Results 3,861-3,880 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

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

Alan Shatter: In the first place, the Personal Insolvency Service has a regulatory function in respect of personal insolvency practitioners and I expect it to carry out that regulatory function properly. As to the Deputy's question, I do not wish to talk about individuals in this House as that is not appropriate. However, there is nothing in the legislation which suggests or provides for any different...

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

Alan Shatter: There is, of course, an obligation on personal insolvency practitioners to perform their duties in accordance with the legislation, deal with debtors in a manner that accords with the legislation and engage with creditors in a manner that is appropriate to the legislation. There is important provision in the legislation, given the very nature of the personal insolvency arrangement, to seek...

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

Alan Shatter: It is a matter for the insolvency agency to license PIPs or individuals who are qualified to perform their functions as PIPs. There are very specific provisions in the legislation in regard to the fitness and probity requirements for PIPs. SI 209 of 2013 contains several provisions regarding fitness and probity of PIPs and states:A personal insolvency practitioner shall be free from any...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Penalty Points System (25 Sep 2013)

Alan Shatter: The report to which the Deputy refers is the report by Assistant Commissioner John O'Mahoney of the outcome of the examination into allegations of irregularities in the operation of the Fixed Charge Processing System. This report was published on my Department's website on 15 May 2013 together with a related report from the Professional Standards Unit in the Garda Síochána which...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Visiting Committees Issues (25 Sep 2013)

Alan Shatter: Visiting Committee members are appointed for a period of three years by the Minister for Justice and Equality under the Prisons (Visiting Committees) Act 1925 and Prisons (Visiting Committees) Order 1925. There are fourteen Prison Visiting Committees in existence - one for each institution. I previously announced plans to strengthen the independent oversight of our prisons. As I said...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Aid Applications (25 Sep 2013)

Alan Shatter: I wish to inform the Deputy that there is no waiting period associated with the granting of criminal legal aid as under the Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) Act 1962, the courts, through the judiciary, are responsible for the granting of legal aid on the applicant's appearance in Court. In regard to civil legal aid the Deputy should be aware that I have no function or responsibility in relation...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Investigations (25 Sep 2013)

Alan Shatter: Allegations of this nature have previously been made to the District Officer at Belmullet in December 2011. I was advised by the Garda authorities that inquiries conducted into those allegations at the time found no evidence of alcohol being distributed to members of the Garda Síochána by or on behalf of the company named. The Garda Commissioner subsequently appointed a senior...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Issues (25 Sep 2013)

Alan Shatter: Work is at an advanced stage on the Irish Equality and Human Rights Commission Bill and I hope to be in a position to publish it shortly. As I have previously informed the House, I announced the appointment of members designate of the Commission in April last. At that time I explained that the independent Selection Panel, which was established to carry out the selection task, had confirmed...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Insolvency Service of Ireland Applications (25 Sep 2013)

Alan Shatter: The Insolvency Service of Ireland (ISI) began accepting applications for the three new debt relief solutions introduced by the Personal Insolvency Act 2012, as amended, on 9 September 2013. The ISI has advised that, in the interest of confidentiality, it does not intend to make public details or breakdowns of the number of applications received or being processed at this time. I am further...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Aid Applications (25 Sep 2013)

Alan Shatter: I wish to inform the Deputy that I have no function or responsibility in relation to the matter raised. Under the terms of the Civil Legal Aid Act 1995, as passed by the Oireachtas, the Legal Aid Board is independent in the operation of its functions and decisions on individual cases are a matter for the Board. However, to be of assistance I have contacted the Legal Aid Board for the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Strength (25 Sep 2013)

Alan Shatter: I have been informed by the Commissioner that the strength of the force as of the 31 August, 2013 was 13,190 along with 1,190 Reserve Gardaí and over 2,000 civilian support staff. It is difficult to predict with any certainty the exact number of Garda members who will retire by the end of the year. The Deputy will recall that under the terms of the arrangements his party entered into in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Community Policing (25 Sep 2013)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 18 and 35 together. The Deputy will be aware that the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, throughout the organisation and I have no direct function in the matter. The Garda Síochána continue to work closely with local communities to enhance community safety through a wide range of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Sex Offenders Notification Requirements (25 Sep 2013)

Alan Shatter: The Deputy's question concerns the disclosure, to parents, of information relating to persons on the sex offenders' register. In exceptional circumstances, the provision of appropriate information to the public is already possible. This includes the disclosure of such information to parents. Currently, this is done on an administrative basis but, subject to Government approval, I intend to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Electronic Tagging (25 Sep 2013)

Alan Shatter: The Programme for Government contains a commitment to introduce a series of post-imprisonment restraint orders for violent and sexual offenders to include electronic monitoring and other restrictions, which may be imposed at the time of sentencing. Arising from a recently conducted review of the Sex Offenders Act, 2001, I expect to seek Government approval for legislative proposals...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: EU Funding (25 Sep 2013)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 21 and 33 together. The European Refugee Fund (ERF) and the European Fund for the Integration of Third-Country Nationals (EIF) operate on the basis of annual programmes submitted by Member States and approved by the European Commission. The eligibility period for an annual programme extends for a year and a half after the end of the year in question. ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Subsidiary Protection Administration (25 Sep 2013)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 22, 30 and 31 together. The legislative provisions to underpin the new system for determining applications for subsidiary protection are currently being finalised in my Department in cooperation with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel to the Government. When these legislative provisions are settled, the intention is to bring the new applications...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Investigations (25 Sep 2013)

Alan Shatter: The murder of Garda Richard Fallon was a terrible tragedy for his family and I want to, again, express my deepest sympathy to them. On top of that personal tragedy, his murder was also an event that can only be described as a heinous crime carried out by ruthless individuals. I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that the Serious Review Crime Team met with members of the Fallon family...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision Expenditure (25 Sep 2013)

Alan Shatter: The Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) is a functional unit of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department and is responsible for the accommodation of asylum seekers while their application for protection is being processed. The following are the details of expenditure by RIA and centre occupancy in recent years: Year Expenditure outturn Occupancy at year...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Ministerial Meetings (25 Sep 2013)

Alan Shatter: I meet very regularly with the Northern Ireland Minister of Justice, David Ford, and we have developed a close working relationship. Indeed, we frequently discuss matters of mutual interest by phone as and when they arise. One of my first actions as Minister was to travel to Belfast to meet with Minister Ford and I have since met him on numerous occasions. I have met with Minister Ford...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Law Reform Commission Recommendations (25 Sep 2013)

Alan Shatter: As an independent body under the Law Reform Commission Act 1975, the time taken for the completion and delivery of individual Law Reform Commission reports and recommendations is a matter for the Commission itself. However, I can inform the Deputy that the Commission published an Issues Paper in relation to the matter towards the end of July with a closing date for submissions on the 16th...