Results 3,901-3,920 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

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

Alan Shatter: 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. However, I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that there are currently three hundred and twenty Garda Ethnic Liaison Officers (ELOs) appointed to work with minority communities...

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

Alan Shatter: The Deputy will be aware that this case was examined by the Garda Síochána Serious Crime Review team, who forwarded a report to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). The DPP subsequently advised that, on the basis of the papers provided, there be no further prosecution in this matter. In the circumstances, I have only recently received a detailed report from the Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: UN Conventions Ratification (25 Sep 2013)

Alan Shatter: Ireland was in the first group of countries to sign the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities when it opened for signature on the 30th of March 2007. It is the Government's intention to ratify the Convention as quickly as possible, taking into account the need to ensure that all necessary legislative and administrative requirements under the Convention are being met. As...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Public Inquiries (25 Sep 2013)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 55 to 57, inclusive, together. The Omagh Support and Self-Help Group presented a report which it had compiled to the Irish and British Governments last year setting out matters relating to the atrocity at Omagh which it considered of concern and calling for a public inquiry. The House will appreciate that my discussions in this matter with the UK...

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

Alan Shatter: 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 measures, including the Neighbourhood Watch and Community...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Education Service (25 Sep 2013)

Alan Shatter: The Irish Prison Service places a strong emphasis on the provision of vocational training and educational activities for prisoners. Training activities are chosen to give as much employment as possible in prison and to provide opportunities to acquire skills which assist in accessing employment on release. The Irish Association for the Social Integration of Offenders (IASIO) which is...

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

Alan Shatter: As the Deputy will appreciate, it would not be appropriate and would be contrary to public interest for me to comment on matters related to security or intelligence. However, the Deputy will be aware that the Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Act 2009 provides the legislative basis for the carrying out of surveillance by An Garda Síochána. The Act is subject to judicial oversight....

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

Alan Shatter: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that a valid application for a certificate of naturalisation has been received from the person referred to by the Deputy. As the Deputy will appreciate, the granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour which confers certain rights and entitlements not only within the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Private Rented Accommodation Provision (25 Sep 2013)

Alan Shatter: Discrimination on the basis of an individual's personal characteristics is prohibited in respect to nine specified grounds in the access to and supply of goods and services, including housing, by the Equal Status Acts 2000 to 2012. These grounds are gender, civil status, family status, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, race, and membership of the Traveller community. The...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service Issues (25 Sep 2013)

Alan Shatter: As the Deputy may be aware, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998 management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service which is independent in exercising its functions, which include the provision of accommodation for court sittings. However, in order to be of further assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and have been informed by the Courts...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Inspections (25 Sep 2013)

Alan Shatter: I recently published a number of Visiting Committee Annual reports including that from St Patrick's Institution. The function of Visiting Committees is to visit the prison to which they are appointed and hear any complaints which may be made to them by any prisoners. They report to me any abuses observed or found by them in the prison and any repairs which they think may be urgently needed....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Inspector of Prisons Reports (25 Sep 2013)

Alan Shatter: Following a report by the Inspector of Prisons to the Minister for Justice and Equality in March 2012, regarding the introduction of a new complaints model in the Irish Prison Service which meets best practice and our international obligations in this regard, a new complaints model is being introduced in the Irish Prison Service on a phased basis. The model which is being introduced contains...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Firearms Licences (25 Sep 2013)

Alan Shatter: As it has not been possible to compile the information requested by the Deputy in the time available, I have asked the Garda Commissioner for a report on the matter and will write to the Deputy when it becomes available.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Visiting Committees Appointments (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 Visiting Committees in existence - one for each institution. Each Visiting Committee now comprises no more than six members, and only suitable people with a genuine...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Law Cases (25 Sep 2013)

Alan Shatter: I am currently preparing a Family Relationships and Children Bill which will address the situation of grandparents who are acting in a quasi parental role on behalf of their grandchildren.

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: Legal Aid Service Reform (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 Vetting Applications (25 Sep 2013)

Alan Shatter: I am informed by the Garda authorities that an E-Vetting solution for the Garda Central Vetting Unit (GCVU) is being developed and this will facilitate the processing of applications in an e-format, thus significantly streamlining the current time-consuming process of managing all applications in a manual format. It is not possible at this stage to estimate the precise impact on processing...

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

Alan Shatter: I am informed by the Garda authorities that local Garda District Officers take direct responsibility for the investigation of all crime within their respective Districts. Local investigation teams are appointed by the District Officer and all means necessary, including the services of specialist units, are deployed to assist in these investigations. The services of Europol and Interpol are...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Organised Crime (25 Sep 2013)

Alan Shatter: The Deputy will appreciate that organised crime, by its very nature, is constantly evolving and diversifying in both its structures and activities and that membership of organised crime groups tends to be fluid in nature. Given the fluidity of membership, it can, therefore, be challenging to identify definitive numbers of groupings and members. Furthermore many modern organised criminal...