Results 14,441-14,460 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Judicial Council Legislation (2 Jul 2013)

Alan Shatter: I am happy to be able to inform the Deputy that this personal inquiry has been responded to directly through my Private Office. The reply reiterated the Programme for Government commitment to “legislate to establish a Judicial Council, with lay representation, to provide an effective mechanism for dealing with complaints against judges” and that this commitment is being given...

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

Alan Shatter: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the current average processing time for applications is approximately 14 weeks from date of receipt. However, seasonal fluctuations and the necessity to seek additional information on particular applications can result in this processing time being exceeded on occasion. All organisations registered for Garda Vetting are aware of the processing...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Student Visas Applications (2 Jul 2013)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 576 and 577 together. I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that dedicated overseas visa offices staffed by persons seconded from INIS to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade process the bulk of study visa applications. For example, in Turkey and Abu Dhabi the average waiting period is 1 to 2 weeks...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Vetting Applications (2 Jul 2013)

Alan Shatter: As previously stated, on receipt of correspondence questioning the veracity of this information, further enquiries were conducted by the Garda Central Vetting Unit. It was established that due to an administrative error on the Garda PULSE System, two court outcomes were incorrectly attributed to the person concerned. Following the discovery of this error an amended Garda Vetting Disclosure...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Staff Rehiring (2 Jul 2013)

Alan Shatter: My Department has not employed any temporary clerical officers in the past three years.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Official Engagements (2 Jul 2013)

Alan Shatter: The theme of the 30th International Workshop on Global Security, held in Paris on 24 June 2013, was Peace and Security — The Challenges Ahead. In my address, I focused on the key security challenges facing the European Union. Noting that the international security environment has changed profoundly in recent decades, I stated that active and positive engagement is required by all in...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel (2 Jul 2013)

Alan Shatter: The detailed information the deputy sought in respect of ranks in the Defence Forces is contained in the table below. Army Ranks Air Corps Ranks Naval Service Ranks Army Reserve Ranks Naval Reserve Ranks Lieutenant General Lieutenant General Lieutenant General - - Major General Major General Major General - - Brigadier General Brigadier General Commodore - - Colonel Colonel Captain - -...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel (2 Jul 2013)

Alan Shatter: The table below sets out the number of women serving in the Army, Navy and Air Corps at 31 May 2013. For ease of comparison the equivalent Army Rank has been used in the Naval Service Table. In terms of the current position, the number of women serving in the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) on 31 May 2013, the latest date for which figures are available, was 562, of which 467 were serving in...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Overseas Missions (2 Jul 2013)

Alan Shatter: On 25 April 2013, the United Nations Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 2100 (2013) establishing a Peacekeeping Force in the West African nation of Mali. Acting under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, the Council established the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali, known as MINUSMA, for an initial period of twelve (12) months. The...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Medicinal Products (2 Jul 2013)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 585 to 587, inclusive, together. In May 2013 RTÉ asked the Defence Organisation for statistical information but used different figures when it broadcast the programme which forms the basis of your questions. The information that was provided to them in relation to deaths from self-inflicted injuries is as follows: “The Defence Forces Personal...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) (Amendment) Bill 2013: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (2 Jul 2013)

Alan Shatter: I thank the Acting Chairman. The main purpose of amendment No. 1 which I hope will be welcomed is to extend, for human trafficking offences, existing rules that make it easier for children to give evidence in criminal prosecutions. Article 15.4 of the EU human trafficking directive provides that member states shall take the necessary measures to ensure that in criminal prosecutions of human...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) (Amendment) Bill 2013: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (2 Jul 2013)

Alan Shatter: I thank Senators for their supportive comments. This is a small but very important change in our law. It is about the protection of children. I agree with all Senators that we must address the issue of trafficking as effectively as we can. It is not an issue that can be addressed by any State on its own. It is important to have the maximum amount of co-operation at European level and the...

Seanad: Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (2 Jul 2013)

Alan Shatter: The amendment was recommended by the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel, which has advised that this technical amendment should be made to the Long Title for consistency with section 22.

Seanad: Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (2 Jul 2013)

Alan Shatter: The Office of the Parliamentary Counsel has advised these technical drafting amendments to section 4 are necessary to improve the clarity of the section.

Seanad: Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (2 Jul 2013)

Alan Shatter: I thank the Senators for proposing the amendment. I deliberate in a deliberate and focused manner and was conscious of this issue. We might be dealing with this Stage at some speed, but obviously these are issues that were given consideration during the drafting of the various provisions of the Bill. I agree that there must be very careful rules regarding the publishing of material about...

Seanad: Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (2 Jul 2013)

Alan Shatter: The Office of the Parliamentary Counsel has advised that these technical drafting amendments are necessary to improve the clarity of section 23.

Seanad: Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (2 Jul 2013)

Alan Shatter: This amendment inserts the definition of "Director" in section 3 of the Bankruptcy Act 1988 into the Bill. The definition is necessary for the interpretation of the Act, given the transfer of responsibility for the office of the official assignee in bankruptcy to the Insolvency Service of Ireland. Amendment No. 10 corrects an error in the text. Amendment No. 11 makes clear that all...

Seanad: Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (2 Jul 2013)

Alan Shatter: Section 6 of the Personal Insolvency Act 2012 provided for the repeal of sections 87 to 109 of the Bankruptcy Act 1988, which had the effect of abolishing arrangements in bankruptcy. The rationale for this was that the new debt resolution mechanisms in the 2012 Act, in particular the personal insolvency arrangement mechanism, will offer debtors the possibility of arranging a repayment plan...

Seanad: Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (2 Jul 2013)

Alan Shatter: Amendment No. 16 inserts a new section to amend section 37 of the Personal Insolvency Act 2012, which relates to payments by a debtor who is the subject of a debt relief notice. It seeks to improve on the current text of the 2012 Act to make clearer what happens when a specified debtor's payment or payments under section 36(2) or 36(3) or section 37 amount to 50% or more of the specified...

Seanad: Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (2 Jul 2013)

Alan Shatter: These amendments relate to the verification of matters with which an appropriate court must be satisfied before it can approve a debt settlement arrangement or a personal insolvency arrangement. Amendments Nos. 17 to 20, inclusive, are mainly technical. They propose to improve on the existing construction of sections 71, 75, 76 and 78 of the 2012 Act to make clearer how a court is to...