Results 13,701-13,720 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Confidence in the Minister for Justice and Equality: Motion [Private Members] (28 May 2013)

Alan Shatter: Because of concerns which arose, I addressed the House on the first matter last week and answered questions. I do not intend to revisit all of that again. With hindsight, do I think it was a mistake to mention the incident regarding Deputy Wallace? I explained my reasoning but put simply, of course I do. Is it something for which I owe Deputy Wallace an apology? It is and I have already...

Confidence in the Minister for Justice and Equality: Motion [Private Members] (28 May 2013)

Alan Shatter: I now turn to the event raised by Deputy Mattie McGrath. Last Thursday, the Deputy used the privilege of this House to ask questions about an occasion when I stopped at a Garda checkpoint in early 2011, shortly prior to my appointment to Cabinet. I was involved in no such event at that time. He alleged this involved an offence under the Road Traffic 2010. The relevant provisions of that...

Confidence in the Minister for Justice and Equality: Motion [Private Members] (28 May 2013)

Alan Shatter: I stated this event occurred in either late 2008 or during 2009. It did not occur in 2011 as Deputy Mattie McGrath alleged. What is the issue? There is no allegation that I had consumed any alcohol of any nature whatsoever that day, but I presume this is what Deputy Mattie McGrath intended to insinuate.

Confidence in the Minister for Justice and Equality: Motion [Private Members] (28 May 2013)

Alan Shatter: The simple fact is, there was no wrongdoing on my part and the law was not broken. While I can be accused of being a workaholic no one can truthfully accuse me of ever abusing alcohol or of driving over the permitted limit. I am not aware of any precedent for publishing Garda reports on incidents or events involving individual citizens.

Confidence in the Minister for Justice and Equality: Motion [Private Members] (28 May 2013)

Alan Shatter: Nevertheless, last Thursday, following questions raised by the Deputy during Leaders' Questions, I asked the Secretary General of my Department to inquire of the Garda Síochána if it had any report on the matter.

Confidence in the Minister for Justice and Equality: Motion [Private Members] (28 May 2013)

Alan Shatter: My Department has been advised by the Commissioner that the Garda Síochána has not been able to locate any such report and that no report was generated by the Garda member involved which, given that there is no wrongdoing at issue, is hardly a surprise. Consequently, no report of the Garda member could have disappeared as alleged in a morning paper.

Confidence in the Minister for Justice and Equality: Motion [Private Members] (28 May 2013)

Alan Shatter: Now let us get back to conclude on what really does matter. Being in office just for its own sake holds no special, particular value for me. What I value as a member of Government is the opportunity it gives to implement reforms, many of which are long overdue, in the areas that fall within my personal responsibility. What I value is the privilege of making my contribution in Cabinet and...

Confidence in the Minister for Justice and Equality: Motion [Private Members] (28 May 2013)

Alan Shatter: As someone who has steered many such Bills through this House, as someone who fought many a battle with Fianna Fáil for the very many years it was in government in seeking to get its co-operation in processing legislation of benefit, I will always, as Minister for Justice and Equality and Minister for Defence encourage Members on this side of the House and opposite to produce...

Confidence in the Minister for Justice and Equality: Motion [Private Members] (28 May 2013)

Alan Shatter: What I said previously has been needlessly parsed and analysed. Despite the innuendoes I, again, repeat, I committed no offence at the Garda checkpoint that has been the subject of so much attention. Having consumed no alcohol, has it not struck anybody that if I could have fully exhaled into the breathalyser I would have done so? Why, in the name of God, would I not have done so if I had...

Confidence in the Minister for Justice and Equality: Motion [Private Members] (28 May 2013)

Alan Shatter: It is a very simple, straightforward position. I have a serious job to do in each of the briefs I am very privileged to be exercising. To be in Minister in this Government is a great privilege and something I do not take for granted. It is a particular privilege to be a Minister in a Government that is full of talented Cabinet Ministers and junior Ministers supported by the Fine Gael and...

Confidence in the Minister for Justice and Equality: Motion [Private Members] (28 May 2013)

Alan Shatter: To anyone who doubts it, I intend to continue to the best of my ability with the job I have been privileged to be given and I intend resolutely to commit to the implementation of the reform agenda set down in the programme for Government.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Impounded Vehicles (28 May 2013)

Alan Shatter: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the charges referred to by the Deputy are currently provided for under the Road Traffic Act 1994 (Detention of Vehicles) Regulations 2011. These Regulations fall within the remit of my colleague the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport and I understand that they came into operation on 15 September 2011.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Bodies (28 May 2013)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 500 and 501 together. The Property Services Regulatory Authority (PSRA) was formally established on 3 April 2012 pursuant to the Property Services (Regulation) Act 2011. One of the main statutory functions of the PSRA is the licensing of property service providers, i.e. auctioneers, letting agents and property management agents. The Authority is independent...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Magdalen Laundries Issues (28 May 2013)

Alan Shatter: The Government decision of 19 February relates to Magdalen Laundries which were examined by the Inter-Departmental Committee set up to establish the facts of State involvement. Judge Quirke has been asked to advise on a Scheme of supports for the women who were in these Magdalen laundries. There were a wide variety of institutions which had laundries run by different religious congregations...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Bodies (28 May 2013)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 503 and 504 together. The Irish Film Classification Office does not have a Board. The Head of the Office is the Director of Film Classification. The post of Director of Film Classification is a statutory one, provided for under Section 2 of the Censorship of Films Act 1923, as amended by the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2008. In accordance with...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Bodies (28 May 2013)

Alan Shatter: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the Table hereunder. I should note that from 1 January 2000 to 31 March 2004, the prescribed fee for an appeal was IR£5 per appeal (or its subsequent euro equivalent), which was to be refunded if the appeal was successful. In accordance with the Video Recordings Act 1989 (Fees) Regulations 2004 (S.I. No. 113 of 2004), from 1 April...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Bodies (28 May 2013)

Alan Shatter: Assistant Classifiers in the Irish Film Classification Office are appointed in accordance with Section 2(1)(a) of the Censorship of Films (Amendment) Act 1992. Their principal function is to assist the Director of Film Classification in the performance of his or her functions. Following the death of one serving person in late April 2013, there are currently six persons who serve as Assistant...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Bodies (28 May 2013)

Alan Shatter: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the Tables below. It might be noted that the 16 certificate was introduced by the then Film Censor in 2004, which is the reason for the extra classification category from 2004 onwards. Table 1: Films classified by the Irish Film Classification Office, 2000 - 2012, by rank of classification. Year G PG 12PG 15PG 18 Total No. of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Bodies (28 May 2013)

Alan Shatter: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the Tables below. Table 1: Videos/DVDs classified by the Irish Film Classification Office, 2000 - 2012, by rank of classification. Year G PG 12 15 18 Total No. of Videos/DVDs classified 2000 1,478 810 564 1,112 588 4,552 2001 1,805 1,137 668 1,123 597 5,330 2002 2,363 1,545 844 1,360 574 6,686 2003...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Film Classification (28 May 2013)

Alan Shatter: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Question 775 on 16th January, 2013. The position remains as stated. Reply to Parliamentary Question 775 of 16th January, 2013. The post of Director of Film Classification is a statutory one, provided for under Section 2 of the Censorship of Films Act 1923, as amended by the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2008. Section 2(3) of the...