Results 11,001-11,020 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Aid Service (6 Dec 2012)

Alan Shatter: I wish to inform the Deputy that I have no function or responsibility in relation to the matter raised. Under the terms of the Civil Legal Aid Act 1995, as passed by the Oireachtas, the Legal Aid Board is independent in the operation of its functions and decisions on individual cases are a matter for the Board. Under Section 7(3) of the Act, I am precluded from exercising any power or...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (6 Dec 2012)

Alan Shatter: The Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) informs me that the first named person was originally granted permission to remain in the State based on her marriage to an Irish national on 31 August 2009 for an initial period of 12 months renewable with her local registration office. The INIS informs me that her permission expired on 15/08/2012 and that no application for renewal of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (6 Dec 2012)

Alan Shatter: The person concerned is a failed asylum applicant. Arising from the refusal of her asylum application, and in accordance with the provisions of Section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended), the person concerned was notified, by letter dated 26th March, 2009, that the then Minister proposed to make a Deportation Order in respect of her. She was given the options, to be exercised within...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel (6 Dec 2012)

Alan Shatter: As of 31 October 2012 there were 141 women serving above the rank of Second Lieutenant in the Defence Forces. Of these, 50 were Lieutenants, 57 were Captains, 32 were Commandants and 2 were Lieutenant Colonels. The Government is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for men and women throughout the Defence Forces and to the full participation by women in all aspects of Defence Forces...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Correspondence (6 Dec 2012)

Alan Shatter: Departmental records show that all correspondence received on behalf of the person to whom the Deputy refers has been responded to. If the Deputy is aware of specific correspondence that person feels requires a further response, and he brings this to my attention, I will ensure that it is dealt with as expeditiously as possible.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Stations (11 Dec 2012)

Alan Shatter: The policing plan for 2013, which I laid before the House last week, outlines the Garda Commissioner's proposals for the continued reorganisation and consolidation of the Garda station and district network. Until this year, the Garda station network was essentially the same as the RIC network which obtained in 1922. Such a large-scale static deployment of resources is no longer appropriate,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Stations (11 Dec 2012)

Alan Shatter: The Deputy should not try to engage in name-calling or use political bombast in order to cover up the reality that when in government, his party signed up to the agreement with the troika-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Stations (11 Dec 2012)

Alan Shatter: -----and to reducing the numbers within the Garda Síochána to 13,000 by the end of 2013. In addition, his party did not have the courage and commitment to reform the Garda station infrastructure and network. Is the Deputy seriously suggesting that it would be in the interests of good policing for us to retain a police station network and a Garda structure based on decisions...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Stations (11 Dec 2012)

Alan Shatter: In so far as the Deputy is alleging that there will be any diminution of Garda services, I must inform him that this has not been the case in the context of the closures that have occurred to date. There will instead be an enhanced service on offer as a result of the fact that members of the force will be available to communities. Unlike my predecessor, I have made resources available....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Stations (11 Dec 2012)

Alan Shatter: We are now having a debate on the matter. I am sorry if the Deputy is so agitated and excited that he thinks it is cowardly of me to answer his questions-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Stations (11 Dec 2012)

Alan Shatter: I think the wider community has far greater insight than the Deputy. The wider community understands a number of facts. People understand that we have an agreement with the troika on which we are dependent for public funding.-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Stations (11 Dec 2012)

Alan Shatter: I do not interrupt the Deputy. Perhaps he would do me the-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Stations (11 Dec 2012)

Alan Shatter: The Deputy seems to believe it adds to the credibility of what he says if he just shouts across the floor. I ask the Deputy to do me the courtesy of allowing me to respond to him. The facts are quite simple. We are dependent on the troika. The agreement was entered into by his party. It envisages a substantial reduction in public expenditure. Like all Departments, my Department is...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Stations (11 Dec 2012)

Alan Shatter: -----and available to work in crime protection and crime detection. We have recognised a reality which the Deputy has failed to recognise, which is, that a single garda sitting for three or four hours during a morning in a Garda station does not contribute anything of major operational value to crime protection or crime detection. With a reduction in resources and in Garda numbers, we are...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Penalty Points System (11 Dec 2012)

Alan Shatter: The allegations referred to by the Deputy are not that some people have had penalty points written off, but that in a number of cases members of the Garda Síochána have inappropriately cancelled fixed charge notices, mainly for speeding. The allegations appear to be made on the basis of records of cancellation on the Garda PULSE system. Fixed charge notices are an alternative to...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Penalty Points System (11 Dec 2012)

Alan Shatter: It is of the utmost importance that the integrity of the fixed charge system is preserved. When the Deputy said this must stop, I presume it is not his view that where there are appropriate circumstances for a fixed charge to be cancelled, that it should not be cancelled. I gave the Deputy instances of the type of circumstances that can arise. The Deputy may be interested to know that in...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Penalty Points System (11 Dec 2012)

Alan Shatter: The individual who has made complaints in this area has made a calculation of the alleged total number of fixed-charge notices cancelled. The calculation, as furnished in the allegation I saw, gave rise to an assumption that every single cancellation was inappropriate and due to some inside influence. Let me make it very clear that on my watch as Minister for Justice and Equality I will not...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Penalty Points System (11 Dec 2012)

Alan Shatter: I said to the Deputy that I will publish the outcome of the investigation that is under way.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Prison Visiting Committees (11 Dec 2012)

Alan Shatter: The Deputy will know that for many years I expressed concerns about St. Patrick's Institution and believed it was an inappropriate facility for children. I was instrumental in ensuring that the programme for Government included a specific commitment to end the practice of sending children there. I visited St. Patrick's within two weeks of my appointment and I met the Inspector of Prisons at...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Prison Visiting Committees (11 Dec 2012)

Alan Shatter: It is my intention to introduce legislation, which is also referenced in the programme for Government, under which the visiting committee reports will be submitted directly to the Inspector of Prisons, and if members of visiting committees have concerns about any institution they visit during a year they will have direct contact with the Inspector of Prisons. Under the new legislation, it...