Results 16,141-16,160 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Agreements (20 Nov 2013)

Alan Shatter: For obvious reasons, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on any family matter which may be the subject of legal proceedings now or in the future, but I can confirm that I have written to the family in question confirming as Egypt is not a contracting state to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, I have contacted my counterpart in Egypt...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Drugs Crime (20 Nov 2013)

Alan Shatter: As outlined in the reply to the Parliamentary Question to which the Deputy refers, the Adult Cautioning Scheme was introduced in 2006 as a response to a recommendation in the 1999 Nally Report on the Public Prosecution System. The Report recommended that "as a measure to reduce the volume of cases prosecuted through the Courts" a system should be introduced whereby offenders would, in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (20 Nov 2013)

Alan Shatter: Section 29 of the Offences Against the State Act 1939 was amended by the Criminal Justice (Search Warrants) Act 2012, in response to the judgment of the Supreme Court in the case of Damache v DPP to the effect that section 29(1), as was, was unconstitutional.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (20 Nov 2013)

Alan Shatter: The prescribed statutory fees to be paid by applicants on the issue of a certificate of naturalisation were last increased by the Irish Nationality and Citizenship (Fees) Regulations 2008, which came into effect on 1st August 2008. The standard certification fee is €950 while a reduced fee of €200 applies in the case of an application made on behalf of a minor or in certain...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Agreements (20 Nov 2013)

Alan Shatter: As the Deputy is aware, international law governs the area of child abduction and it is a matter for every State to decide whether they accede to such law. Egypt is not a contracting state to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. I have contacted my counterpart in Egypt proposing that their officials and my Department explore the possibilities of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Public Order Offences (20 Nov 2013)

Alan Shatter: I have requested a report from the Garda authorities in relation to the matter referred to by the Deputy. I will contact the Deputy directly as soon as the report is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Deportation Orders Data (20 Nov 2013)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 159 and 160 together. I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service of my Department that there were no Deportations of persons to Latvia and Estonia in any of the years since the accession of those States to the EU in 2004. Neither, as I previously advised the Deputy in my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 742 of 5th November, is there...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Operations (20 Nov 2013)

Alan Shatter: I have requested a report from the Garda authorities in relation to the matter referred to by the Deputy. I will contact the Deputy directly as soon as the report is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel Data (20 Nov 2013)

Alan Shatter: The military authorities advise that the Medical Classification Code (MCC) that a member of the Defence Forces receives at his/her overseas medical is recorded electronically on the medical module of the Personnel Management System (PMS). I am advised that they only commenced recording this information on the PMS in recent years.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Bodies Data (20 Nov 2013)

Alan Shatter: The State Boards under the aegis of the Department of Defence when the Government took office were the Civil Defence Board, the Army Pensions Board and the Board of Coiste an Asgard. The Civil Defence Board was identified in the Public Service Reform Plan as a body to be abolished and legislation was passed by the Oireachtas in December 2012 for the dissolution of the Board. Its functions...

Seanad: Civil Law (Missing Persons) Bill 2013: Second Stage (20 Nov 2013)

Alan Shatter: Let me start by saying that I was very interested in Senator Ó Clochartaigh's story about his family member. One wonders what she thought the rest of her family was doing when she disappeared. This is one who disappeared to reappear 30 years later. It is an insight into the difficulties in this area. I congratulate Senator Colm Burke for taking the initiative to introduce legislation...

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice and Equality (Supplementary) (20 Nov 2013)

Alan Shatter: I thank the committee for making time available today to consider my request for a Supplementary Estimate for the Garda Síochána and Justice and Equality Votes. There are five Votes within the justice group which, to ensure the effective management of resources for the entire justice sector, are treated as a single group. Therefore, while there is a requirement for additional...

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice and Equality (Supplementary) (20 Nov 2013)

Alan Shatter: I am going to respond in reverse order and deal with the legal aid question first. The Deputy is right that there are some individuals who repetitively apply for free criminal legal aid because they are repetitive offenders. The Deputy will be aware that there are decisions of our Supreme Court and of the European courts which delineate that an individual who is charged with a criminal...

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice and Equality (Supplementary) (20 Nov 2013)

Alan Shatter: I thank Deputy O'Brien for the various comments he has made and for raising issues. I am pleased to note that substantial moneys were saved on the security side during the Presidency. I pay tribute to the fantastic work done by the Garda in this regard. Ministers from 27 member states attended meetings, with more in the case of certain meetings where Ministers from other states had...

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice and Equality (Supplementary) (20 Nov 2013)

Alan Shatter: I am very happy to stick with the Estimates. I will also stick to the factual information. Unfortunately, some Members of the House always want to dramatise and make alarmist comments that will unsettle the public, in the hope of getting a newspaper headline.

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice and Equality (Supplementary) (20 Nov 2013)

Alan Shatter: The Deputy is aware the statistics on the criminal figures are published by the Central Statistics Office, not by my Department. The statistics are based on the accurate work and information available to that office and I learn of them when other people do. The information contained in the last annualised figures published shows a reduction of 8% in crime across the board. I never...

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice and Equality (Supplementary) (20 Nov 2013)

Alan Shatter: The main function of the GoSafe vans is to encourage people to drive carefully and not to speed and to detect those who are speeding. Those who operate the vans are being successful in that regard. There has been an increase in the number of fatalities among cyclists and motorcyclists. This is a problem. The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Leo Varadkar, and I met...

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice and Equality (Supplementary) (20 Nov 2013)

Alan Shatter: I do not have a problem replying to the question. The expenditure incurred on the G8 was €3.8 million. We have an obligation to ensure proper security is provided. Some of the delegations to the G8 were staying on our side of the Border in the Republic. There was no question of us looking for a financial contribution from Northern Ireland, the United Kingdom Government or the PSNI...

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice and Equality (Supplementary) (20 Nov 2013)

Alan Shatter: The funding for the Garda Reserve related to the additional number that came into the force during the year. We continue to recruit the Garda Reserve and they receive what is really an honorarium. They get €1,200 per annum for participating in the Garda Reserve. There were a number of recruits during the course of the year. I attended two graduation ceremonies. I am aware you...

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice and Equality (Supplementary) (20 Nov 2013)

Alan Shatter: I am sorry, Chairman. It is €1,000 per annum not €1,200 per annum that is received by members of the Garda Reserve. I gave the wrong figure.