Results 10,061-10,080 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Inspector of Prisons Reports (24 Oct 2012)

Alan Shatter: The Deputy will be aware that I published the Inspector's Report last week. I also published the Irish Prison Service's Action Plan for implementing the Inspector's recommendations. The report raises serious issues and major concerns including weak management, behaviour of some prison staff, the culture in the prison, the inattention to human rights norms, prisoners on protection and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Court Procedures (24 Oct 2012)

Alan Shatter: The Deputy will be aware that the Government recently approved in principle my proposals for reforms to our courts structures which will, in due course, require the holding of a Constitutional referendum. The proposed reforms are intended, if approved in a referendum, to facilitate the establishment of a new separate Family Courts structure which will streamline family law court processes...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Proposed Legislation (24 Oct 2012)

Alan Shatter: The Privacy Bill 2006 was restored to the Order Paper of the Seanad in June 2006 at my request. In restoring the Bill to the Order Paper, my intention was to examine its provisions and to make any necessary changes and updating to the text. The previous Government had left the Bill on the Order Paper to give adequate time, first, to assess the effectiveness of the Press Council in dealing...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Operations (24 Oct 2012)

Alan Shatter: I am informed by the Garda authorities that Operation Fiacla is running for 12 months initially, with effect from February 2012. The Operation is the subject of regular monitoring and review by senior Garda management and is focused on identifying and targeting gangs involved in burglaries around the country so as to disrupt their activities and bring them before the Courts. Operation...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Investigations (24 Oct 2012)

Alan Shatter: I am advised by the Garda authorities that the examination referred to by the Deputy is ongoing. The Commissioner has assured me that each and every line of inquiry is being or will be pursued. Upon receipt of a final report from the Commissioner I will review the situation. I understand that the officers carrying out the examination are continuing to keep the family members of the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Press Standards (24 Oct 2012)

Alan Shatter: I take it that the Deputy is referring to regulation in regard to the law on defamation which falls within my area of responsibility. Regulation of the broadcast media or issues in regard to ownership of media do not fall within my Department's area of responsibility. I have no particular plans at this time in regard to regulation of the print media. A review of the operations of the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Investigations (24 Oct 2012)

Alan Shatter: The murder of Garda Richard Fallon was a terrible tragedy for his family and I want to, again, express my deepest sympathy to them. On top of that personal tragedy, his murder was also an event that can only be described as a heinous crime carried out by ruthless individuals. As the Deputy will be aware, this case is currently being examined by An Garda Síochána’s Serious...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Proposed Legislation (24 Oct 2012)

Alan Shatter: I refer the Deputy to my response to Question No. 221 of 17 October 2012 in which I said the following: "The Programme for Government contains a commitment to introduce a Bill that is in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The Bill is at an advanced stage of drafting. Work is ongoing to properly align the provisions of the Bill with the principles...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Services (24 Oct 2012)

Alan Shatter: I have previously addressed this matter in my reply to Priority Question number 4 of todays date, to which I would draw the Deputy's attention. The matters raised relate to the Conveyancing Conflicts of Interest Regulation which was adopted by the Council of the Law Society on 7 September 2012 with a view to it coming into effect on 1 January 2013. The Law Society is the independent...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Accommodation (24 Oct 2012)

Alan Shatter: I can advise the Deputy that there were 4,340 prisoners in custody on 22 October, 2012 against a bed capacity of 4,369 which represents an occupancy level of 99%. As the Deputy will be aware from my replies to previous Parliamentary Questions, the Irish Prison Service provides a wide range of rehabilitative programmes that include education, vocational training, healthcare, psychiatric,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Seeker Accommodation (24 Oct 2012)

Alan Shatter: The Reception and Integration agency of the Department of Justice and Equality is responsible for the accommodation of asylum seekers in accordance with the Government policy of direct provision. RIA is required to review its accommodation portfolio on an ongoing basis to reflect current and projected demand for bed spaces. There has in recent years been a consistent downward trend in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Child Detention Centres (24 Oct 2012)

Alan Shatter: I can advise the Deputy that on 20th September 2012 there were 20 seventeen year old prisoners in custody in St Patrick's Institution, 7 of which were held on remand. As you will be aware the Government committed, in the Programme for Government to remove 16 and 17 year old offenders completely from the adult prison system. In this context, the practice of sending 16 year old boys to St...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Operations (24 Oct 2012)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 21 and 22 together. I have been advised that the persons to whom the question relates have initiated legal proceedings in the matter and, accordingly, it would be inappropriate for me to comment at this time.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Charities and Voluntary Organisations (24 Oct 2012)

Alan Shatter: High standards of corporate governance should apply in the charities sector as in any other. Government policy in this area aims to support and encourage best practice. An aspect of particular importance is charity fundraising. To support best practice in this regard, my Department is currently providing grant funding to a project managed by umbrella charities organisation Irish Charities Tax...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Property Services Regulation (24 Oct 2012)

Alan Shatter: The Property Services Regulatory Authority was formally established on 3 April 2012 pursuant to the Property Services (Regulation) Act 2011. The Authority consists of a Chairperson and ten ordinary members. The Authority was established to control, supervise and regulate Property Service Providers (i.e. Auctioneers/Estate Agents, Letting Agents and Management Agents) and to set and enforce...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Stations (24 Oct 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 direct function in the 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 — Department of Justice and Equality: Proposed Legislation (24 Oct 2012)

Alan Shatter: The requirement that a court may grant a dissolution of marriage only where the spouses have lived apart for four of the previous five years is prescribed in Article 41.3.2 of the Constitution. I have no plans to bring forward proposals for a constitutional amendment on this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Anti-Social Behaviour (24 Oct 2012)

Alan Shatter: I am informed by the Garda authorities that during the Halloween period appropriate policing measures are put in place in every Garda Division and District through Operation Tombola. Operational orders are prepared in every Garda Region, in particular in the Dublin Metropolitan Region and Border Divisions, to prevent and detect the organised importation for sale of fireworks and police the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Transport (24 Oct 2012)

Alan Shatter: The Deputy will appreciate that the withdrawal of Garda vehicles from service is an on-going process. In the overall context I am very pleased that arrangements have been put in place, with special funding being made available for that purpose, to allow the Garda authorities to purchase a significant number of new vehicles. This has been done at a time of severe budgetary constrains and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Juvenile Offenders (24 Oct 2012)

Alan Shatter: The Deputy will be aware that I published the Inspector's Report last week. I also published the Irish Prison Service's Action Plan for implementing the Inspector's recommendations. The report raises serious issues and major concerns including weak management, behaviour of some prison staff, the culture in the prison, the inattention to human rights norms, prisoners on protection and...