Results 13,201-13,220 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Other Questions: Visa Agreements (2 May 2013)

Alan Shatter: The various schemes are continuously under review. Some of them have only started within the last 12 to 18 months so there is a need to let them bed down in particular countries so knowledge of the schemes spreads. A statistic was published recently showing an increase in visitor numbers to the country of around 7% in the first quarter of 2013. I do not have a breakdown of the countries...

Other Questions: Visa Agreements (2 May 2013)

Alan Shatter: The visa system is operated at official level and the Minister cannot deal with every visa application. I only learnt of that matter on Friday. The two young persons concerned are in employment in the State. They are lawfully here in the State. Upon learning of the matter, I directed that a visa should issue for their young child. I understand that the child, when a baby, went back to...

Other Questions: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (2 May 2013)

Alan Shatter: The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission was established under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 to provide independent oversight of complaints made against members of the Garda Síochána. It has approximately 90 staff, as well as the three commissioners, and a budget this year of just over €8 million. The ombudsman commission directly investigates complaints...

Other Questions: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (2 May 2013)

Alan Shatter: As Deputy Clare Daly will be aware, the ombudsman commission itself conducts investigations. The protocols, to which the Deputy refers and which I regard as of considerable importance, should be fully and properly adhered to by members of An Garda Síochána to facilitate the ombudsman commission in undertaking its statutory work. If there are time failures to meet requests for...

Other Questions: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (2 May 2013)

Alan Shatter: There are not serving members of the Garda operating within the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission's office because the ombudsman commission is a separate and independent entity with separate and independent investigators. The Deputy is correct in one matter. It is open to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission when certain complaints are made and they are deemed to...

Other Questions: Garda Investigations (2 May 2013)

Alan Shatter: I am advised by the Garda authorities that the examination surrounding the circumstances of the death of Fr. Niall Molloy is almost complete and that a report of this examination is expected to be submitted to the Garda Commissioner some time this month. Upon receipt of a report from the Commissioner, I will review the situation. I understand that the officers carrying out the examination...

Other Questions: Garda Investigations (2 May 2013)

Alan Shatter: Like the Deputy, I am very familiar with the case. I am familiar with all the allegations made. I was familiar with it when I came into office. Shortly after assuming my position as Minister, I requested that these allegations be investigated. The Garda Síochána was the appropriate body to conduct the investigation should evidence emerge that would justify the taking of any...

Other Questions: Garda Investigations (2 May 2013)

Alan Shatter: I will begin by telling Deputy Naughten I am not interested in political points scoring. I am providing the information available to me from my officials. The information is that the Garda Commissioner will have the report during this month. I assume that, as I have requested, the Commissioner will report to me. It is an issue I have regularly made inquiries about since being appointed...

Other Questions: Garda Investigations (2 May 2013)

Alan Shatter: -----which could be contrary to the public interest. I have never believed in matters being covered up. I believe in transparency. I do believe where there is a suggestion of wrongful behaviour or a suggestion of criminality that these issues should be properly investigated. I will not prejudge allegations. It would be inappropriate of me to do so.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Numbers (2 May 2013)

Alan Shatter: The total number of entry visas granted in 2011 and 2012 was around 74,700 and 79,300 respectively. This compares with about 65,700 and 70,300 in the preceding two years and represents an increase of almost 21% in that time. In addition, my Department also issued 53,480 re-entry visas in 2011 and 44,073 in 2012. Re-entry visas are issued to visa-required nationals who are legally resident in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Retirements (2 May 2013)

Alan Shatter: Members of An Garda Síochána may retire on a voluntary basis once they have reached 50 years of age and have accrued 30 years service. Members must retire on compulsory age grounds on reaching the age of 60. In actual fact, most Gardaí take voluntary retirement ahead of their compulsory retirement age and it is not possible to predict with any certainty the number of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Reunification Policy (2 May 2013)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 and 12 together. Work has been underway on a policy document on family reunification for some time and this is now well advanced. It is my intention to publish this document in the coming weeks. That is not to say that no policies are in place as things stand. On the contrary, every year the immigration authorities process significant levels of family...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Support Services (2 May 2013)

Alan Shatter: The Direct Provision system managed by the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) of my Department remains a key pillar of the State's asylum and immigration system and I have no plans to end it at this time. Rather, my intention is that the factors which lead to delays in the processing of cases are dealt with so that asylum seekers spend as little time as is necessary in that accommodation...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Reports (2 May 2013)

Alan Shatter: Mr Justice Quirke has been asked to advise on the establishment of a scheme for the benefit of those women who were admitted to and worked in a Magdalen Laundry and to examine how best to operate, as part of that scheme, necessary supports for women who have been in a Magdalen Laundry. It is a matter for Mr Justice Quirke to decide independently how he will carry out his examination. He was...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Corruption (2 May 2013)

Alan Shatter: The Garda Síochána (Confidential Reporting of Corruption or Malpractice) Regulations 2007 provide for an independent 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 Commissioner but, in doing so, is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Strength (2 May 2013)

Alan Shatter: The strength of the Force has been reducing due to the moratorium on recruitment introduced by the previous Government and the strength, as of the 31 March 2013, is 13,366. While it is difficult to predict with any certainty the number of Garda members who will retire in any year, given that members with 30 years service may retire on full pension after the age of 50, a retirement rate in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (2 May 2013)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 17 and 47 together. The Deputy will be aware that the Commissioner is responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel and armed response units, 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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Proposed Legislation (2 May 2013)

Alan Shatter: The Programme for Government commitment - to introduce consolidated and reformed domestic violence legislation to address all aspects of domestic violence, threatened violence and intimidation, in a way that provides protection to victims - will be progressed as soon as possible having regard to the need for consultations and other legislative priorities. In addition, the Law Reform...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (2 May 2013)

Alan Shatter: I am happy to inform the House that there is close and ongoing co-operation between the Garda Síochána and the PSNI on all aspects of policing. 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, to disrupt criminal activity and to enhance the policing capability of both police services...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Applications (2 May 2013)

Alan Shatter: The person concerned arrived in the State in September 2005 and claimed asylum. Before arriving in the State he had applied to study at Trinity College. He claimed that he had applied for this course from Mali. The person concerned is a national of Cameroon. He states that he left Cameroon around 1998 and was granted refugee status in Nigeria. He subsequently moved to Mali, where he also...