Results 8,481-8,500 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Written Answers — Prison Accommodation: Prison Accommodation (20 Jun 2012)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 32 and 130 together. There has been a consistent increase in the total prisoner population in Ireland over recent years. The problem of prison overcrowding therefore remains a challenging issue which unfortunately cannot be resolved overnight. Given the current number of prisoners in custody - 4,493 on 14th June 2012 - the Irish Prison Service is not in a...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (20 Jun 2012)

Alan Shatter: The annual financial allocation for the new body will fall to be determined in the light of the Budget for the relevant years and will be announced in that context in due course.

Written Answers — Firearms Licences: Firearms Licences (20 Jun 2012)

Alan Shatter: I can inform the Deputy that a new system for firearms licensing commenced on the 1st of August, 2009 with the commencement of the Criminal Justice Act 2006 and the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009. This radically changed the manner in which firearms are now licensed in the State. Included in these changes was the introduction of three year Firearm Certificates, with a...

Written Answers — State Visits: State Visits (20 Jun 2012)

Alan Shatter: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the number of visits by individuals or delegations during the years in question where security was provided by An Garda Síochána is as follows: Year Number of Visits 2009 207 2010 215 2011 169 While it would not be appropriate for me to comment in detail on the security arrangements for such visits I can say the Gardaí carry out a threat...

Written Answers — Liquor Licensing Laws: Liquor Licensing Laws (20 Jun 2012)

Alan Shatter: I can inform the Deputy that a range of strategies and legislative powers are employed by An Garda Síochána in order to respond to the situations referred to by the Deputy. In particular, the Garda Síochána Policing Plan for 2012 includes as key actions the reduction of public disorder and criminal damage through pro-active responses to public disorder including · identifying...

Written Answers — Educational Services for Prisoners: Educational Services for Prisoners (20 Jun 2012)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 37 and 132 together. The Deputy will be aware from my replies to previous Questions that the Irish Prison Service provides a wide range of rehabilitative programmes that include education, vocational training, healthcare, psychiatric, psychological, counselling, welfare and spiritual services. These programmes are available in all prisons and all prisoners...

Written Answers — Human Trafficking: Human Trafficking (20 Jun 2012)

Alan Shatter: In addition to the range of employment law enacted to protect workers from exploitation generally and the redress mechanisms for alleged breaches of employment law, the Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Act 2008 (which came into effect on 7 June 2008) criminalises the trafficking of persons for the purposes of labour exploitation (including domestic labour and agricultural labour). For the...

Written Answers — Court Accommodation: Court Accommodation (20 Jun 2012)

Alan Shatter: I wish to inform the Deputy that under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts, including the provision of accommodation for court sittings, is the responsibility of the Courts Service which is independent in exercising its functions. However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and have been informed by the Service that it...

Written Answers — Criminal Prosecutions: Criminal Prosecutions (20 Jun 2012)

Alan Shatter: The Garda Síochána Act 2005 makes provision for the compilation and publication of crime statistics by the Central Statistics Office, as the national statistical agency, and the CSO has established a dedicated unit for this purpose. I have requested the CSO to provide relevant statistics directly to the Deputy. I am also informed by my colleague the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and...

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (20 Jun 2012)

Alan Shatter: The Criminal Justice (Forensic Evidence and DNA Database System) Bill will provide for the establishment of a DNA database, a commitment in the Programme for Government. The database will assist the Garda Síochána in the investigation of crime and in finding and identifying missing and unknown persons. It will do so by providing the Gardaí with a source of high quality intelligence that...

Written Answers — Naturalisation Applications: Naturalisation Applications (20 Jun 2012)

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 July, 2011. The application is currently being processed with a view to establishing whether the applicant meets the statutory conditions for the granting of naturalisation,...

Written Answers — Guardian Status: Guardian Status (20 Jun 2012)

Alan Shatter: Persons who feel they have been discriminated against in access to services on the basis of their family status and/or civil status may avail of the redress mechanism provided under the Equal Status Acts 2000 to 2011 and refer a complaint to the Equality Tribunal. Information and advice is available from the Equality Authority in respect of this legislation and on making such complaints. In...

Written Answers — Rights of the Child: Rights of the Child (20 Jun 2012)

Alan Shatter: I will contact the Deputy directly in relation to this matter.

Written Answers — Rights of the Child: Rights of the Child (20 Jun 2012)

Alan Shatter: Section 28 of the Guardianship of Infants Act 1964, inserted by section 11 of the Children Act 1997, regarding appointment of a guardian ad litem for a child and provision for separate representation of the guardian ad litem, has not been commenced. Given the extensive costs which would fall on the Exchequer on the provision of a guardian ad litem service for children in family law...

Written Answers — Probation and Welfare Service: Probation and Welfare Service (20 Jun 2012)

Alan Shatter: The Probation Service is the lead agency in the assessment and management of offenders in the community. Their role is to work with offenders to challenge and change their behaviour and make good the harm done by their offending. Historically, the Probation Service did hold a role providing reports to the courts in respect of applications for custody and access. Relevant legislation, such...

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (20 Jun 2012)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 116 and 129 together. I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the strength of An Garda Síochána in all ranks on the 31 May 2012, the latest date for which figures are available, was as set out in the following table. Rank 31/05/2012 Commissioner 1 D/Commissioner 2 A/Commissioner 8 Chief Supt. 38 Superintendent 148 Inspector 284 Sergeant...

Written Answers — Traveller Community: Traveller Community (20 Jun 2012)

Alan Shatter: Consideration to recognising Travellers as an ethnic minority is ongoing and I intend that the question will be before the Government for decision as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Legal Aid Service: Legal Aid Service (20 Jun 2012)

Alan Shatter: I wish to inform the Deputy that although it is not specifically stated, I am assuming he is seeking the figures for the year 2011. As the Deputy will be aware, legal aid services within this State are divided into two separate categories, namely civil legal aid through the Legal Aid Board under the provisions of the Civil Legal Aid 1995 and criminal legal aid through the Courts and the...

Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (20 Jun 2012)

Alan Shatter: I will contact the Deputy directly in relation to this matter.

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (20 Jun 2012)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 120 to 123, inclusive, together. The Deputy will appreciate that I have no function in relation to the incident alleged to have occurred in Banbridge. Neither I nor An Garda Síochána have information to support the allegations relating to this jurisdiction. There is, of course, no question of members of the PSNI or the British Army having lawful authority...