Results 15,261-15,280 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Other Questions: North-South Co-operation (25 Sep 2013)

Alan Shatter: Of course I support any co-operation that is of relevance to ensuring we have effective and co-operative policing on a cross-Border basis. The policing committees are independent in their operation. It would be a bad precedent and is not appropriate for me, as Minister, to start making demands of them or issuing instructions to them. Obviously if a request has been made for them to have a...

Other Questions: North-South Co-operation (25 Sep 2013)

Alan Shatter: The Minister, Mr. Ford, MLA, and I meet with some regularity and also talk on the phone with some regularity about particular issues when they arise. So there is no shortage of connectivity between us. When the North-South Ministerial Council meetings were established, it was not envisaged, for reasons of which the Deputy is aware, that justice would be formally included within them....

Other Questions: Organised Crime (25 Sep 2013)

Alan Shatter: The operation of organised crime groups in this jurisdiction is monitored on an ongoing basis by An Garda Síochána. I am informed by the Garda authorities that there are two categories of organised crime groups operating within the jurisdiction. The first consists of groups that are well established and tightly structured and are involved in drug trafficking, armed robbery and...

Other Questions: Organised Crime (25 Sep 2013)

Alan Shatter: It is a matter for the courts to determine whether an individual be granted bail based on current legal provisions and if granted bail what the security for bail should be. There has been understandable concern that some individuals, who have been granted bail, commit further offences while on bail. There are certain constraints on the extent to which legislation can address that issue....

Other Questions: Organised Crime (25 Sep 2013)

Alan Shatter: One of the issues in determining whether an individual should be granted bail, based on the current applicable law, is whether they pose a threat to an alleged victim of a crime for which they are being prosecuted or whether there is an issue of intimidation of juries. There are different laws applicable with regard to bail in different countries. There are constitutional pronouncements...

Other Questions: Magdalen Laundries Report (25 Sep 2013)

Alan Shatter: On 25 June 2013 the Government approved the immediate implementation of a cash lump sum payment scheme based on duration of stay in laundries as recommended by Mr. Justice Quirke and tasked an interdepartmental group with giving further detailed consideration to the steps necessary to implement the other recommendations made by him, which are complicated. I have already established a special...

Other Questions: Magdalen Laundries Report (25 Sep 2013)

Alan Shatter: The Government dealt with this matter in as speedy a way as possible. The committee, under the chairmanship of the former Senator, Dr. McAleese, was established in July 2011. It carried out substantial work and published a detailed report. Within a short period of the committee publishing the report it was debated in the House. Mr. Justice Quirke was appointed to look at the making of an...

Other Questions: Magdalen Laundries Report (25 Sep 2013)

Alan Shatter: However, many people find it surprising that the congregations have not contributed in an appropriate manner to the fund. Finally, lest Deputy Ó Fearghaíl accuses me of avoiding a question, the necessary funding to meet the scheme will be provided by the Government. As for the amounts, that matter is being discussed at Government level and between the Minister, Deputy Howlin, and...

Other Questions: Magdalen Laundries Report (25 Sep 2013)

Alan Shatter: Obviously, it cannot come out of the original Department of Justice and Equality Estimates and the Government is dealing with that in a financially appropriate manner. However, I assure the Deputy the payments will be made as soon as the Government is in a position to finalise matters following on from the report I expect to receive at the end of the week.

Fines (Payment and Recovery) Bill 2013: Order for Second Stage (25 Sep 2013)

Alan Shatter: I move: "That Second Stage be taken now."

Fines (Payment and Recovery) Bill 2013: Second Stage (25 Sep 2013)

Alan Shatter: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." The Fines (Payment and Recovery) Bill 2013 is very important legislation with three main objectives, namely, restoring confidence in the administration of justice where fines have been imposed by the courts, ensuring that the fines imposed by the courts are collected and reducing to the minimum possible extent the number of people committed...

Fines (Payment and Recovery) Bill 2013: Second Stage (25 Sep 2013)

Alan Shatter: Could the Deputy explain how to provide employment without economic growth?

Fines (Payment and Recovery) Bill 2013: Second Stage (25 Sep 2013)

Alan Shatter: This is unbelievable stuff.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Penalty Points System (25 Sep 2013)

Alan Shatter: The report to which the Deputy refers is the report by Assistant Commissioner John O'Mahoney of the outcome of the examination into allegations of irregularities in the operation of the Fixed Charge Processing System. This report was published on my Department's website on 15 May 2013 together with a related report from the Professional Standards Unit in the Garda Síochána which...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Visiting Committees Issues (25 Sep 2013)

Alan Shatter: Visiting Committee members are appointed for a period of three years by the Minister for Justice and Equality under the Prisons (Visiting Committees) Act 1925 and Prisons (Visiting Committees) Order 1925. There are fourteen Prison Visiting Committees in existence - one for each institution. I previously announced plans to strengthen the independent oversight of our prisons. As I said...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Aid Applications (25 Sep 2013)

Alan Shatter: I wish to inform the Deputy that there is no waiting period associated with the granting of criminal legal aid as under the Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) Act 1962, the courts, through the judiciary, are responsible for the granting of legal aid on the applicant's appearance in Court. In regard to civil legal aid the Deputy should be aware that I have no function or responsibility in relation...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Investigations (25 Sep 2013)

Alan Shatter: Allegations of this nature have previously been made to the District Officer at Belmullet in December 2011. I was advised by the Garda authorities that inquiries conducted into those allegations at the time found no evidence of alcohol being distributed to members of the Garda Síochána by or on behalf of the company named. The Garda Commissioner subsequently appointed a senior...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Issues (25 Sep 2013)

Alan Shatter: Work is at an advanced stage on the Irish Equality and Human Rights Commission Bill and I hope to be in a position to publish it shortly. As I have previously informed the House, I announced the appointment of members designate of the Commission in April last. At that time I explained that the independent Selection Panel, which was established to carry out the selection task, had confirmed...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Insolvency Service of Ireland Applications (25 Sep 2013)

Alan Shatter: The Insolvency Service of Ireland (ISI) began accepting applications for the three new debt relief solutions introduced by the Personal Insolvency Act 2012, as amended, on 9 September 2013. The ISI has advised that, in the interest of confidentiality, it does not intend to make public details or breakdowns of the number of applications received or being processed at this time. I am further...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Aid Applications (25 Sep 2013)

Alan Shatter: I wish to inform the Deputy that I have no function or responsibility in relation to the matter raised. Under the terms of the Civil Legal Aid Act 1995, as passed by the Oireachtas, the Legal Aid Board is independent in the operation of its functions and decisions on individual cases are a matter for the Board. However, to be of assistance I have contacted the Legal Aid Board for the...