Results 2,281-2,300 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (16 Jan 2014)

Alan Shatter: The Deputy’s assertions that the Irish Immigration system does not allow Chinese nationals to work or secure permanent residence in Ireland are untrue. In fact, in 2013 alone, approx 11,000 Chinese nationals were registered in the State in respect of that year. These persons are registered for the purposes of employment or study, to operate a business or as a dependant family member...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Expenditure (16 Jan 2014)

Alan Shatter: I can inform the Deputy that photographic services are only used by my Department to mark and provide a record of significant occasions. Consideration is given at all times to the costs involved and best value for money is always a priority when sourcing such services. The photography costs incurred by my Department and agencies under my remit from the date of my appointment on the 9th...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Public Relations Contracts Data (16 Jan 2014)

Alan Shatter: During the period in question, my Department has only used the services of external public relations firms to provide training to staff as follows: Date Name of Company Services Provided Expenditure € 2011 Carr Communications Limited Communications Training Module 550.00 2013 Carr Communications Limited Training Courses 3,275.00 It is my Department's policy to use in house...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Vetting Applications (16 Jan 2014)

Alan Shatter: I am informed by the Garda authorities that a vetting application on behalf of the individual referred to by the Deputy was processed by the Garda Central Vetting Unit (GCVU) and returned to the Authorised Signatory in FÁS on 10 December, 2013.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Proposed Legislation (16 Jan 2014)

Alan Shatter: The Criminal Justice (Spent Convictions) Bill 2012 has passed Committee Stage in the Dáil, having passed all stages in the Seanad. However, before the Bill could be taken at Report Stage, a 2013 UK Court of Appeal judgment necessitated a review of the disclosure provisions in both the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012 and in the Spent Convictions Bill....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (16 Jan 2014)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 226 and 227 together. Regulation (EU) No 604/2013 was adopted in June 2013 and applies to applications for international protection lodged as from 1 January 2014. This Regulation is generally referred to as the Dublin Regulation and establishes the criteria and mechanisms for determining the Member State responsible for examining an application for...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Bodies (16 Jan 2014)

Alan Shatter: I wish to inform the Deputy that my Department does not have responsibility for, or create, quasi autonomous NGOs. The usual acronym for such bodies is the term "quango" which stands for "quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisations". As the Deputy is asking whether my Department has any such bodies under its remit I can answer that there are no quasi autonomous NGO’s which fall...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Data (16 Jan 2014)

Alan Shatter: I can inform the Deputy that as of Monday 10th January, there were a total of 62 subversive prisoners in custody in the prison estate. There are 14 prisoners awaiting trial, the remaining 48 prisoners have been sentenced. The table below outlines the length of time each of these 14 prisoners have been in custody. Case Date committed for trial Length of time in custody 1 29.11.12 14...

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

Alan Shatter: I am informed by the Garda authorities that investigations by An Garda Síochána into the matter referred to by the Deputy are ongoing. The Deputy will appreciate that, as the matter is under investigation, it would not be appropriate for me to comment further at this time.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (16 Jan 2014)

Alan Shatter: I share the Deputy's concern about the recent violent deaths and wish to express my sincere sympathies with the families and friends of all the deceased. I know the Gardaí are investigating these crimes with all the necessary resources and charges and arrests have already been made in relation to a number of the deaths. In these circumstances I am sure the Deputy will appreciate that...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Personal Insolvency Act (16 Jan 2014)

Alan Shatter: Contrary to some recent media reports, I can confirm that there is no intention to amend the law on personal insolvency, though of course I am keeping the operation of the legislation under close ongoing review. The enactment of the Personal Insolvency Act 2012, and the establishment of the Insolvency Service of Ireland in March 2013, already constitute a far-reaching, substantial and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Aid Service Reform (16 Jan 2014)

Alan Shatter: The Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) Act 1962 provides that free legal aid may be granted in certain circumstances for the defence of persons of insufficient means in criminal proceedings. Under the 1962 Act, the courts, through the judiciary, are responsible for the granting of legal aid. An applicant must establish to the satisfaction of the court that his/her means are insufficient to enable...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Sentencing Policy (16 Jan 2014)

Alan Shatter: The mandatory sentence for murder is life imprisonment, as provided by section 2 of the Criminal Justice Act 1990. A sentence of life imprisonment means that the prisoner is subject to that sentence for the rest of his or her life. Such a prisoner has no right to be released early at any stage. If granted temporary release, the prisoner remains subject to the life sentence and can be recalled...

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

Alan Shatter: Recruitment has commenced and new Garda trainees will enter the Garda College in the middle of this year, for the first time since 2009. Approximately 25,000 applications were received by the Public Appointments Service (PAS) through their website by the deadline of midnight 9th January. My objective is to maintain current Garda strength at 13,000. The level of recruitment to the Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Criminal Prosecutions Issues (16 Jan 2014)

Alan Shatter: A decision to grant bail in a particular case is a matter for the court, which is, subject only to the Constitution and the law, independent in the exercise of its judicial functions. There is a constitutional presumption in favour of bail, since, in the eyes of the law, a person is innocent until proven guilty. The provisions of the European Convention on Human Rights also restrict the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Strength (16 Jan 2014)

Alan Shatter: As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of personnel, including Community Gardaí, among the Garda Regions, Divisions, and Districts. Garda management keep this distribution under continuing review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the best possible use is made of these resources. The Deputy will...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Vetting Applications (16 Jan 2014)

Alan Shatter: The Deputy may wish to note that the number of vetting applications received by the Garda Central Vetting Unit (GCVU) each year has risen from 187,864 in 2007 to 381,082 in 2013. I am informed by the Garda authorities that the current average processing time for applications is now approximately 6 weeks from date of receipt. Processing times fluctuate upwards and downwards depending on...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (16 Jan 2014)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 239 and 262 together. The visa application referred to by the Deputy was received in the Visa Office Abuja on 19 December 2013. Following full consideration, the Visa Officer decided to refuse the grant of the visa on 13 January 2014. The specific reasons for the application being refused are contained in the refusal letter, which has issued to the person...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Expenditure (16 Jan 2014)

Alan Shatter: The allocation from my Department’s expenditure budget to registered charities, as part of the Charitable Lotteries Scheme, in each of the past three years is as follows: Charity 2011 Funding (€) 2012 Funding (€) 2013 Funding (€) Rehab Group 3,905,661.42 3,923,659.43 2,581,293.36 Gael Linn 436,262.33 454,274.93 319,194.87 Asthma Society of Ireland ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (16 Jan 2014)

Alan Shatter: The person concerned has had his permission to remain in the State renewed for a further three year period, until 9th January, 2017. This decision was conveyed in writing to the person concerned by letter dated 14th January, 2014. It will be open to the person concerned to apply to the Citizenship Division of my Department for a Certificate of Naturalisation when he is in a position to...