Results 15,661-15,680 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Operations (23 Oct 2013)

Alan Shatter: I am informed by the Garda authorities that Operation Spire began on 27 May 2013 and will remain in place until the end of 2013 when it will be reviewed and evaluated. Operation Spire provides for a high visibility policing presence specifically on O'Connell Street at critical times to address anti-social behaviour, drug dealing and related crime. The area is patrolled by uniform patrols...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (23 Oct 2013)

Alan Shatter: The Garda Commissioner is responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, throughout the organisation and I have no function in the matter. This allocation of resources is constantly monitored in the context of demographics, crime trends, policing needs and other operational strategies in place on a District, Divisional and Regional level to ensure optimum use is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Operations (23 Oct 2013)

Alan Shatter: The Garda Commissioner is the Accounting Officer for the Garda Vote. In that context, I am informed by the Garda authorities that while some additional costs have been incurred in respect of events linked to Arthur's Day the Garda operations involved were relatively small in scale. I also understand that arrangements have been made for the recoupment of relevant costs in 2013. At this...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Recruitment (23 Oct 2013)

Alan Shatter: The maximum recruitment age at which candidates may apply to join the Garda Síochána as a full time member is set by regulation at not more than 35 years and the question of appealing that upper age limit does not arise. The current maximum age applies without discrimination to everyone, including members of the Garda Reserve. This upper age limit of 35 was set having regard to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Vetting of Personnel (23 Oct 2013)

Alan Shatter: The Garda Central Vetting Unit (GCVU) provides Garda Vetting Disclosures to organisations registered with it for that purpose. There are currently in the region of 20,000 such organisations. While it is part of current vetting procedures that any applicant must have an address in Ireland, the GCVU does not place any other restriction on the making of applications by registered organisations...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (23 Oct 2013)

Alan Shatter: Visa applications for Chinese nationals living in China are handled by the dedicated Irish Visa Office in Beijing, which is a sub-office of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department. This office handles all aspects of visa applications, including appeals, locally. Over 50% of visit visas worldwide, which includes tourist visas and applications lodged in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (23 Oct 2013)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 186 and 187 together. As I have previously informed the Deputy, the distribution model for the deployment of Garda personnel takes all the relevant factors into account, including of course the capacity within each Garda Division and District to respond to demand, and there is no minimum establishment for a given Garda area. As the Deputy will appreciate...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Charities Regulation (23 Oct 2013)

Alan Shatter: The Charities Act 2009 provides for an integrated system of mandatory registration and proportionate regulation and supervision of charitable organisations operating in Ireland. An independent Charities Regulatory Authority is to be established under the Act. One of the functions of this Authority will be to establish and maintain a public Register of Charities. When this Register is in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (23 Oct 2013)

Alan Shatter: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the visa application referred to by the Deputy was lodged at the Irish Embassy in Ankara on 02 September 2013 and was forwarded to the INIS Visa Office in Dublin for processing. A decision on the application can be expected within 10-15 working days. Queries in relation to general immigration...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service Issues (23 Oct 2013)

Alan Shatter: In July 2012, the Government announced an infrastructure stimulus package which includes the provision of new or refurbished courthouses in Mullingar, Drogheda, Cork, Limerick, Waterford, Wexford and Letterkenny. As the Deputy is aware, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts, including the provision of accommodation for court sittings, is the...

Seanad: Asylum Support Services: Motion (23 Oct 2013)

Alan Shatter: I thank the Senators who proposed the motion and all of those who have spoken on an issue of great importance in which I have had great personal interest for a considerable time. This important debate coincides with some events which have taken place over the past 48 hours in the State, which are not directly related to the direct provision issue but are related to the welfare of children. I...

Seanad: Asylum Support Services: Motion (23 Oct 2013)

Alan Shatter: It is important that events which take place off this island in other states are not automatically assumed to be replicated in this State or in other states throughout Europe to the detriment of any particular group or minority being singled out. I am not suggesting this in any way was a motivation of the members of An Garda Síochána who in good faith acted in a manner they deemed...

Seanad: Asylum Support Services: Motion (23 Oct 2013)

Alan Shatter: As I said earlier, I welcome this debate and the opportunity to respond to the points raised by Senators, and to speak, if I can, more generally about the subject in order to assist Members gain a fuller understanding of all the issues involved. At the outset, as Members will be aware, I have on several occasions in this House and in the other House responded to many, if not all, of the...

Seanad: Asylum Support Services: Motion (23 Oct 2013)

Alan Shatter: Could we have some realism in this discussion? We must provide properly for those who are genuinely seeking political asylum, coming from some parts of this world where people are treated appallingly. However, let us not fall into the trap of believing that everyone who claims asylum is always, in all circumstances, telling the truth. Sadly, they are not. The system of direct provision...

Topical Issue Debate: Child Protection Issues (24 Oct 2013)

Alan Shatter: I thank the Deputies for raising a very important issue. There has, of course, been understandable public interest in two cases which have come to light in recent days involving children with Roma families. As I have stated already, we are all pleased and relieved that the concerns that arose on the part of the authorities in these two cases have proved to be unfounded and that the children...

Topical Issue Debate: Child Protection Issues (24 Oct 2013)

Alan Shatter: If I could adequately answer in conclusion the questions that have been raised. Deputy Timmins raised the issue of in camera proceedings. There are amendments made to the Courts Act that went through the House before the end of July that will ensure that we have greater transparency when there are child care cases before our courts. That transparency will provide protection still for the...

Topical Issue Debate: Child Protection Issues (24 Oct 2013)

Alan Shatter: -----is the extent to which matters relating to these two cases appeared in newspapers. That is a matter that will be the subject of the inquiry that is being made. It will be a matter, I have no doubt, that the Ombudsman for Children will address. We must ensure that when intervention is taken in any child care matter in the best interests of children, the anonymity of the child and of...

Topical Issue Debate: Child Protection Issues (24 Oct 2013)

Alan Shatter: It is most unfortunate that on a very serious issue relating to child protection we are subjected to Deputies Clare Daly and Wallace engaging in their usual obsessive attacks to entirely undermine public confidence in An Garda Síochána. The Deputies cannot make up their minds if they want to protect children or just attack An Garda Síochána. This is a serious area of...

Topical Issue Debate: Child Protection Issues (24 Oct 2013)

Alan Shatter: I do not have an agenda which is to denigrate the Garda, nor do I have an agenda to defend something that is indefensible. I am not going to ask the children's Ombudsman to exercise independent oversight, look into this matter independently, and jump to conclusions before she does so. It is a gross misrepresentation, but it suits the Deputy's narrative, to suggest that gardaí are being...

Topical Issue Debate: Child Protection Issues (24 Oct 2013)

Alan Shatter: In the area of trafficking children, section 12 of the Child Care Act, which allows the immediate intervention by An Garda Síochána, is crucial. There are many cases in which the Garda, in consultation with the HSE, intervenes to protect children. Deputy Timmins asked for statistics. I can provide data on the use of section 12 of the Child Care Act 1991. In 2010, there were 728...