Results 10,041-10,060 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Judicial Appointments (24 Oct 2012)

Alan Shatter: The Deputy should not be lead on this issue by a media which wants to present these appointments as outrageous and scandalous when they were actually on merit because of the excellence, independence of judgment and expertise that the individuals will bring to the Judiciary. That is a key and important issue. That has been the basis on which appointments have been made by the Government, as...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Judicial Appointments (24 Oct 2012)

Alan Shatter: It must be remembered those who are appointed, save in the cases of promotion, first came through the judicial appointments advisory board. It is important in a constitutional democracy that we have balance and accountability in these matters. The Government and the Minister of the day is accountable for appointments made, albeit the names come through the judicial appointments board....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Judicial Appointments (24 Oct 2012)

Alan Shatter: I know some Members, the general public and the media may disagree with decisions made or sentences imposed by the courts. However, they are occurring within an independent environment. There is no suggestion that our Judiciary is party politically biased in any shape or form. The problem with this dialogue is that it is based on the assumption they are and, therefore, we should change the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Judicial Appointments (24 Oct 2012)

Alan Shatter: I am not enthusiastic for a system that allows a body not to be accountable to Parliament making appointments with the Government playing no role. If that were to happen a constitutional referendum would be required. I suspect the general public may not be enthusiastic about that either.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Legal Services (24 Oct 2012)

Alan Shatter: I previously addressed this matter in my written reply to Question No. 450 of 16 October 2012 which I will, therefore, substantially revisit on this occasion. As the Deputy will be aware, the matters raised relate to the conveyancing conflicts of interest regulation which was adopted by the council of the Law Society of Ireland on 7 September 2012 with a view to its coming into effect on 1...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Legal Services (24 Oct 2012)

Alan Shatter: I put it to the Deputy that central to this issue are conflicts of interest. Central to this issue are certain legal practices that we saw during the boom years. The Deputy referred to some of those who were opposed to this. They were the larger legal practices, as opposed to the mid-range or smaller practices. They were opposed to it because they were doing work representing clients in...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Legal Services (24 Oct 2012)

Alan Shatter: The children do not need legal advice in those circumstances. If the circumstances involve a parent conveying a property to several children, it makes sense that the parent is represented by a lawyer who is entirely independent of the children. That makes sense because there is a risk an elderly parent could, in circumstances within a particular family, be under some level of duress to...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Legal Services (24 Oct 2012)

Alan Shatter: I come back to what I stated. Where there is one solicitor representing all, apart from the fact that the persons concerned do not get independent legal advice in those circumstances, the solicitor earns additional fees because he or she is representing all. In circumstances where there are different solicitors representing separate individuals, it guarantees those concerned that they will...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Restorative Justice (24 Oct 2012)

Alan Shatter: The Probation Service, in partnership with community based organisations, is engaged in the promotion, development and delivery of restorative justice initiatives. Extending the range of restorative justice schemes is a strategic priority for the Probation Service. As regards adult offenders, the Probation Service has expanded the restorative justice service based in Tallaght to the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Restorative Justice (24 Oct 2012)

Alan Shatter: I welcome what Deputy Mac Lochlainn said. From past exchanges on this issue, I am aware there is support from all sides of the House that we further develop and expand the restorative justice process. It is interesting to note the differences between the traditional approach and restorative justice. Of coarse, restorative justice is not appropriate in every circumstance but there are...

Other Questions: Criminal Prosecutions (24 Oct 2012)

Alan Shatter: The conviction rate for any given category of offence relates in the first instance to the outcome of the criminal prosecution process and the Deputy will appreciate that my role does not extend to the bringing of prosecutions, or indeed to the determination of guilt, which is a matter for the courts. However, I am of course concerned to ensure that the investigation and detection of fraud...

Other Questions: Human Rights and Equality Commission (24 Oct 2012)

Alan Shatter: I am entirely satisfied that all the elements of my proposals in relation to the establishment of the new Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, IHREC, as set out in the general scheme published last June, are fully in accordance with the Paris Principles, which are the set of rules or standards that relate to the accreditation of national human rights institutions for UN purposes....

Other Questions: Human Rights and Equality Commission (24 Oct 2012)

Alan Shatter: There has been some ill-informed and misinformed criticism of our proposals which has resulted in some individuals and some sections of the media being misled. It was always our intention, as announced, that a group of individuals, clearly independent of Government, would be appointed as a selection panel and they were so appointed. I do not know what other procedure the Deputy is...

Other Questions: Human Rights and Equality Commission (24 Oct 2012)

Alan Shatter: I was personally disappointed that the panel did not commence its work earlier. It was appointed in mid-July. I welcomed that the individuals who we requested to sit on the selection panel agreed to do so. I appreciate that it was a great burden for them and I was grateful to them for taking up the position. Unfortunately, instead of commencing their work and advertising in September as I...

Other Questions: Student Visas (24 Oct 2012)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 and 25 together. In line with the objectives of the programme for Government, my Department has been working on implementing the recommendations set out in the new immigration regime for full-time non-European Economic Area students which has been in operation since 1 January 2011. Before outlining the steps which have been taken to implement the new...

Other Questions: Student Visas (24 Oct 2012)

Alan Shatter: My Department is focused on increasing the numbers of students coming to this State for educational purposes. There are enormous benefits for the State in increasing the number, including from the impact on future economic relationships between Ireland and the various countries from which students come. The Government is taking a comprehensive approach to the student migration regime. The...

Other Questions: Student Visas (24 Oct 2012)

Alan Shatter: There is a long stretch between dealing with reform of the laws relating to prostitution and visas for students. As the Deputy knows, we are engaged in a consultative process on the report we published last June. We passed the report on to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality and it is engaged on that. I understand it either has held or will hold hearings on that...

Other Questions: Student Visas (24 Oct 2012)

Alan Shatter: They represent different perspectives and views on the best way forward legislatively. I value the feedback we will get as to the manner in which we should address this area.

Tribunal of Inquiry: Motion (24 Oct 2012)

Alan Shatter: I move:That Dáil Éireann resolves that the terms of reference contained in the Resolution passed by Dáil Éireann on 23 March, 2005 and by Seanad Éireann on 24 March, 2005, as amended by the Resolutions passed by Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann on 1 June, 2011, the Resolution passed by Dáil Éireann on 16 November, 2011 and by Seanad...

Tribunal of Inquiry: Motion (24 Oct 2012)

Alan Shatter: I thank all those who spoke and for their support for the motion. It is very important that this tribunal completes its work. It is unfortunate that a key witness is suffering ill-health and that is delaying matters because the tribunal has been sitting for a substantial period. I am very conscious of the bereaved families of the two RUC officers who so dreadfully lost their lives. We...