Results 11,861-11,880 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Strength (5 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: The military authorities have confirmed that on 31 January 2013 the strength of personnel in Custume Barracks, Athlone was 1,014. With the recent re-organisation of the Permanent Defence Force from 3 Brigades to a 2 Brigade structure, and a strength figure for the Permanent Defence Force as a whole of 9,500, I expect the number of personnel serving in Custume Barracks will be of the order of...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Capital Expenditure Programme (5 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: The Department is engaged in an ongoing capital building programme designed to modernise and enhance the training, operational and accommodation facilities available to members of the Defence Forces. The programme provides for new projects and the continuation of capital building work already underway. An overall capital provision of €9 million has been allocated to the Department...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Funding (5 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: My Department does not manage any programmes for funding community, voluntary and sporting organisations.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Public Sector Pension Numbers (5 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: As regards retired members of the Permanent Defence Force whose pensions are paid by the Department of Defence, the relevant detailed information sought is not readily available and is being compiled at present. The information will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible. The requested information in respect of retired civil servants of the Department of Defence or retired civilian...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Spent Convictions) Bill 2012: Report Stage (5 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: I thank Senators for their contributions and accept that they are anxious to ensure this legislation has the intended effect. I am also conscious that as this is our first time to enact legislation in the State on spent convictions, we must be careful how we deal with it and ensure we approach matters in an appropriate way. It has been suggested Northern Ireland has applied the UK regime....

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Spent Convictions) Bill 2012: Fifth Stage (5 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: I thank Members of the Seanad for the detailed consideration that they gave to the Bill and for the time that they clearly spent but that is not the right word in the circumstances. I thank them for the time that they have taken to table and consider amendments which is always a helpful and useful exercise. I hope that it has been understood that I listened. As a consequence of the debate...

Leaders' Questions (6 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: Deputy McDonald was jumping up and down in here yesterday before she had even read a single page of the report.

Leaders' Questions (6 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: Deputy McDonald is not talking about the women. She is playing politics.

Leaders' Questions (6 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: Has Deputy McGrath read the report?

Leaders' Questions (6 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: Why does Deputy McGrath not read the report? He should try reading the report.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Cross-Border Co-operation (6 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: I meet regularly with and am briefed on an ongoing basis by the Garda Commissioner on all aspects of policing, including cross-Border crime. There is close and ongoing co-operation between the Garda Síochána and the PSNI on all aspects of policing. Notably, the two police forces operate a joint cross-Border policing strategy which aims to improve public safety throughout...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Cross-Border Co-operation (6 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: I assure the Deputy that on the occasions when I meet with the Minister for Justice in the North, Mr. David Ford, we have addressed that as one of the important issues - dealing with subversive, organised and cross-Border crime. There is an overlap between them in a number of areas. There is a real determination to ensure everything necessary can be done and is done. We have had joint...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Judicial Appointments (6 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: The Deputy will be aware that the Constitution provides that judges are appointed by the President on the advice of the Government. Applications are dealt with by the Judicial Appointments Advisory Board which submits to me, as Minister for Justice and Equality, the names of those deemed suitable for appointment. This procedure has been in place since 1995 and, at my request, my Department...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Judicial Appointments (6 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: As the Deputy well knows, as I have said this on a number of occasions and I am not saying anything new, despite the way the media have written about them, the appointments that have been made during my period in office have been on merit and merit alone. For some reason or other, on occasion I tend to be blissfully unaware of persons' political affiliations or which member of the legal...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Judicial Appointments (6 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: I am not saying the status quo is not acceptable because all members of the Judiciary who have been appointment have acted independently. The one good point is that no matter what is said about anyone having political involvement or not, the Judiciary in its decisions is independent. On occasions, members of the Judiciary cause angst by some of the decisions they make. There should not...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Road Traffic Legislation (6 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: Fixed charge notices are provided for under the Road Traffic Act 2002 and are an alternative to prosecution. They give a motorist the opportunity to acknowledge the offence, pay the fixed charge and, where the offence is a penalty point offence, incur the appropriate penalty points. While the issuing of such notice does not constitute commencement of legal proceedings, it normally leads to...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Road Traffic Legislation (6 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: I am aware of the Deputy's concern about this issue and of the various queries he has raised about it. However, it is important not to assume that members of the Garda Síochána are dishonest, corrupt or unable to carry out their duties properly. Unfortunately that seems to be an assumption he is making. I will again reiterate what I said. I take this matter seriously, as does...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Road Traffic Legislation (6 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: This matter arose and following it arising, the matter is being investigated. If that investigation does not comprehensively address all the issues, the matter will be dealt with further. I am awaiting the result of that investigation and I have been assured that I will get it relatively shortly and thereafter will consider the position.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Strength (6 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: As of 31 December 2012, the latest date for which figures are readily available, the total strength of the force was 13,424 which is, in fact, 74 more than the figure of 13,350 proposed by Fianna Fáil in its National Recovery Plan 2011-2014. There are also approximately 2,000 civilian support staff and almost 1,000 Garda reserves in the Garda Síochána. The Deputy might be...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Strength (6 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: As I said earlier, and previously in public, the Garda Commissioner and I are ad idem on the strength of An Garda Síochána not falling below 13,000. That is my view, as expressed privately and publicly. As I said earlier to the Deputy, I will be bringing a proposal in this regard before Cabinet in the coming weeks. On the closure of Garda stations, there has been much...