Results 3,081-3,100 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Investigations (19 Nov 2013)

Alan Shatter: I am not aware of any such investigation and I do not consider that, as Minister for Justice and Equality, I have any function in relation to the investigation of anonymous claims of the kind referred to by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Investigations (19 Nov 2013)

Alan Shatter: The Deputy may wish to be aware that I met with the family of Chief Officer Brian Stack on 3 May this year and attended a memorial service in Portlaoise Prison where a bust in Chief Officer Stack's honour was unveiled. As I have previously said, Chief Officer Stack was a dedicated and committed servant of the Irish State and a loyal husband and father. His murder was not only a tragedy for...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Overseas Missions (19 Nov 2013)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 553 and 558 together. EUTM Somalia, which was launched on 7 April 2010, aims to strengthen the Somali National Government as a functioning government and to empower the institutions to serve the Somali citizens, by providing military training to members of the Somali National Armed Forces. The mission is part of the EU's long term strategy for the Horn of...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Properties (19 Nov 2013)

Alan Shatter: As I have stated in the House previously agreement was reached some time ago for the sale of both Lifford and Rockhill to Donegal County Council. My Department has been pressing the Council for completion of the transfer and the Council has promised progress on this matter by early December.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Properties (19 Nov 2013)

Alan Shatter: Following a re-organisation of the Reserve Defence Force Lahinch Camp closed in March of this year. The property is surplus to my Department’s requirements and in accordance with normal procedure was offered for sale to other Government Departments and Public Bodies. Discussions have taken place with Clare County Council and local community groups in relation to the property and these...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Civil Defence Training (19 Nov 2013)

Alan Shatter: Dublin Civil Defence has over 650 active volunteer members. It also has a large fleet of vehicles including ambulances and fire tenders. There are two Road Safety Authority approved driving instructors within Dublin Civil Defence. These instructors provide the required driving lessons to ensure that Dublin Civil Defence has an adequate number of appropriately qualified drivers. Dublin Civil...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Bodies (19 Nov 2013)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 557 and 561 together. The Working Group on Malaria Chemoprophylaxis in the Defence Forces was convened in the context of current and potential litigation. The group comprises of representatives of the Defence Forces, the Department of Defence, State Claims Agency and the Chief State Solicitors Office. The group includes representatives of the Medical Corps,...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Deployment (19 Nov 2013)

Alan Shatter: A total of one hundred and twenty-six (126) members of the Permanent Defence Force are currently deployed to the Golan Heights in Syria. Full details of all personnel deployed to the Golan Heights since March 2011 are listed in the tabular statement attached. The main Defence Forces deployment is with the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in Syria. The Irish 43rd Infantry...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Recruitment (19 Nov 2013)

Alan Shatter: I am advised by the Military Authorities that the strength of the Permanent Defence Force, at 30 September 2013, the latest date for which details are available, was 9,188 comprising 7,379 Army, 784 Air Corps and 1,025 Naval Service personnel. The September 2013 strength figures have been calculated on the basis of actual numbers serving on that date, excluding those members who are on...

Seanad: Passenger Name Record Data: Motion (14 Nov 2013)

Alan Shatter: I want to thank Senators for the contributions they have made to the debate.

Seanad: Passenger Name Record Data: Motion (14 Nov 2013)

Alan Shatter: I am happy to facilitate the Seanad in its consideration of these European Council decisions on the proposed agreement between Canada and the European Union on the transfer and processing of passenger name record data. However, it is unfortunate that the Seanad felt the need to raise this issue because it was discussed at great length at yesterday's meeting of the Joint Committee on Justice,...

EU-IMF Programme: Statements (14 Nov 2013)

Alan Shatter: That is like the burglar giving advice on house insurance.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Applications (14 Nov 2013)

Alan Shatter: Applications for refugee status in the State are determined by an independent process comprising the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner and the Refugee Appeals Tribunal which make recommendations to the Minister on whether such status should be granted. If an application for asylum has been made by the person concerned, the Deputy will be aware that it is not the practice to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Dublin-Monaghan Bombings (14 Nov 2013)

Alan Shatter: In answering the Deputy's Question I would say at the outset that I do not think any of us can forget the many horrific acts of violence related to the conflict in Northern Ireland or, indeed, the pain that is still being felt as a result. The survivors and the relatives of those killed and injured have borne the grief of these tragic events and the memory of their loved ones lives on with...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Vetting Applications (14 Nov 2013)

Alan Shatter: I am informed by the Garda authorities that a vetting application on behalf of the individual referred to by the Deputy was received by the Garda Central Vetting Unit (GCVU) on 13 November, 2013. The application is currently being processed and once completed will be returned to the registered organisation concerned. I am informed by the Garda authorities that the current average...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Vetting Applications (14 Nov 2013)

Alan Shatter: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the current average processing time for applications is now approximately 7-9 weeks from date of receipt. However, seasonal fluctuations and the necessity to seek additional information on particular applications can result in this processing time being exceeded on occasion. Nonetheless, this is a significant improvement on the processing time of 14...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Districts (14 Nov 2013)

Alan Shatter: I am advised by the Garda authorities that the information requested by the Deputy cannot be extrapolated centrally from the Garda PULSE system and can only be sourced by undertaking a manual review of each case where a search was conducted. I am further advised by the Garda authorities that such a review would require a disproportionate expenditure of Garda time and resources to identify...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Road Traffic Offences (14 Nov 2013)

Alan Shatter: I am informed by an Garda Síochána that for operational reasons it does not publish data in respect of speeding detections made at specific locations.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (14 Nov 2013)

Alan Shatter: As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of personnel among the Garda Regions, Divisions, and Districts, the various Garda national units and of course Garda Headquarters. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Ministerial Correspondence (14 Nov 2013)

Alan Shatter: As the Deputy is aware, my Department has responded on a number of occasions to correspondence concerning the case in question and I myself wrote to the person referred to on 1 October. While I fully appreciate the distress felt by all concerned, as has been set out in previous correspondence the prosecution of offences is a matter for the Director of Public Prosecutions and I have no...