Results 8,401-8,420 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (19 Jun 2012)

Alan Shatter: I am aware of reports in the media that, in the context of the reform of defamation law in the UK, the Secretary of State for Justice is considering the introduction of measures to require the operators of websites to respond effectively to claims by persons that they had been defamed by postings on websites. The law on defamation in this State was comprehensively reformed in the Defamation...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (19 Jun 2012)

Alan Shatter: The visa applications referred to by the Deputy were received in the Visa Office, Dublin on the 18 April 2012. Following full consideration it was the decision of the visa officer not to grant the visas sought for a range of reasons. Evidence provided in relation to finances was deemed insufficient or incomplete. No evidence of finances or income was supplied. Insufficient documentation...

Written Answers — Garda Vetting of Personnel: Garda Vetting of Personnel (19 Jun 2012)

Alan Shatter: There is no record in my Department of any submission or representation from this organisation along the lines outlined in the Deputy's question. The Garda Central Vetting Unit (GCVU) provides employment vetting for over 19,000 organisations in Ireland who are registered with the Gardaí for this purpose and which employ/engage persons in a full-time, part-time, voluntary or training...

Written Answers — State Agencies: State Agencies (19 Jun 2012)

Alan Shatter: I wish to inform the Deputy that given their very nature the organisations referred to, unlike my Department's agencies, do not come under the remit of my Department. Consequently, my Department does not keep and I am unable to provide the information requested by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (19 Jun 2012)

Alan Shatter: In developing proposals for a Family Law Bill to meet the commitment in the Programme for Government to modernise and reform aspects of family law, my Department is reviewing the operation of the in camera rule in family law cases. Interested parties will be consulted in the matter. In relation to the Bill generally, proposals are being advanced as quickly as possible, subject to the...

Written Answers — Garda Resources: Garda Resources (19 Jun 2012)

Alan Shatter: The Deputy will be aware that the Commissioner is responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, throughout the organisation and I have no function in that matter. This allocation of resources is constantly monitored in the context of crime trends, policing needs and other operational strategies in place on a District, Divisional and Regional level to ensure...

Written Answers — Asylum Seeker Accommodation: Asylum Seeker Accommodation (19 Jun 2012)

Alan Shatter: The Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) of my Department is responsible for the accommodation of asylum seekers in accordance with the Government policy of direct provision and dispersal. On 10 June 2012, there were 5,120 persons being accommodated in 37 centres across the State. Details of the numbers accommodated on a centre-by-centre basis in 2010, 2011 and 2012 are provided in the...

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (19 Jun 2012)

Alan Shatter: In reaching a decision on the closure of Garda stations, the Commissioner reviewed all aspects of the Garda Síochána's policing model, including the deployment of personnel, the utilisation of modern technologies and the level of activity in Garda Stations. The key objective of the station closures is to promote the more efficient and effective deployment of resources rather than secure...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (19 Jun 2012)

Alan Shatter: The person concerned and his family entered the State on 10 September, 2004 and lodged asylum applications. Their asylum applications were considered by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner and the Refugee Appeals Tribunal. Both bodies concluded that the persons concerned did not meet the criteria for recognition as refugees. Arising from the refusal of their respective...

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (19 Jun 2012)

Alan Shatter: I have requested a report from the Garda authorities in relation to the matter referred to by the Deputy. I will contact the Deputy again when the report is to hand.

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (19 Jun 2012)

Alan Shatter: Under the Garda Síochána Acts 2005 - 2007, the Commissioner is required to submit, before November of each year, a policing plan for the forthcoming year. Any proposals for the closure of Garda stations or the altering of Regional or Divisional boundaries must be set out in the plan. The Policing Plan for 2013 has not yet been prepared and therefore it is not possible to say at this stage...

Written Answers — Personal Insolvency Bill: Personal Insolvency Bill (19 Jun 2012)

Alan Shatter: The Personal Insolvency Bill is currently being drafted by my Department in cooperation with the Office of the Attorney General and Parliamentary Counsel. This is a very lengthy and complex Bill from a legal standpoint, with proposed provisions which do not currently exist in Irish law. While it was hoped that the Bill would be published by 30 April, work on its development is still...

Written Answers — Closed Circuit Television Systems: Closed Circuit Television Systems (19 Jun 2012)

Alan Shatter: I am informed by the Garda authorities that four Garda Stations currently have fully commissioned and operational internal Audio/Visual CCTV systems installed. The systems cover public areas and custody areas but cameras are not located in individual cells. Station No of Cameras Operational date Store Street 10 17/03/2005 Pearse Street 11 17/03/2005 Bridewell Prisoner custody area 31...

Written Answers — Inquiries into Garda Activities: Inquiries into Garda Activities (19 Jun 2012)

Alan Shatter: In its annual reports, the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission publishes an analysis of allegations made against members of the Garda Síochána. Copies of each year's annual report are laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas. In the report for 2011, for example, which was published last week, this analysis gives details of the "allegation location", this being the physical place where...

Written Answers — Judicial Pay: Judicial Pay (19 Jun 2012)

Alan Shatter: The Deputy may be aware that, following the decision of the People in the Referendum on the Twenty Ninth Amendment of the Constitution, the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Amendment) Act, 2011 was introduced by my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. That legislation, which was passed by both Houses of the Oireachtas and signed into law on 19th...

Written Answers — Personal Insolvency Bill: Personal Insolvency Bill (19 Jun 2012)

Alan Shatter: The Deputy will appreciate that as the Personal Insolvency Bill has yet to be published, it would neither be possible nor appropriate at this point for me to comment on any particular potential insolvency scenario that might arise. In any event the Deputy will have an opportunity to raise this matter during the debate on the Bill when it comes before the House in the very near future.

Written Answers — Defence Forces Reserve: Defence Forces Reserve (19 Jun 2012)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 522 and 523 together. Recruitment to the Reserve Defence Force (RDF) is ongoing but limited due to resource constraints. The current budgetary provision provides for approximately 30,000 paid training mandays. In 2011 and 2012, I sanctioned paid training mandays to include support for the training of new recruits to the RDF. This was sufficient to train...

Written Answers — Military Archives: Military Archives (19 Jun 2012)

Alan Shatter: There were on average twenty one members of the public visiting the Archives per week in 2011. The Archive also received on average sixty phone calls and thirty five letters and emails per week in 2011. Following the launch of the website www.militaryarchives.ie in December 2011 the average number of emails has more than doubled while there has been a 30-40% increase in phone calls. The...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Reserve: Defence Forces Reserve (19 Jun 2012)

Alan Shatter: A Value for Money Review (VFM) of the Reserve Defence Force is ongoing and the recommendations arising from this review will inform future plans for the Reserve. The Steering Committee met most recently on the 6th June last, and drafting of the Review is continuing. I have asked the Steering Committee to progress the Review as quickly as possible and I anticipate its completion by the end...

Written Answers — Ministerial Transport: Ministerial Transport (19 Jun 2012)

Alan Shatter: The Ministerial Air Transport Service (MATS) is primarily provided by the Gulfstream IV and Learjet 45 aircraft, which were specifically acquired for that purpose. Whilst these aircraft are primarily used for the MATS, from time to time they are also assigned a range of military and other taskings including Air Ambulance missions, humanitarian operations and support for Search and Rescue,...