Results 14,361-14,380 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for the Public Services 2013
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Department of Defence (Revised) (26 Jun 2013)

Alan Shatter: No, it is not. When one is talking about connected, integrated government and the myriad other meetings which officials have to attend, including the Secretary General, I think the last Government thought it had discovered a manner of governing which the Romans discovered was a major error when they tried to disperse government around their empire, which subsequently collapsed. It was a...

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for the Public Services 2013
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Department of Defence (Revised) (26 Jun 2013)

Alan Shatter: In the context of the property portfolio, the obvious ones which have to be properly maintained are all of the different barracks, which members will be familiar with. I will not delay the meeting by going through the list. It includes the naval base and Casement Aerodrome in Baldonnel. In addition, a number of smaller properties are used by the RDF. The reorganisation of the RDF has...

Topical Issue Debate: Garda Vetting Applications (27 Jun 2013)

Alan Shatter: I thank my colleague for raising this important matter. The Garda Commissioner is responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, throughout the organisation. The Garda central vetting unit, GCVU, provides employment vetting for approximately 20,000 organisations that are registered with the unit for this purpose and that employ personnel to work in a full-time,...

Topical Issue Debate: Garda Vetting Applications (27 Jun 2013)

Alan Shatter: I am conscious of the need to have as efficient a system as possible. I appreciate, moreover, that the vetting process may be seen by some as a hindrance. However, I cannot stress enough that our primary concern must at all times be the protection of children and vulnerable adults. That is the essential focus of what we are doing. I hope the additional personnel who are currently being...

Topical Issue Debate: Magdalen Laundries Issues (27 Jun 2013)

Alan Shatter: I thank the Deputy for raising this very important issue. The publication of the report of Mr. Justice Quirke and the Government's acceptance in full of all of the recommendations contained in it marks the culmination of a process I initiated, together with Minister of State Kathleen Lynch, in March 2011 following my taking office as Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence. It reflects...

Topical Issue Debate: Magdalen Laundries Issues (27 Jun 2013)

Alan Shatter: I thank Deputy Maloney for his careful and considered contribution. I want to be fair to the religious congregations. They did make all the records they had available to Martin McAleese for his excellent report. The depth of that report could not have been achieved without their co-operation and assistance. They also met with and discussed issues relating to the women in the laundries...

Topical Issue Debate: Inter-Country Adoptions (27 Jun 2013)

Alan Shatter: I thank Deputy Creed for raising this very important issue, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Fitzgerald. The Adoption Act 2010 provides for inter-country adoption between countries that have ratified the Hague Convention or between countries with which Ireland has a bilateral agreement. Section 63 of the Act, which allows applicants who...

Topical Issue Debate: Inter-Country Adoptions (27 Jun 2013)

Alan Shatter: I am very conscious of the emotional roller coaster experienced by couples who first go through the process of being assessed as suitable for adoption, along with all the details and timeframes, and then face uncertainty in the outcome, which causes a great deal of worry and concern. It is a cause for celebration when a couple gets a declaration of eligibility and suitability. I am also...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Personal Insolvency Practitioners (27 Jun 2013)

Alan Shatter: Section 161 of the Personal Insolvency Act 2012 provides that the Insolvency Service of Ireland (ISI) may make Regulations for the purposes of the authorisation, control and supervision of Personal Insolvency Practitioners (PIPs). Section 47 of the Act provides that ISI may make Regulations for the authorisation of Approved Intermediaries. The ISI published the Personal Insolvency Act 2012...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Staff Numbers (27 Jun 2013)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 196 and 197 together. I assume that the Deputy is referring to the Shorter Working Year Scheme which replaced the Term Time Scheme in 2009. In this respect, staff in my Department, and in organisations and agencies under the aegis of my Department, can apply for unpaid leave in accordance with the relevant Department of Finance circular. As far as possible...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Staff Training (27 Jun 2013)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 198 and 199 together. I take it that the Deputy is referring to leave taken by staff who are pursuing education and development courses outside of work. In this respect, staff in my Department, and in organisations and agencies under the aegis of my Department, can apply for study leave in accordance with the relevant Department of Finance circular. As far...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (27 Jun 2013)

Alan Shatter: I am informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service that one of the options open to persons faced with the prospect of having a Deportation Order issued in respect of them is that they can seek to return voluntarily to their country of origin. If they return voluntarily before a Deportation Order is made and have no outstanding criminal court proceedings in Ireland, they may...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Student Visas Eligibility (27 Jun 2013)

Alan Shatter: Under current immigration rules unaccompanied non-EEA children may be permitted to come to Ireland to complete second level studies provided they fulfil certain criteria. Non-EEA students seeking to complete second level education in Ireland are only permitted to enrol in a fee paying school. The placement of unaccompanied children in non fee paying schools continues to be prohibited....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (27 Jun 2013)

Alan Shatter: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) that a valid application for a certificate of naturalisation was received from the person referred to by the Deputy in June, 2013. The application is being processed with a view to establishing whether the applicant meets the statutory conditions for the granting of naturalisation, such as good character and lawful...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (27 Jun 2013)

Alan Shatter: I am informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) that the person concerned is currently registered in the State under Stamp 2 student conditions valid until 30/09/2013 which is renewable directly with their local immigration officer shortly before its expiry date. An application for residency in the State under Stamp 4 conditions on the basis of family dependency of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Proposed Legislation (27 Jun 2013)

Alan Shatter: My Department has prepared a General Scheme for the Gambling Control Bill. I hope to secure Government approval for the Scheme in the near future. Once it has been approved, it will then be sent to the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel, in the Office of the Attorney General, for drafting of the Bill. I am not in a position at this time to say when the Bill will be published. However,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Committals (27 Jun 2013)

Alan Shatter: I wish to advise the Deputy that it has not been possible to collate the information requested in the time available. I will forward a comprehensive response to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (27 Jun 2013)

Alan Shatter: I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda Commissioner and as soon as it is to hand I will pass it on to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (27 Jun 2013)

Alan Shatter: There is currently no application pending in my Department for residency in respect of the person whose details were supplied. If an application for asylum has been made by the person concerned, the Deputy will be aware that it is not the practice to comment on applications which have not fully completed this process.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Recruitment (27 Jun 2013)

Alan Shatter: A resumption of Garda recruitment, at a time when both overall headcount and the size of the pay bill in the public service must be reduced, would have financial implications that must be managed within the overall resources available to Government. In that context, it is important that the LRC proposals, or what is now known as the Haddington Road Agreement, on saving €1 billion from...