Results 9,481-9,500 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Road Traffic Offences (25 Sep 2012)

Alan Shatter: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the charges referred to by the Deputy are currently provided for under the Road Traffic Act 1994 (Detention of Vehicles) Regulations 2011. These Regulations fall within the remit of my colleague the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport and I understand that they came into operation on 15 September 2011.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Reserve (25 Sep 2012)

Alan Shatter: The Garda Síochána Act 2005 provides for the establishment of the Garda Reserve. The first intake to the Garda Reserve in Templemore Garda College was on 30 September 2006. Members of the Garda Reserve provide invaluable services to the organisation and its current strength is now just over 1,000. I would like to place on record my appreciation of the members of the Reserve who...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Recruitment (25 Sep 2012)

Alan Shatter: As the Deputy will be aware, public expenditure must be reduced to a sustainable level. This means, among other things, reducing expenditure on public service pay, whether by reducing headcount or otherwise. This is particularly so in those public service bodies where pay forms an especially large part of overall expenditure, such as the Garda Síochána where 90% of expenditure is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (25 Sep 2012)

Alan Shatter: I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that as of the 31 August 2012, the latest date for which figures are readily available, there were 13,531 Gardaí, just over 1000 Reserve Gardaí and over 2,000 civilian staff in the Garda Síochána. A breakdown of Garda strength in each Garda Division is in the table attached. The Deputy will note that some Garda Divisions...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (25 Sep 2012)

Alan Shatter: I am advised by officials in the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) that the person referred to by the Deputy lodged an application for a permanent residence card (EU3) on 3rd September 2012 under the European Communities (Free Movement of Persons) Regulations 2006 and 2008. Regulation 16 of the Regulations provides that a non-EEA national family member of a Union citizen...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Applications (25 Sep 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 — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (25 Sep 2012)

Alan Shatter: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the area referred to is located in the Clontarf Garda Sub-District. The local Garda management is aware of the circumstances referred to and is providing appropriate responses. I am further informed that a dedicated Community Garda is assigned to this specific area and is aware of the incidents in question. The Community Garda regularly patrols...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Proposed Legislation (25 Sep 2012)

Alan Shatter: Difficulties experienced by property owners arising from trees and high hedges on neighbouring land were raised in the Dáil and Seanad during passage of the Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Act 2009. My Department consulted on the matter with the Law Reform Commission, which had been involved in drafting the 2009 Act, and it took the view that unreasonable interference caused by high...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Judicial Appointments (25 Sep 2012)

Alan Shatter: As the Deputy will be aware, Article 35.4.1°of the Constitution provides that "A judge of the Supreme Court or the High Court shall not be removed from office except for stated misbehaviour or incapacity, and then only upon resolutions passed by Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann calling for his removal". Short of removal from office following such an impeachment process,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (25 Sep 2012)

Alan Shatter: I wish to inform the Deputy that a decision has issued in respect of the visa application referred to. The visa application was submitted to the Irish Embassy in Belgrade on 18 May 2012. It was received in the Visa Office in Dublin for processing on 6 June 2012. A decision was made on the application on 20 September 2012. While applicants are advised to make their visa application at...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Court Procedures (25 Sep 2012)

Alan Shatter: Section 15 of the Fines Act 2010, which has not yet been commenced, provides for the payment of fines by instalments. To avail of this facility, a person must apply to the court and the court must be satisfied that requiring the person to pay the fine in full by the due date would impose undue hardship. It is not an automatic facility open to all persons on whom fines are imposed. The...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Investigations (25 Sep 2012)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 323 and 324 together. I am informed by the Garda authorities that during the last three years, there have been a number of human bone and skull finds off the coast of counties Wexford and Waterford. Inquiries to establish the identity of the human remains referred to by the Deputy have not yielded any positive results to date. Consideration is now being...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Proposed Legislation (25 Sep 2012)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 325 and 326 together. In June of this year, and as part of a review, I published a discussion document on the future direction of legislation on prostitution. The document was referred to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality, which has been asked to report back to me by the end of November. The public submissions referred to by the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (25 Sep 2012)

Alan Shatter: I have no plans for any general scheme to legalise the residency of undocumented and illegally present foreign nationals in this State. It is the responsibility of all non-EEA nationals who are resident in Ireland to ensure that they have an appropriate permission from the Minister for Justice and Equality. Individuals who do not have a permission to be in the State are liable to be subject...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Alcohol Sales Legislation (25 Sep 2012)

Alan Shatter: The position is that during my discussions earlier this year with the Minister for Social Development in Northern Ireland, Nelson McCausland, MLA, we agreed on the desirability of developing a joint North/South approach to restricting certain alcohol promotions and on the need to have the necessary arrangements in place by the end of this year. The Department of Social Development in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Staff Numbers (25 Sep 2012)

Alan Shatter: My Department continues to grant leave of absence in the form of Career Breaks and leave under the Shorter Working Year Scheme. Other forms of unpaid leave are also widely availed of such as Parental leave, special unpaid leave for domestic reasons and study purposes. My Department also facilitates worksharing arrangements where possible.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Liquor Licensing Laws (25 Sep 2012)

Alan Shatter: As the Deputy will recall, some of the information requested previously could not be obtained in the time available. I am now informed by the Garda authorities that the following table sets out the number of proceedings commenced and convictions recorded for the offence of trading without a licence contrary to Section 7 of the Intoxicating Liquor (General) Act 1924, each year from 2007 to...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: School Accommodation (25 Sep 2012)

Alan Shatter: The Curragh Post Primary School comes under the auspices of County Kildare VEC. My Department and the military authorities are not currently engaged in discussion with the Department of Education or Kildare VEC in relation to improved accommodation or the provision of second level education in general in the Curragh Camp. Discussions did take place in recent years between officials of my...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Commemorative Events (25 Sep 2012)

Alan Shatter: There had been a suggestion for a commemorative medal to be issued to all serving members of the Defence Forces in 2013. However, having reviewed the matter, it has now been decided not to progress it further. While I welcome the suggestion in relation to a proposed “Old Soldiers Day”, it is not proposed to introduce a new military ceremonial event in the current economic climate.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Strength (25 Sep 2012)

Alan Shatter: Arising from the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure which reported at the end of 2011, I secured the agreement of the Government to stabilise the strength of the Permanent Defence Force at 9,500 personnel. However, at this strength ceiling, the organisational structures that had been in place for a strength ceiling of 11,500 personnel were no longer viable. Accordingly, I initiated a major...