Results 10,081-10,100 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Upward Only Rent Reviews (24 Oct 2012)

Alan Shatter: The primary responsibility which I have in relation to this matter relates to possible legislative intervention to ban upward only rent reviews in existing commercial leases. The Deputy will recall that following extensive consideration of this matter, the Government announced in December last that it had decided not to proceed with such legislation. There was a substantial concern that...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Road Traffic Offences (24 Oct 2012)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 32 and 37 together. My Department is reviewing certain allegations which have been made in recent correspondence concerning the enforcement of road traffic law by the Garda Síochána, and it would not be appropriate for me to comment further on them at this stage.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (24 Oct 2012)

Alan Shatter: I have been made aware of the motion the Deputy is referring to and I am advised that it was defeated. The Irish Short-stay Visa Waiver Programme, which was devised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department, commenced on 1 July, 2011 and was originally scheduled to run on a pilot basis until the end of October, 2012. It allows tourists or business people who...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Illicit Drugs Trade (24 Oct 2012)

Alan Shatter: An Garda Síochána continues to prioritise organised crime and the sale and supply of drugs as a core focus for 2012, through the Garda Síochána Policing Plan. Multi-agency approaches have been, and continue to be, used by An Garda Síochána whereby all of the National Units including the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Garda National Drugs Unit and...

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

Alan Shatter: The provision and allocation of Garda resources, including transport, is a matter for the Garda Commissioner in the context of his operational requirements. In turn, at Garda Divisional level, the allocation of Garda vehicles is a matter for the Chief Superintendent who may make and revise arrangements for the deployment of vehicles throughout a Division in response to policing demands. This...

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

Alan Shatter: The Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) of the Department of Justice and Equality is responsible for the accommodation of asylum seekers in accordance with the Government policy of direct provision. At end September, 2012, RIA was providing accommodation and ancillary services to 4,965 asylum seekers at 36 accommodation centres throughout the State. The Direct Provision system is unique...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: DNA Database (24 Oct 2012)

Alan Shatter: The Government is committed to the early establishment of a DNA Database to assist the Garda Síochána in the investigation of crime. The Criminal Justice (Forensic Evidence and DNA Database System) Bill, which will provide for the establishment and operation of the database, is currently being drafted and I expect to be in a position to publish the Bill this session with a view to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Time Zones (24 Oct 2012)

Alan Shatter: I wish to inform the Deputy that my Department has not held discussions with either our British or other European counterparts in relation to changing our time zone since June 2011. I can further inform the Deputy that a report entitled Review of the scope, quality and robustness of available evidence regarding putting the clocks forward by one hour, the year round, in the UK was prepared...

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

Alan Shatter: I am informed by the Garda authorities that they are currently reviewing the report referred to by the Deputy. I also understand that the question of roadside impairment testing of drivers for drug use is currently under examination within the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport who have responsibility for road traffic legislation. There is ongoing liaison between my Department, An...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Levels (24 Oct 2012)

Alan Shatter: While the incidence of crime is generally lower in rural than in urban areas, I am very conscious of the deep distress which burglary and similar crimes can cause to householders in rural areas, and the broader impact it can have in terms of fear of crime in our communities. I also share the widespread outrage at incidents of aggravated burglary in rural areas and am confident that the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Personal Insolvency Bill (24 Oct 2012)

Alan Shatter: I appreciate the sentiments behind the Deputy's proposal in seeking to consider the best approach to the duration of the debt resolution arrangements to be provided under the Personal Insolvency Bill 2012. However, I could not consider at this point, such a radical shortening as the Deputy proposes of the various durations of the debt resolution arrangements as contained in the Bill. I do...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (24 Oct 2012)

Alan Shatter: EU nationals enjoy Free Movement Rights in Ireland and no quotas apply.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Parking Regulations (24 Oct 2012)

Alan Shatter: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the location is a residential road within the Clontarf Garda Sub-District in which the majority of houses do not have a driveway and avail of on-street parking. I am further informed that local Garda management have received no specific complaints in respect of the vehicles referred to by the Deputy and there is currently no issue of concern...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (24 Oct 2012)

Alan Shatter: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) that an application for a certificate of naturalisation was received from the person referred to by the Deputy in July, 2010. The application is currently being processed with a view to establishing whether the applicant meets the statutory conditions for the granting of naturalisation, such as good character and lawful...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (24 Oct 2012)

Alan Shatter: I am informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) that a non EEA national married to an EU citizen is registered with a stamp 4 EU FAM. A non EEA national married to an Irish national is registered with a Stamp 4. The non-EEA spouse of an EU citizen exercising EU Treaty rights in accordance with the European Communities (Free Movement of Persons) Regulations 2006 and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Bodies (24 Oct 2012)

Alan Shatter: My Department does not have a unit that deals exclusively with North-South issues. Work in relation to North-South co-operation, which arises primarily in the context of criminal justice co-operation, is carried out across a range of Divisions in my Department depending on the nature of the work involved.

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

Alan Shatter: Garda stations closed under the 2012 Garda Síochána Annual Policing Plan form part of the portfolio of State properties owned and maintained by the Office of Public Works. Accordingly, it is for that Office to decide on the future of these properties and I do not have a role in relation to the matter.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Employment Appeals Tribunal (24 Oct 2012)

Alan Shatter: Disputes about entitlements under the Maternity Protection Acts, the Parental Leave Acts and the Adoptive Leave Acts are referred in the first instance to a rights commissioner. Decisions of a rights commissioner are subject to appeal to the Employment Appeals Tribunal. There is no further appeal other than to the High Court on a point of law. Decisions of a rights commissioner or a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Rehabilitation Programmes (24 Oct 2012)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 189 to 191, inclusive, together. As I have said before in response to previous Questions, 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...

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

Alan Shatter: Where a young person under the age of 18 comes into conflict with the law the principles of the Children Act, 2001 apply. It requires the various authorities within the youth justice system to apply incrementally a series of measures, ranging from diversion to community sanctions, and with detention as a last resort. The first measure is the Garda Diversion Programme. The objective of the...