property Registration Authority (PRA) was established as and from 4 November 2006. The PRA replaces the Registrar of Deeds and Titles as the registering authority in relation to property registration in Ireland and, subject to the above Act, is independent in the performance of its functions. I am not...

Written Answers — Court Accommodation: Court Accommodation (14 Dec 2011)

Alan Shatter: Under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service. The Act provides that the Service is independent in the performance of its functions, which includes the provision and management of accommodation. However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and the Courts Service has informed me that...

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (14 Dec 2011)

Alan Shatter: In making his recommendations on the closure of the Garda stations, the Garda Commissioner concluded that Garda resources could be better deployed and more effectively used on the frontline if these particular stations no longer had to be staffed and maintained. The Garda Commissioner has reiterated the commitment of An Garda Síochána to providing a professional and effective service to the...

Written Answers — Crime Prevention: Crime Prevention (14 Dec 2011)

Alan Shatter: Regulation of the scrap metal industry is not a matter within my Department's remit. The regulation of waste activities is, of course, relevant to the industry. Such activities require authorisation in accordance with the Waste Management Act 1996; the terms of such authorisations are primarily derived from requirements of EU Directives on waste and specific waste streams such as end of...

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (14 Dec 2011)

Alan Shatter: I am informed by the Garda authorities that Operation Freewheel commenced in 2010 and has focused on offences contrary to sections 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 of the Criminal Law Sexual Offences Act 1993. It is an ongoing, multi-phase investigation, devised in response to both identified crime trends and specific complaints of brothel and street-based prostitution from residents and the business...

Written Answers — Judicial Appointments: Judicial Appointments (14 Dec 2011)

Alan Shatter: There are seven judicial vacancies at present; four in the Circuit Court and three in the District Court. The current procedures are set out in the Courts and Court Officers Act, 1995. In accordance with the provisions of section 16(2) of that Act, I have requested the Judicial Appointments Advisory Board to furnish me with the names of those persons it considers suitable for the current...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (14 Dec 2011)

Alan Shatter: The information sought by the Deputy is set out in the following table. It should be noted that in some cases there were changes in the post holders over the five year period in question. Position Year Salary applicable to the incumbent as at year end Secretary General 2007 €241,414 2008 €228,271* 2009 €228,271* 2010 €214,187* 2011 €190,000 * inclusive of voluntary...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (14 Dec 2011)

Alan Shatter: The Visa Office, Abu Dhabi which is based in the Irish Embassy in Abu Dhabi, is run by staff of my Department on secondment to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. It handles all aspects of visa applications, of all types, for visa required nationals (including appeals) legally resident in the United Arab Emirates. The office also deals with visa applications from the following...

Written Answers — Lawful Interception: Lawful Interception (14 Dec 2011)

Alan Shatter: By way of general information, the lawful interception of telecommunications and postal packets is governed by the Interception of Postal Packets and Telecommunications Messages (Regulation) Act, 1993. It is not the practice and would be contrary to the effectiveness of lawful interception to comment on matters pertaining to the operation of this legislation.

Written Answers — Garda Vetting of Personnel: Garda Vetting of Personnel (14 Dec 2011)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 189 and 190 together. I am informed by the Garda authorities that the average processing time for Garda vetting applications at the Garda Central Vetting Unit (GCVU) at present is 5 weeks. This is a significant improvement on the average processing time of 12 weeks at the end of last year. All organisations registered for Garda Vetting are aware of the...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (14 Dec 2011)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 191 to 193, inclusive, together. I meet regularly with my Northern Ireland counterpart, Minister of Justice, David Ford, and we have developed a close working relationship. One of my first actions as Minister was to travel to Belfast to meet with Minister Ford. The Garda Commissioner and the Chief Constable of the PSNI accompanied us at that meeting and...

Written Answers — Garda Transport: Garda Transport (14 Dec 2011)

Alan Shatter: The Office Holder fleet consists of a number of vehicles comprising mainly Audi, BMW, Lexus and Mercedes cars. Office Holder cars are currently placed at the disposal of the President, An Taoiseach, An Tánaiste, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence, the Chief Justice and the Director of Public Prosecutions. I am advised by the Garda authorities that the estimated cost of...

Written Answers — Garda Disciplinary Proceedings: Garda Disciplinary Proceedings (14 Dec 2011)

Alan Shatter: A review of the Garda Síochána (Discipline) Regulations 2007 is underway. It is anticipated that the review will be completed in 2012 and new regulations introduced thereafter.

Written Answers — Garda Recruitment: Garda Recruitment (14 Dec 2011)

Alan Shatter: A review of the Garda Síochána (Admission & Appointments) Regulations 1988 - 2005 is underway. It is anticipated that the review will be completed in 2012 and new regulations introduced thereafter.

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (14 Dec 2011)

Alan Shatter: There are currently over 2,000 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. In...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (14 Dec 2011)

Alan Shatter: The heads of a new Bill to reform and consolidate the Prevention of Corruption Acts 1889 to 2010 are currently being developed with a view to being brought to Government for approval and publication in the first half of 2012. The systems for reporting corruption and protecting those who report corruption are being examined as part of the process of developing the new legislation.

Written Answers — Criminal Prosecutions: Criminal Prosecutions (14 Dec 2011)

Alan Shatter: I am advised by the Garda authorities that in the period since the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009 was enacted on 23 July 2009 up to 30 November 2011, the legislation has been used on 160 occasions where arrests have been made relating to organised crime activity. To date, eight individuals have been charged under the provisions. Two persons have been charged under Section 71A of the...