Results 12,461-12,480 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Road Traffic Offences (6 Mar 2013)

Alan Shatter: Fixed charge notices are an alternative to prosecution, and 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. If the motorist does not pay the fixed charge, he or she will in the normal course be prosecuted for the alleged offence. There can be circumstances where the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Policing Plans (6 Mar 2013)

Alan Shatter: The Garda National Policing Plan for 2013, which I laid before the House last December, sets out the policing priorities and objectives for the current year. The Plan is designed to meet the policing needs of all communities and includes objectives of particular relevance for rural areas, including active community engagement in the development of policing strategies and concerted efforts to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence Policy (6 Mar 2013)

Alan Shatter: In response to the need to raise awareness of violence against women among a wide audience Cosc, the National Office for the Prevention of Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence, operates an annual awareness raising grant scheme. The scheme provides funding for local awareness raising campaigns that increase the understanding and recognition of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Appointments to State Boards (6 Mar 2013)

Alan Shatter: I am interpreting the Deputy’s question in a broad manner so as to provide the information which I believe he is seeking. The term State Boards is somewhat imprecise as it includes bodies with a wide and diverse range of functions many of which would not fall into the more commonly understood definition of Board which is a body with a governance oversight of an organisation. To be of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Racial Profiling (6 Mar 2013)

Alan Shatter: I am aware of the report of the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance and also of the fact that the report makes no allegation that such profiling is actually carried out. This is not surprising given that an Garda Siochana do not engage in racial profiling. The question of whether we should create a legislative prohibition therefore needs to be considered in that light. This...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Court Accommodation Provision (6 Mar 2013)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 18 and 177 together. As the Deputy will be aware, under the Courts Service Act 1998, the management and administration of the courts is a matter for the Courts Service while the allocation of the business of the courts, scheduling of cases and management of lists are matters for the judiciary and in particular the Presidents of the courts. The Deputy will...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence Policy (6 Mar 2013)

Alan Shatter: Cosc, the National Office for the Prevention of Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence, funds 13 intervention programmes for domestic violence perpetrators across Ireland, run by three organisations. Despite the difficult financial situation that the country finds itself in, I have ensured that the 2013 budget for Cosc is unchanged from the 2012 budget amount. This will enable Cosc to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: National Women's Strategy (6 Mar 2013)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 20 and 47 together. To date, a total of three periodic Progress Reports on the implementation of the National Women’s Strategy have been approved by Government and published as follows: - Joint 2007/2008 Progress Report on the Implementation of the National Women’s Strategy 2007-2016 – published in July 2009; - 2009 Progress Report on...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (6 Mar 2013)

Alan Shatter: I am glad to inform the House that there is close and ongoing co-operation between the Garda Síochána and the PSNI on all aspects of policing and that a joint strategy has already been developed and is in operation for quite some time. In 2010 the two police forces put in place a joint Cross Border Policing Strategy which has as its aims to improve public safety throughout Ireland,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Investigations (6 Mar 2013)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 22 and 194 together. I am advised by the Garda authorities that the examination surrounding the circumstances of the death of Father Niall Molloy is almost complete and that a report of this examination will be submitted to the Commissioner in the coming weeks. Upon receipt of a report from the Commissioner I will review the situation. I understand that...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Free Legal Aid Spending (6 Mar 2013)

Alan Shatter: Total expenditure on criminal legal aid for the years referred to by the Deputy was as follows: 2009 - €60.3 million; 2010 - €56.5 million; 2011 - €56.1 million; 2012 - €50.5 million; 2013 to date €5.8 million. The Deputy will note that total expenditure for 2012 represented a reduction of 10% over 2011. This reduction in the annual expenditure is the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Equality Tribunal Cases (6 Mar 2013)

Alan Shatter: At present, the Equality Tribunal is the main forum to hear or mediate complaints of alleged discrimination in access to goods and services, under the Equal Status Acts 2000 to 2012. It is impartial, independent and quasi-judicial and its decisions and mediated settlements are legally binding. Reform of the workplace relations institutions will involve the Equality Tribunal in a merger with...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (6 Mar 2013)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 25, 37, 45, 51 and 53 together. I am entirely satisfied that all the elements of my proposals in relation to the establishment of the new Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) as set out in the General Scheme published last June are fully in accordance with the Paris Principles (which are the set of rules or standards that relate to the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Resources (6 Mar 2013)

Alan Shatter: The Garda Síochána (Confidential Reporting of Corruption or Malpractice) Regulations 2007 provide for the appointment, and functions, of a Confidential Recipient to whom members of the Force can report, in confidence, instances where they believe there may be corruption or malpractice within the Force. The Confidential Recipient is required to transmit each report to the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Vetting Applications (6 Mar 2013)

Alan Shatter: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the average processing time for Garda vetting applications for the years 2010 to 2012 are as follows: 2010 2011 2012 12 weeks 8 weeks 8 weeks The current average processing time is approximately 8 to 10 weeks. However, seasonal fluctuations and the necessity to seek additional information on particular applications can result in this...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Reserve (6 Mar 2013)

Alan Shatter: I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the personnel strength of the Garda Reserves is approximately 1,108 Garda Reserves with a further 138 in training. The moratorium on recruitment and appointments in the public service does not apply to the Garda Reserve, as members are volunteers and do not draw a salary. The Commissioner has carried out an internal review of the Reserve...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Policing Plans (6 Mar 2013)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 29 and 165 together. The Deputy will be aware that the Garda 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 demographics, crime trends, policing needs and other operational...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Organised Crime (6 Mar 2013)

Alan Shatter: The Deputy will appreciate that organised crime, by its very nature, is constantly evolving and diversifying in both its structures and activities so as to exploit opportunities for criminal gain. I can assure the Deputy that addressing such criminality remains a key ongoing priority for both the Government and for An Garda Síochána and these priorities are clearly reflected in the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Stations Refurbishment (6 Mar 2013)

Alan Shatter: The programme of replacement and refurbishment of Garda accommodation is based on accommodation priorities which are established by An Garda Síochána. This programme is progressed in close cooperation with the Office of Public Works, which has responsibility capital expenditure in this area. I am informed by the Garda authorities that plans for the provision of a new Divisional...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Strength (6 Mar 2013)

Alan Shatter: The Deputy will be aware that the Garda 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 demographics, crime trends, policing needs and other operational strategies in place on a District, Divisional and...