Results 18,721-18,740 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Rights of Way Provision (15 Apr 2014)

Alan Shatter: As regards improved access to land for heritage and countryside recreation purposes, the position is that primary responsibility for this policy area, and for related legislation, rests with the Minister and the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. That Department's web site contains useful information concerning National Rural Development, including the National...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Investigations (15 Apr 2014)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 491 and 492 together. The very tragic case referred to by the Deputy has been the subject of considerable correspondence and representations over many years. The position is that I, as Minister, do not have a role in the investigation or prosecution of criminal offences and such matters are properly dealt with by An Garda Síochána and the Director...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Religious Services (15 Apr 2014)

Alan Shatter: Insofar as my responsibilities as Minister for Justice and Equality are concerned, chaplains work within the Prison Service only and my answer is confined to matters that relate to this role within the IPS. I would like to inform the Deputy that Prison Governors are obliged under the Prison Rules to facilitate prisoners in the practice of religious beliefs. Pastoral or chaplaincy services...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Career Breaks (15 Apr 2014)

Alan Shatter: I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that up to close of business on 11 April 2014 there have been 49 applications for the scheme. It is not possible to predict how many applications there will be prior to the closing date on the 31 May, 2014. The operation of the incentivised career break scheme is subject to the operating requirements of An Garda Síochána not being...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Home Care Issues (15 Apr 2014)

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

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Services Regulation (15 Apr 2014)

Alan Shatter: The Legal Services Regulation Bill 2011, which has completed Committee Stage in the Dáil and which I expect to commence Report Stage in June, gives legislative expression to the commitment in the Programme for Government to "establish independent regulation of the legal professions to improve access and competition, make legal costs more transparent and ensure adequate procedures for...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Human Trafficking (15 Apr 2014)

Alan Shatter: The Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Act 2008 created the offence of human trafficking for labour exploitation, including forced labour. The Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) (Amendment) Act 2013 which came into effect in August 2013, expanded the definition of exploitation to include forcing a person to engage in illegal activities for financial gain. The phenomenon of persons who have been...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (15 Apr 2014)

Alan Shatter: The Policy Document on Non-EEA Family Reunification, which I published on 31 December 2013, is a comprehensive statement of Irish national immigration policy in the area of family reunification. It is available on the website of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service of my Department at www.inis.gov.ie. It is open to a visa required national to make a visa application, for any...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (15 Apr 2014)

Alan Shatter: While it is the case that there is no separate statutory instrument setting out the visa decision-making process, I can assure the Deputy that visa officers assess visa applications having regard to detailed administrative guidelines. Key elements of those guidelines are available on the website of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (www.inis.gov.ie). For example, the list of...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Official Commemorations (15 Apr 2014)

Alan Shatter: A number of changes were made to the 1916 Arbour Hill commemoration last year following a review of all aspects of the Commemoration in response to a number of issues raised by relatives of those who fought in 1916. The Military ceremonial element was removed from the Church on the basis that it was no longer considered appropriate that Military personnel would be requested to perform such...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Transport (15 Apr 2014)

Alan Shatter: Details of usage by Government of the Ministerial Air Transport Service (MATS) for 2011, 2012, 2013 and up to the end of March 2014 are set out in the tabular statement below. As stated in my answer to your Parliamentary Question of 25 June 2013, in line with a commitment made in the Programme for Government, information relating to the MATS is now published on my Department's website and is...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Legal Costs (15 Apr 2014)

Alan Shatter: The Chief State Solicitor's Office, Attorney General's Office and the State Claims Agency deal with all legal matters on behalf of the Department. The main requirement for legal services in my Department is in the context of litigation, usually in the form of administrative law and personal injury proceedings. The Chief State Solicitor's Office (CSSO) and the State Claims Agency (SCA)...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Public Relations Contracts Expenditure (15 Apr 2014)

Alan Shatter: My Department has not incurred any expenditure on external public relations since I took office in March 2011.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel (15 Apr 2014)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 506 to 508, inclusive, together. The unsatisfactory age and fitness profile of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) was an issue of serious concern during the 1990s and was the subject of severe criticism by a series of external reports, mainly Price Waterhouse Consultants and the Efficiency Audit Group (EAG). One of the key areas identified for urgent action...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Official Commemorations (15 Apr 2014)

Alan Shatter: The correspondence that the Deputy has referred to raises a wide range of issues in relation to the annual 1916 Commemoration in Arbour Hill. A detailed response has issued to the correspondent. A number of changes were made last year following a review of all aspects of the Commemoration and in response to some issues raised by relatives of those who fought in 1916. Due to the increase...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel (15 Apr 2014)

Alan Shatter: While the Defence Forces Chaplaincy Service caters for military personnel and their families who are predominantly Roman Catholic, there is one part-time Church of Ireland chaplain. Provision is also made to provide for the spiritual needs of all other faiths. The Chaplaincy Service respects the traditions and practice of those of other faiths and those of secular beliefs and ensures that...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Pension Provisions (16 Apr 2014)

Alan Shatter: Any application from a member of the Garda Síochána for a special ill health pension resulting from an injury on duty will be processed in accordance with the Garda Siochana Pension Orders. If the Deputy wishes to make representations about a specific case I will look into the matter.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Registration of Title (16 Apr 2014)

Alan Shatter: I can inform the Deputy that there are two separate systems for recording property transactions in Ireland: - the system of title registration in the Land Registry, and - the system for recording deeds concerning land in the Registry of Deeds. Following the enactment of the Registration of Deeds and Title Act 2006, both systems are under the management and control of the Property...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Investigations (16 Apr 2014)

Alan Shatter: I am informed by Garda authorities that the person in question was reported missing to the Spanish Police in January 2008 and that their disappearance is being investigated by the Guardia Civil in Spain. I am assured that An Garda Síochána continue to liaise with the Spanish authorities and provide whatever assistance is required to progress the investigation in that jurisdiction....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Recruitment (16 Apr 2014)

Alan Shatter: Section 16(1) of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 provides for the making of a sworn declaration by each member of An Garda Síochána. Section 16(2) provides that the words "before God" may be omitted from the declaration at the request of the declarant and in such a case the Bible is not used (it is understood that a copy of the Irish Constitution is used in such a case)....