Results 3,841-3,860 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Penalty Points System (25 Sep 2013)

Alan Shatter: Unfortunately, it is not possible to give all the detail in response to the Deputy's question.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Penalty Points System (25 Sep 2013)

Alan Shatter: I did not pour cold water on anything. I merely made the point that in the context of the investigation conducted and the outcome of same some exotic decisions had been made. There were issues to be addressed and answered but some of the allegations made, such as in regard to fixed charge notices and road fatalities, were proved entirely untrue. Unfortunately, the individual who made those...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Penalty Points System (25 Sep 2013)

Alan Shatter: -----they must sign and date the certified fixed charge notice cancellation form with the decision to cancel or reject the cancellation request and include a rationale for that decision; notify the applicant in writing when the application is rejected; forward the certified fixed charge notice cancellation letters form the FCPO for termination via e-mail at fcncancellationgarda.ie when the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Penalty Points System (25 Sep 2013)

Alan Shatter: There are now very clear and indisputable provisions set out in this regard.

Other Questions: Irish Prison Service (25 Sep 2013)

Alan Shatter: There is no provision for solitary confinement in the Irish Prison Service. However, the Deputy will appreciate that, on occasion, it is necessary for vulnerable prisoners and others to be separated from the general prison population. The restriction of a prisoner's regime can occur due to a number of factors including, the protection of vulnerable prisoners. This is provided for under...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Recruitment (25 Sep 2013)

Alan Shatter: Gardaí do a great deal more than providing a basic level of service. In the context of the current numbers in An Garda Síochána, they are providing an efficient and effective service which includes not just crime investigation but also crime prevention. If that was not the case we would not have seen a drop of over 20,000 in the number of offences that were recorded as being...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Recruitment (25 Sep 2013)

Alan Shatter: It is that type of smart policing that has successfully resulted in the region of 6,500 individuals intent on, or engaged in, burglary being arrested. In the region of 3,500 charges have been brought against individuals. I pay tribute to the work of An Garda Síochána and we should not forget that we currently have in excess of 1,200 members of the Garda reserve. In addition we...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Recruitment (25 Sep 2013)

Alan Shatter: Those issues will be dealt with in the context of where we are moving towards. The Deputy is labouring under an illusion as to where Garda numbers might be in 12 to 18 months time. I cannot predict with certainty where numbers may be then. It may well be that next year we will have 100 more than 13,000 or 50 fewer than 13,000. As regards overall Garda strength, however, the objective is...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Penalty Points System (25 Sep 2013)

Alan Shatter: The report of April 2013 from the Garda Síochána Professional Standards Unit looked at the processes and systems which are in place concerning the cancellation of fixed charge processing notices. The report complements the report prepared by Assistant Commissioner John O'Mahoney of his examination into the allegations of irregularities in the operation of the fixed charge...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Prison Drug Treatment Services (25 Sep 2013)

Alan Shatter: The quick answer is "Yes".

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Prison Drug Treatment Services (25 Sep 2013)

Alan Shatter: The Irish Prison Service is providing a comprehensive range of drug treatment services, not just the units that I described. These are designed to meet the needs of the prison population as a whole. At present, any person entering prison giving a history of opioid use and testing positive is offered a medically assisted symptomatic detoxification if clinically indicated. Patients can, as...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Prison Drug Treatment Services (25 Sep 2013)

Alan Shatter: To be brief, when the Deputy sees the written reply that she will get, she will see that I have covered all of the issues that she is raising. If there is an issue that I have not adequately addressed, I am very happy to engage with the Deputy. She may write to me about the matter or table another question. If she would like a briefing from the head of the Prison Service, I would have no...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Recruitment (25 Sep 2013)

Alan Shatter: I seem not to have switched off my telephone. Perhaps the Leas-Cheann Comhairle will give me a moment of extra time just to deal with that.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Recruitment (25 Sep 2013)

Alan Shatter: I thought that I had switched it off. As the Deputy is aware, I have secured the approval of my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, for a recruitment competition for the Garda Síochána. There are a number of procedural issues that need to be finalised prior to the formal commencement of that competition and these are expected to conclude in the coming...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Recruitment (25 Sep 2013)

Alan Shatter: The simple answer is that I share the Commissioner's view. The number in the Garda force as of today, based on retirements to date this year, is 13,190. I do not know how many further retirements we will have before the end of this year. From recollection, and I think I am right in this, the number of members of the force we had at the end of December 2012 was 13,430. If I am ten out in...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Issues (25 Sep 2013)

Alan Shatter: The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission was established under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 to provide independent oversight of complaints made against members of the Garda Síochána. It has a hugely important role in ensuring public confidence in the Garda Síochána is safeguarded. The 2005 Act also provides for protocols on the sharing of information...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Issues (25 Sep 2013)

Alan Shatter: The Deputy is asking a completely separate question. Of course it is important that the recommendations made by the ombudsman commission are implemented. In advance of the meeting that took place between the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission and Garda Síochána, I wrote to the Garda Commissioner to respond to me about areas of concern, and he did that. Work began on...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Issues (25 Sep 2013)

Alan Shatter: It is my understanding that all of the issues raised by the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission in respect of dealing with informants and the retention of contemporaneous notes are addressed. Indeed, they were addressed some time ago. The reports of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission on some of these matters deal with events which took place a number of years ago....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Prison Drug Treatment Services (25 Sep 2013)

Alan Shatter: I must warn the Deputy that as substantial work has been done in this area, I have a very long reply that I was anxious to receive. There is no chance the Leas-Cheann Comhairle will let me get to the end of it, so the Deputy will receive in written form what I have not been able to read out. There are currently drug-free units operational in six closed prisons: Mountjoy, the Dóchas...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Personal Insolvency Practitioners (25 Sep 2013)

Alan Shatter: I am advised by the Insolvency Service of Ireland, ISI that as at 23 September 2013, there are 47 personal insolvency practitioners, or PIPs, authorised as well as eight Money Advice & Budgeting Service companies, representing 28 individuals, authorised to act as approved intermediaries. I understand the ISI is processing a large number of practitioner applications and the number of...