Results 15,741-15,760 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (5 Nov 2013)

Alan Shatter: I am, of course, aware of concerns in rural communities about the incidence of crime, and of burglary in particular. These crimes cause deep distress to householders and have a broader impact in terms of fear of crime in the community. It was in the light of these concerns that the Garda Commissioner established Operation Fiacla last year to coordinate a sustained national drive against...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Services Regulation (5 Nov 2013)

Alan Shatter: As the Deputy may be aware, numerous jurisdictions have introduced new and more customer-focussed legal business models. These "alternative business structures" (ABS) can involve the traditional legal services provided by barristers and/or solicitors or combine them, in what are known as "multi-disciplinary practices", with those of accountants, insurance brokers, conveyancers or other...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Issues (5 Nov 2013)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 69, 82 and 88 together. The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission was established under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 to provide independent oversight of complaints made against members of the Garda Síochána. The Garda Ombudsman Commission has a hugely important role in ensuring that public confidence in the Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Stations Closures (5 Nov 2013)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 70 and 84 together. Ramelton Garda station has not been identified for closure and currently there are no proposals being prepared to close Ramelton Garda station. I have however been informed by the Garda Commissioner that circumstances of a temporary nature have necessitated augmenting the policing service provided to Ramelton with personnel from nearby...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Investigations (5 Nov 2013)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 71 and 85 together. The Deputy will be aware that this case was examined by the Garda Síochána Serious Crime Review team, and that a report was forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions. The DPP subsequently advised that, on the basis of the papers provided, there be no further prosecution in this matter. I have recently received a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Cross-Border Co-operation (5 Nov 2013)

Alan Shatter: I maintain very regular contact with the Northern Ireland Minister of Justice, David Ford, to address matters of shared interest and to enhance co-operation on all policing and criminal justice matters on this island. The Deputy will understand that national security is not a devolved matter in Northern Ireland and, in this regard, I also meet regularly with the Secretary of State for...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Court of Appeal Establishment (5 Nov 2013)

Alan Shatter: Following the successful outcome of the referendum on the proposed Thirty-third Amendment of the Constitution (Court of Appeal) Bill I will shortly bring forward an “Implementation Bill” that will deal with many practical issues in regard to the new Court of Appeal, such as the formal establishment and membership of the Court of Appeal, the appointment of judges, the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Public Sector Staff Issues (5 Nov 2013)

Alan Shatter: Budget 2014 poses no specific job reductions on the Justice Sector. Indeed, The Deputy will be aware from the allocations made on Budget Day that the gross budget for the Justice Sector in 2014 will be close to €2.16 billion. I am glad to say that funding for current expenditure of just under €2.1 billion is €137m more than the previous government had allocated under...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Extradition Arrangements (5 Nov 2013)

Alan Shatter: Ireland does not, at present, have an extradition treaty with Brazil. Following contact with the Brazilian authorities in recent times it has been agreed that Ireland and Brazil will commence negotiations on a bilateral extradition treaty. It has also been agreed that, pending the conclusion of the treaty, the two countries would accept extradition requests from each other on the basis of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Magdalen Laundries Issues (5 Nov 2013)

Alan Shatter: The Deputy will be aware that on the 25th June 2013 the Government approved the implementation of a cash lump sum payments scheme based on duration of stay in Laundries as recommended by Mr Justice Quirke. The Government also tasked an Inter-Departmental Group with giving further detailed consideration to the steps necessary to implement the other recommendations made by Mr Justice Quirke,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Strength (5 Nov 2013)

Alan Shatter: I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that, as of 30 September 2013, the latest date for which figures are readily available, there were 13,159 Garda members, 1,129 Garda Reserves and just over 2,000 civilian support staff in the Garda Síochána. As the Deputy will appreciate, the Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of these personnel among the Garda Regions,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Parole Board Issues (5 Nov 2013)

Alan Shatter: I announced my intention in 2011 to enact legislation to place the Parole Board on a footing which I believe will help to strengthen the Board and improve its functions. Work is under way and progress is being made. Decisions have yet to be finalised on exactly what role a statutory Parole Board should play, what powers it should have, and how it should fit into the overall criminal justice...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Process (5 Nov 2013)

Alan Shatter: As the Deputy is aware, the Criminal Justice (Spent Convictions) Bill 2012 passed Committee Stage in Dáil Éireann on 20 March 2013, having previously passed all stages in the Seanad. However, before the Bill was taken at Report Stage, a judgment of the Court of Appeal in England and Wales was published which has necessitated a review of the provisions concerning the disclosure of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Equality Proofing of Budgets (5 Nov 2013)

Alan Shatter: The Government Programme includes a commitment to "require all public bodies to take due note of equality and human rights in carrying out their functions". The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Bill, which I expect will be published shortly, will create a positive duty on public bodies to do so and provides for the Commission to provide support and advice to public bodies in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Complaints Procedures (5 Nov 2013)

Alan Shatter: On 17 October 2013 my office was handed correspondence from 24 individuals. These letters contained a variety of expressions of dissatisfaction in relation to the handling or outcome of complaints that had previously been made. Some of these complaints date back a number of years, and some relate to bodies other than the Garda Síochána. This correspondence has been acknowledged...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Proposed Legislation (5 Nov 2013)

Alan Shatter: Work on the General Scheme of a Family Relationships and Children Bill is at an advanced stage in my Department, and subject to the necessary consultations between Departments and at Government level, I hope to be in a position to publish my detailed legislative proposals by the end of the year. It is not yet possible to give a date for publication of the Bill as the General Scheme must...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Organised Crime (5 Nov 2013)

Alan Shatter: The Deputy will appreciate that organised crime, by its very nature, is constantly evolving and diversifying in both its structures and activities and that membership of organised crime groups tends to be fluid in nature. Given the fluidity of membership, it can, therefore, be challenging to identify definitive numbers of groupings and members. Furthermore many modern organised criminal...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Court of Appeal Establishment (5 Nov 2013)

Alan Shatter: Following the successful outcome of the referendum on the proposed Thirty-third Amendment of the Constitution (Court of Appeal) Bill I will shortly bring forward an "Implementation Bill" that will deal with many practical issues in regard to the new Court of Appeal, such as the formal establishment and membership of the Court of Appeal, the appointment of judges, the organisation of the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Transport Provision (5 Nov 2013)

Alan Shatter: Decisions in relation to the provision and allocation of Garda vehicles are a matter for the Garda Commissioner in the light of his identified operational demands and available resources. I am conscious of the continuing pressures on the Garda fleet and, in that regard, I am very pleased to have secured a further €9m for investment in the fleet, made up of €5m between now...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Penal Policy Review Group Report (5 Nov 2013)

Alan Shatter: I can inform the Deputy that the Working Group conducting a Strategic Review on Penal Policy is expected to report early in 2014.