Results 18,801-18,820 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Other Questions: Proposed Legislation (30 Apr 2014)

Alan Shatter: If the Deputy is suggesting, without substantive evidence, that An Garda Síochána should simply present to the offices of the print media and demand access to all of their computers and information, and violate the print media's right to freedom of expression, to write articles and to report information, I would disagree with her. We have seen in Britain, and rightly so, that an...

Other Questions: Proposed Legislation (30 Apr 2014)

Alan Shatter: The drafting of the general scheme of a bail Bill to modernise the law on bail is at an advanced stage in my Department. I intend to bring proposals to Government on the matter in the first half of this year, if possible, having regard to other legislative priorities. It has unfortunately not been possible to progress this legislation as quickly as I had hoped due to other legislative...

Other Questions: Proposed Legislation (30 Apr 2014)

Alan Shatter: To give the Deputy a straight answer to his final question, there is concern within my Department. I have concerns about the number of occasions on which some individuals find themselves before the courts while they are on bail pending the hearing of their cases. There are individuals who commit a series of offences between the time they are first charged and granted bail and when they are...

Other Questions: Proposed Legislation (30 Apr 2014)

Alan Shatter: There are certain restraints under the Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights. The fact that someone has previously abused his or her position while on bail, as I understand it, cannot under our constitutional system and the European Court of Human Rights lead a court automatically to the conclusion that he or she should be automatically denied bail if charged at a later...

Topical Issue Debate: Child Abuse Issues (30 Apr 2014)

Alan Shatter: I thank the Deputy for raising the matter. This is a matter with which I have an intimate knowledge because for a period of time I represented de bonoCynthia Owen in my law firm and tried to be of assistance to her. I am aware of background information and I do not know whether the Deputy is aware of everything of which I am aware. This is a case which greatly troubled me during the period...

Topical Issue Debate: Child Abuse Issues (30 Apr 2014)

Alan Shatter: I can only reiterate to the Deputy these are serious matters. Unfortunately, I cannot require that a prosecution take place. It is a matter for the DPP to be assured that the evidence available merits prosecuting an identified individual or identified individuals and that there is evidence sufficiently persuasive to indicate a reasonable possibility of a prosecution being successful.

Topical Issue Debate: Child Abuse Issues (30 Apr 2014)

Alan Shatter: The review of the papers by Mr. Gageby, the engagement by the gardaí-----

Topical Issue Debate: Child Abuse Issues (30 Apr 2014)

Alan Shatter: There is no point in a member of Fianna Fáil shouting at me when these were matters put to bed by that party in government in 2007.

Topical Issue Debate: Child Abuse Issues (30 Apr 2014)

Alan Shatter: Perhaps the Deputy might contain himself just for once. This is a serious issue and the Deputy should not play politics with it.

Topical Issue Debate: Child Abuse Issues (30 Apr 2014)

Alan Shatter: Moreover, the Deputy should not make the pretence that he had any previous interest in it, because he had not.

Topical Issue Debate: Child Abuse Issues (30 Apr 2014)

Alan Shatter: This is a serious issue. I assure Deputy Boyd Barrett, with whom I frequently disagree, that this is an issue on which there is no disagreement between us. If this issue can be advanced in a manner that would bring some closure to it and that would ensure that identifiable individuals who can be properly prosecuted will be prosecuted, that would be a desirable outcome. The holding of a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Drugs in Prisons (30 Apr 2014)

Alan Shatter: I wish to advise the Deputy that the current contract for the provision of training services to the Irish Prison Service Canine Unit will expire in the very near future. The options regarding the provision of future training services are currently being explored. The Deputy will appreciate that the release of such sensitive data could compromise and undermine the legitimacy of any future...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Racial Profiling (30 Apr 2014)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 and 19 together. Firstly, let me make my position quite clear. I would find it totally unacceptable if any member of the Garda Síochána were to engage in any discriminatory profiling, whether based on race, ethnic origin or otherwise, and I am quite sure that the Garda Commissioner shares my view in this matter. In fact, I am assured by the Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Anti-Social Behaviour (30 Apr 2014)

Alan Shatter: The functions and powers of Joint Policing Committees (JPCs) are set out in the Garda Síochána Act 2005, which provides for a Committee in each local authority area. The Act provides that JPCs operate under guidelines issued by the Minister for Justice and Equality after consultation with the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government. JPCs are a partnership...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Data Protection (30 Apr 2014)

Alan Shatter: The Data Protection Commissioner published a data protection audit report in March this year in relation to An Garda Síochána covering the period 2011 to October 2013. It includes a number of detailed recommendations made to An Garda Síochána arising from the audit along with the responses of An Garda Síochána. The full report is available on the website of An...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Proposed Police Authority (30 Apr 2014)

Alan Shatter: At a recent meeting the Government established a new Cabinet Committee on Justice Reform to oversee the development of proposals for an independent police authority and to have this new body in place by the end of 2014. The Cabinet Committee is chaired by the Taoiseach and it also comprises the Tánaiste, the Minister for Justice and Equality and the Minister for Communications, Energy...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Commissions of Investigation (30 Apr 2014)

Alan Shatter: During my appearance before the Joint Committee on Pubic Service, Oversight and Petitions on 19 February 2014 to discuss reports that the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission may have been subject to unlawful surveillance, I undertook to see if I could provide the Committee with any details of the main points of potential difference between the Verrimus report provided by GSOC and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Firearms Licences (30 Apr 2014)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 15, 534, 570 and 601 together. In light of public safety concerns highlighted by An Garda Síochána and difficulties in the interpretation of the legislation expressed by members of the judiciary, my Department is currently examining key policy, legislative, administrative and other issues relating to firearms licensing in conjunction with An Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (30 Apr 2014)

Alan Shatter: I can assure the Deputy that An Garda Síochána closely monitors the incidence of this type of crime and that a range of enforcement, prevention and community policing measures are in place to respond to these concerns. The circumstances of this type of offending varies but in many cases the perpetrators will persuade the householder to engage them to carry out work of dubious...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Insolvency Service of Ireland Data (30 Apr 2014)

Alan Shatter: The Insolvency Service of Ireland (ISI) recently published its Quarter 1 Statistics Report for 2014. The full report is available on its website: www.isi.gov.ie. These statistics will be updated on a quarterly basis. With regard to the number of approved arrangements there were forty four (44) Debt Relief Notices; seven (7) Debt Settlement Arrangements and four (4) Personal Insolvency...