Results 13,221-13,240 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

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

Alan Shatter: Work on the details of the Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill 2010 is ongoing at my Department pursuant to current Government policy which is committed, under the Programme for Government, to "introduce comprehensive reforms of the immigration, residency and asylum systems, which will include a statutory appeals system and set out rights and obligations in a transparent way". As I...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: National Disability Strategy Implementation Plan Issues (2 May 2013)

Alan Shatter: The Department has been engaged in a wide ranging consultation process with Government Departments and with the disability stakeholders group in the preparation of the National Disability Strategy Implementation Plan (NDSIP). The aim of the NDSIP is the engagement with the Disability sector and to build on the traditional problem solving and constructive approach of the community and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Joint Policing Committees Remit (2 May 2013)

Alan Shatter: I can advise the Deputy that there is ongoing liaison between my Department, the Garda authorities and the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government in relation to the operation of Joint Policing Committees (JPCs). The Programme for Government makes a commitment to build on existing community policing partnerships and forums to enhance trust between local communities and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Insolvency Service of Ireland Issues (2 May 2013)

Alan Shatter: The Insolvency Service of Ireland (ISI) will be in a position to receive and process applications for the three new insolvency arrangements at the end of June 2013. The ISI will be processing Debt Relief Notice applications in July, once Approved Intermediaries are authorised and, subsequently, Debt Settlement Arrangements and Personal Insolvency Arrangements once Personal Insolvency...

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

Alan Shatter: The Immigrant Investor Programme and the Start-up Entrepreneur Programme were opened for applications in April 2012. Since then, the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service have received 27 applications for the Start-up Entrepreneur Programme and 10 Applications for the Immigrant Investor Programme. Fourteen applications have been approved under the Start-up Entrepreneur Programme,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Community Policing (2 May 2013)

Alan Shatter: For many years my Department has provided funding for the Community Alert programme which is operated by Muintir na Tíre in partnership with the Garda authorities and which supports the operation of over 1,300 local groups. Funding is provided in relation to the employment and associated costs of a National Coordinator and Development Officers which I believe is the best use of the...

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

Alan Shatter: The murder of Garda Richard Fallon was a terrible tragedy for his family and I want to, again, express my deepest sympathy to them. On top of that personal tragedy, his murder was also an event that can only be described as a heinous crime carried out by ruthless individuals. I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that the Serious Review Crime Team met with members of the Fallon family on...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Programme (2 May 2013)

Alan Shatter: As part of the review referred to by the Deputy, in June 2012, I published a discussion document on the future direction of legislation on prostitution. The purpose of the discussion document is to facilitate a public consultation process. On its publication, I referred the discussion document to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality. The joint committee is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Human Trafficking (2 May 2013)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 29 and 38 together. I can inform the Deputy that during 2012, a total of thirty-seven investigations were initiated by An Garda Síochána into allegations of human trafficking; of these, thirty-one investigations were into allegations of human trafficking for sexual exploitation. To date in 2013, (29 April 2013), a total of fourteen investigations...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Cross-Border Co-operation (2 May 2013)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 30 and 40 together. I am happy to inform the Deputy that there is close and ongoing co-operation between the Garda Síochána and the Police Service of Northern Ireland on all aspects of policing. The Garda Commissioner and the Chief Constable of the PSNI are responsible for operational police co-operation and they have repeatedly emphasised the...

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

Alan Shatter: The Programme for Government contains a commitment that we will promote policies which integrate minority ethnic groups in Ireland, and which promote social inclusion, equality, diversity and the participation of immigrants in the economic, social, political and cultural life of their communities. A significant level of activity is taking place in pursuit of this commitment. A number of key...

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

Alan Shatter: Decisions in relation to the provision and allocation of Garda vehicles are a matter for the Garda Commissioner in the context of his identified operational demands and in the light of available resources. I am advised by the Garda authorities that the strength of the Garda fleet over the period referred to by the Deputy was as outlined in the table. YEAR FLEET TOTAL 2006 2,184 2007...

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

Alan Shatter: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the average processing time for Garda vetting applications for the years 2011 and 2012 was approximately 8 weeks. The current average processing time for applications is approximately 12 weeks from date of receipt, which was the average processing time for applications in 2010. However, seasonal fluctuations and the necessity to seek additional...

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

Alan Shatter: I would like to assure the House that the Garda College remains fully open as the main training centre for the Garda Síochána. The Chief Superintendent in charge of the College, and the members of the team there, develop, coordinate and direct all training interventions up to the most senior ranks. The College provides operationally focused training across a range of areas...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Criminal Assets Bureau (2 May 2013)

Alan Shatter: The Criminal Assets Bureau is a vital component in the State's law enforcement response to serious and organised crime. The remit of the Bureau is to target those persons who seek to derive benefit from criminal activities. In carrying out this role the Bureau utilises all available legal remedies, primarily those contained in the Proceeds of Crime legislation, Taxes legislation and Social...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Insolvency Service of Ireland Application Numbers (2 May 2013)

Alan Shatter: It is difficult to estimate the likely demand on the Insolvency Service of Ireland (ISI). The tentative estimate of applications for the Debt Settlement Arrangement (DSA) and Personal Insolvency Arrangement (PIA) is roughly 15,000 applications plus a further 3,000 to 4,000 applications for Debt Relief Notices (DRNs) in the first full year. In addition, approximately 3,000 bankruptcy...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Penalty Point System (2 May 2013)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 37, 42 and 44 together. The allegations relating to the cancellation by members of the Garda Síochána of fixed charge notices were forwarded to the Garda Commissioner in October 2012. The Garda Commissioner appointed an Assistant Commissioner to conduct an examination and to report on the allegations. I received an interim report from the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Divorce Process (2 May 2013)

Alan Shatter: I would refer the Deputy to my response to Parliamentary Question No. 196 of 18th April 2013, in which I indicated as follows: "The basis for the four year period required for divorce is that it is mandated by Article 41.3.2.i of the Constitution. The Oireachtas cannot legislate to change this period unless the majority of voters approve such a change in a referendum." The position remains...

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

Alan Shatter: 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 is expected to be submitted to the Commissioner sometime this month. Upon receipt of a report from the Commissioner I will review the situation. I understand that the officers carrying out the examination are...

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

Alan Shatter: I can advise the Deputy that An Garda Síochána is very conscious of the impact of racist incidents and relevant structures are in place to support appropriate policing responses and to encourage reporting. All members of An Garda Síochána are tasked with enforcing all legislation relating to criminal matters, including the relevant provisions relating to racist...