Results 2,581-2,600 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Financial Services Regulation (18 Dec 2013)

Alan Shatter: As I am sure the Deputy will appreciate the question posed raises issues that would need to be considered in the context of the regulation of financial transactions. The issue might therefore be more appropriate for consideration in the first instance by my colleague the Minister for Finance. I can, however, inform the Deputy that I have no proposals in this regard.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Staff Remuneration (18 Dec 2013)

Alan Shatter: In my capacity as Minister for Justice and Equality I have appointed two Special Advisors. They are both paid at the Principal Officer standard scale. I have made no requests for salary increases for either individual and the only changes to their salaries have been by way of normal incremental progression. The salaries of my Special Advisors are in accordance with the applicable pay scales...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel (18 Dec 2013)

Alan Shatter: Section 114 of the Defence Acts 1954 - 2011 provides that any member of the Defence Forces, who consider themselves to have been wronged in any matter, may make a complaint and have it investigated. Where a wrong is proven, redress is offered to the complainant. In the event that the complainant is unhappy with the internal military investigations or with the proposed redress, he or she can...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Medicinal Products (18 Dec 2013)

Alan Shatter: Much of the information relevant to the answer to this question has already been given by me last Wednesday in the Dáil in answering your similar question. As I stated in my reply, I am informed by the military authorities that risk assessments are carried out for all mission areas and suitable control measures are put in place to minimise identified risks. Where a health risk is...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Staff Remuneration (18 Dec 2013)

Alan Shatter: I have not appointed a programme manager or special advisor in my capacity as Minister for Defence. I have engaged the services of a personal assistant who assists me in constituency matters. The annual salary attached to this post is €56,060 which is in accordance with Department of Public Expenditure & Reform guidelines for Ministerial appointments.

Third Report of the Constitutional Convention - Same-Sex Marriage: Statements (17 Dec 2013)

Alan Shatter: All of us who are Members of Parliament come here and work every day on behalf of the people. On occasion we forget this is the Parliament of the Irish republic and this evening has been very important. We have made history. We have debated a very important issue. We have had contributions from every party in the House and contributions from Independent Deputies. We have unitedly agreed...

Third Report of the Constitutional Convention - Same-Sex Marriage: Statements (17 Dec 2013)

Alan Shatter: It is important we have this level of understanding and clarity. The referendum will be about one, and only one, issue and that issue is whether it is agreed by a majority of the people of the Republic of Ireland that individuals who are gay can celebrate a marriage. This is the only issue. We already have on the Statue Book civil partnership. Civil partnership in many ways resembles...

Third Report of the Constitutional Convention - Same-Sex Marriage: Statements (17 Dec 2013)

Alan Shatter: We need to address the issue to which the civil partnership legislation, which was very much welcomed and which I supported, was blind and which I raised during the course of the debate on the legislation. It was blind to the fact that gay couples had children, cared for children and brought up children. The HSE places children for fostering with gay couples. That is why we believe it is...

Third Report of the Constitutional Convention - Same-Sex Marriage: Statements (17 Dec 2013)

Alan Shatter: Perhaps the House will agree to Private Members' business starting five minutes late. I am conscious it was the debate previous to this that impinged on the time allocated for this debate. I have no difficulty with ensuring Deputy Finian McGrath can have his few minutes to speak, if the House is agreeable to this.

Third Report of the Constitutional Convention - Same-Sex Marriage: Statements (17 Dec 2013)

Alan Shatter: I said children should not be an issue because it is not an issue of relevance for the referendum to take place.

Third Report of the Constitutional Convention - Same-Sex Marriage: Statements (17 Dec 2013)

Alan Shatter: I propose to report to the Dáil, on behalf of the Government, on its response to the third report of the Constitutional Convention. I am pleased to inform the House that the Government agreed at its meeting of 5 November, that a referendum should be held no later than mid-2015 on the question of enabling same-sex couples to marry. The Constitutional Convention has been given the task,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (17 Dec 2013)

Alan Shatter: Officials in the Citizenship Division of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) inform me that there is no record of an application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to in the Deputy's question who currently has permission to remain in the State until 8 May 2014. Section 15 of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended, provides...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (17 Dec 2013)

Alan Shatter: The Reception and Integration Agency (RIA), an operational unit of the Irish Naturalisation & Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department, is responsible for the accommodation of asylum seekers in accordance with the Government policy of direct provision. There are currently 4,364 persons seeking international protection residing in 34 Direct Provision accommodation centres across 16...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Registration of Title (17 Dec 2013)

Alan Shatter: I am advised by the Property Registration Authority (PRA) that the total number of cases on hand as at 30 November 2013 was 60,115. This represents a reduction of almost 74% when compared to the highest level of cases on hand which was recorded in March 2008 at 231,970. The PRA has since that time been engaged in an active arrear clearance programme. Of the 60,115 cases on hand at end...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Registration of Title (17 Dec 2013)

Alan Shatter: I can inform the Deputy that under the Registration of Deeds and Title Act 2006, the Property Registration Authority (PRA) was established as and from 4 November 2006. The PRA replaces the Registrar of Deeds and Titles as the registering authority in relation to property registration in Ireland and, subject to the above Act, is independent in the performance of its functions. The Deputy...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (17 Dec 2013)

Alan Shatter: The Deputy will be aware that the allocation of all Garda resources, including personnel, is a matter for the Garda Commissioner and one in which I have no function. However, I am advised that the situation in the area is monitored on an ongoing basis by local Garda Management in the context of crime trends, policing needs and other operational strategies to ensure optimum use is made of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (17 Dec 2013)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 429 and 430 together. The position is that the scope of the Multi-Unit Developments Bill 2009 was specifically extended to cover mixed developments, including housing estates with owners' management companies (OMCs), in response to concerns expressed during Seanad discussions on the Bill. These concerns arose from the fact that the scope of the published...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Proposed Legislation (17 Dec 2013)

Alan Shatter: As I have previously conveyed to the House, the Programme for Government undertakes to “legislate to establish a Judicial Council, with lay representation, to provide an effective mechanism for dealing with complaints against judges" and this commitment is being pursued in the proposed Judicial Council Bill. As well as providing for the establishment of a Judicial Council and Board...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Correspondence (17 Dec 2013)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 432, 439 and 440 together. I can confirm that I have received correspondence in relation to the matters referred to by the deputy, including a copy of the book referred to. As the correspondence contains allegations of criminal actions I have referred the correspondence, and the book, to the Garda Commissioner for appropriate attention. The Deputy will...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Proposed Legislation (17 Dec 2013)

Alan Shatter: The Legal Services Regulation Bill 2011, which has completed Second Stage and is continuing Committee Stage which commenced on 17th July, 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 addressing...