Results 12,441-12,460 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Industrial Relations Issues (6 Mar 2013)

Alan Shatter: No, I said I have not met any of them since 22 February.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Industrial Relations Issues (6 Mar 2013)

Alan Shatter: I am conscious that there has always been some degree of tension between whoever is Minister for justice of the day and the Garda representative bodies. Personally, I do not take that aspect of matters seriously. What I do take seriously is that the gardaí do their work well, which is the case, and that I do what I can to be supportive of them in the work they do. That is why I was so...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Industrial Relations Issues (6 Mar 2013)

Alan Shatter: That is all I can do. My door is always open to meet and discuss issues but in the context of those coming through the door I cannot renegotiate the outcome of the talks.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Complaints Procedures (6 Mar 2013)

Alan Shatter: The Ombudsman Commission commenced operations in May 2007. From May 2007 to the end of January 2013 the Garda Ombudsman Commission has received 13,673 complaints of which 7,718 were deemed to be admissible in accordance with the provisions of the Act of 2005. During this period the ombudsman advised that the commission referred 149 cases to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Complaints Procedures (6 Mar 2013)

Alan Shatter: The Deputy managed, during the course of those questions, to make a variety of allegations against a variety of people, all of which were incorrect. The first allegation he made was that the Garda Commissioner has sought to rubbish the inquiry into ticket charges. I am not aware that the Commissioner has done that. I am aware that he is taking the matter very seriously and has required...

Other Questions: Criminal Legal Aid (6 Mar 2013)

Alan Shatter: The current legislation governing the criminal legal aid scheme is the Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) Act 1962 and a series of regulations made thereunder. The Act provides that an applicant for criminal legal aid must establish to the satisfaction of the court that his or her means are insufficient to enable him or her to pay for legal representation him or herself. The Court must also be...

Other Questions: Criminal Legal Aid (6 Mar 2013)

Alan Shatter: Just to take the last question first, as the Deputy may recall, we reduced the fees payable under the criminal legal aid scheme on two occasions since we have been in office. The effect of that was that considerable savings were made last year. The outturn for 2012, which is to be finally confirmed, was that the cost of the legal aid scheme fell to €50 million, representing a saving...

Other Questions: Garda Deployment (6 Mar 2013)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 12 together. All gardaí have a responsibility in the prevention and detection of criminal activity whether it be in the area of burglary, drug offences or otherwise. Specifically with regard to drugs, I can assure the Deputy that An Garda Síochána continues to proactively and resolutely tackle all forms of drug crime in this jurisdiction....

Other Questions: Garda Deployment (6 Mar 2013)

Alan Shatter: I am advised by the Commissioner that the dedicated focus in these areas is appropriate in operational terms. I cannot deal with rumours or innuendo arising from the force, and I hear all sorts of stories. I get all kinds of weird and wonderful queries into the Department of Justice and Equality about things I have personally allegedly done or said to members of the force. They may be-----

Other Questions: Garda Deployment (6 Mar 2013)

Alan Shatter: -----a complete fabrication. Apparently, people say things and spread rumours that are untrue, and I cannot address such issues. The Commissioner makes operational decisions about the Garda force and, in a sense, the proof of the pudding is in the eating. The statistics indicate for 12 of 14 areas that crime is down. Although burglary rates are up, if one considers the figures to last...

Other Questions: Garda Deployment (6 Mar 2013)

Alan Shatter: The Garda force has my absolute support and I fight for its resources. That is why I had €90 million more in 2012 than would otherwise have been available under the 2010 national development plan. That is not to get at Deputy Collins. That is why there is €5 million available, as a minimum sum, to purchase Garda vehicles. That did not feature in the 2010 plan sold to the...

Other Questions: Garda Deployment (6 Mar 2013)

Alan Shatter: I will not respond to yet another allegation made by the group across the way from me. The Members in question talk about respecting civil and human rights but in this House they have respect for no one's civil or human rights or reputation. Deputy Daly has named someone in the House and has suggested he is doctoring evidence. I ask the Deputy to withdraw that and to have the decency to do...

Other Questions: Domestic Violence Refuges (6 Mar 2013)

Alan Shatter: Cosc, the National Office for the Prevention of Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence, is an executive office of my Department. Its key task is to ensure the delivery of a well-co-ordinated whole-of-government response to domestic, sexual and gender-based violence against women and men. Cosc was established in June 2007 and was given a remit to address these forms of violence from a...

Other Questions: Domestic Violence Refuges (6 Mar 2013)

Alan Shatter: Ever since my time working in the free legal advice centres, when Women's Aid started the first hostel for women who are victims of domestic violence, we have not had enough refuges. Unfortunately, even as we went through good times, we did not have adequate accommodation. Funding for refuges for domestic violence victims comes substantially through the Department of Health and HSE as...

Other Questions: Road Traffic Offences (6 Mar 2013)

Alan Shatter: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the activity referred to occurs on a stretch of road that traverses County Fermanagh on the N54-A3. Accordingly, road safety enforcement on that particular stretch of road is the responsibility of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, PSNI. I am, however, assured that An Garda Síochána monitors traffic and performs static checkpoints...

Other Questions: Road Traffic Offences (6 Mar 2013)

Alan Shatter: I share the Deputy's commendation of the Garda and the PSNI because they have done important work here. What has been taking place is an outrage and is completely unacceptable. This behaviour places lives at risk and cannot be tolerated by ourselves, the Garda or the authorities in Northern Ireland. It is important that this sort of activity stops and I assure the Deputy the work being...

Other Questions: Road Traffic Offences (6 Mar 2013)

Alan Shatter: I support any co-operative structure that might provide added value and facilitate co-operation in policing matters between North and South. There is now a far more sophisticated and deeper engagement between the Garda Síochána and the PSNI than would have been the case in the 1980s. We also have local policing committees, which can make an input into these issues. I am happy to...

Other Questions: Road Traffic Offences (6 Mar 2013)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 and 17 together. These questions relate to the issue surrounding the allegations concerning the cancellation of fixed charge notices. 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...

Other Questions: Road Traffic Offences (6 Mar 2013)

Alan Shatter: On a personal level, I have a great deal of time for Deputy Mac Lochlainn and it is difficult to criticise what he states. Occasionally, however, I must listen on this side of the House. Less than half an hour ago, Members from across the House, including Deputy Mac Lochlainn, criticised me, as they are entitled to do, as being in some way responsible for what is reported to be the low...

Other Questions: Road Traffic Offences (6 Mar 2013)

Alan Shatter: I can assure Deputy Wallace there will be transparency in the sense that I will publish the outcome of this investigation. Then we will make decisions as to what, if anything, needs to be done. We will be able to ascertain whether what has been alleged is true or untrue. We may be able to ascertain whether the background to this is as simple as presented by Deputy Wallace and his...