Results 3,941-3,960 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Health (24 Sep 2013)

Alan Shatter: I wish to advise the Deputy that I have been informed by the Irish Prison Service that all concerns expressed by the medical professionals in Saint Vincent's University Hospital have always been, and will continue to be, carefully considered in the context of the provision of medical care to this patient in Portlaoise Prison.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Personal Insolvency Practitioners (24 Sep 2013)

Alan Shatter: The Personal Insolvency Act 2012, as amended, does not make provision for the prescription by the Insolvency Service of Ireland (ISI) of practitioner fees. Fees will be negotiated by the Personal Insolvency Practitioner with the debtor in each individual case. I am advised that a number of practitioners and prospective practitioners have indicated that they will not charge an up front fee...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Vetting Applications (24 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. The project is being pursued as a priority and the initial phase of testing is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Animal Welfare Issues (24 Sep 2013)

Alan Shatter: I am informed by the Garda authorities that following a Garda investigation into the matter referred to by the Deputy, it was established that there was insufficient evidence to sustain a prosecution, and that all parties were informed of this decision.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Transport Data (24 Sep 2013)

Alan Shatter: Decisions in relation to the provision and allocation of Garda vehicles are a matter for the Garda Commissioner in the light of his identified operational demands and in the light of available resources. I am advised by the Garda authorities that the information requested by the Deputy for the Garda DMR Region is as shown in the following table:- 2013 Allocations (to date) DISTRICT Marked...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Magdalen Laundries Issues (24 Sep 2013)

Alan Shatter: On the 25th June 2013 the Government approved the immediate implementation of cash lump sum payments scheme based on duration of stay in laundries recommended by Judge Quirke and tasked an Interdepartmental Group with giving further detailed consideration to the steps necessary to implement the other recommendations, some of which are complicated and may require legislation. I have already...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service Issues (24 Sep 2013)

Alan Shatter: The referendum on the proposed Thirty-third Amendment of the Constitution (Court of Appeal) Bill will be held on October 4th. The establishment of the Court of Appeal will require the enactment of an “Implementation Bill” that will provide for the Court, the appointment of judges, their remuneration, and a number of other organisational and practical issues. That Bill cannot be...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Vetting Applications (24 Sep 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 12 August 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 processing...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Personal Insolvency Act (24 Sep 2013)

Alan Shatter: The commencement of the reforms of bankruptcy legislation contained in the Personal Insolvency Act 2012 and the Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2013 are contingent on the making of the relevant rules of Court which are currently awaited. I expect to commence the legislation shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Oireachtas Joint Committee Reports (24 Sep 2013)

Alan Shatter: The report of the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality on hearings and submissions on the Review of Legislation on Prostitution was published on 27 June last. The report is being examined.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Recruitment (24 Sep 2013)

Alan Shatter: I can inform the Deputy that there are a number of procedural issues that need to be finalised prior to the formal commencement of the recruitment competition, which is expected in the coming weeks, with the first students entering the Garda College in Templemore, Co Tipperary, in mid-2014. The competition will be run by the Public Appointments Service on behalf of the Garda Commissioner....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (24 Sep 2013)

Alan Shatter: Persons lodging an application for a certificate of naturalisation are required to provide evidence of their identity. This may be satisfied by providing a certified copy of the photo page of their national passport or a copy of their original civil birth certificate and a translation into English, if the certificate is in a language other than English or Irish. In cases where the person...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Liquor Licensing Laws (24 Sep 2013)

Alan Shatter: The position regarding the licensing hours applicable to nightclubs is that holders of an on-licence or theatre licence may apply to the District Court under section 5 of the Intoxicating Liquor Act 1927 (as amended) for special exemption orders which permit extended opening hours. Section 5(5) of the 1927 Act provides that a special exemption order shall expire at 2.30 a.m. (1.00 a.m. where...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Support Services (24 Sep 2013)

Alan Shatter: There are currently 4,414 persons seeking international protection residing in 34 Direct Provision accommodation centres across 17 counties under contract to the Reception & Integration Agency (RIA), an operational unit of the Irish Naturalisation & Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department. I should firstly say that the only knowledge I have of the matters referred to in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Drugs Crime (24 Sep 2013)

Alan Shatter: The emergence of new psychoactive substances specifically designed to circumvent drug controls has been a matter of particular concern in recent years both here in Ireland and at international level. In Ireland this trend became particularly evident in the rapid growth in headshop outlets during the period 2009 to 2010. The prevalence of these substances in Ireland was the subject of a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Data Protection (24 Sep 2013)

Alan Shatter: As I have indicated to the House previously, I, of course, fully understand the concerns which have arisen in the wake of recent media reports about the US PRISM programme. I am aware too of reports which have appeared about the alleged activities of other security agencies. I raised the concerns which had been expressed about the PRISM programme with the US Attorney General Eric Holder...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Vetting of Personnel (24 Sep 2013)

Alan Shatter: The National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012 provides that before employing a person in work or activities relating to children or vulnerable persons, the organisation concerned must obtain a vetting disclosure in respect of the prospective employee. The disclosure must be obtained from the Garda Vetting Bureau. The Act provides in section 2 that the Bureau may...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Operations (24 Sep 2013)

Alan Shatter: The Garda Commissioner is the Accounting Officer for the Garda Vote. In that context I am informed by the Garda authorities that specific costings in relation to the Garda operation in question are not available and that they could not be compiled without a disproportionate use of Garda resources.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Programme (24 Sep 2013)

Alan Shatter: I am currently preparing a Family Relationships and Children Bill, as indicated in the Government Legislation Programme for the Autumn 2013 session, which is intended to create a legal architecture to underpin diverse parenting situations and to provide legal clarity on parental rights, including for families of citizens in the groups outlined by the Deputy. The Bill will address issues...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Vetting of Personnel (24 Sep 2013)

Alan Shatter: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the current average processing time for applications is approximately 9 weeks from date of receipt, including applications from the Teaching Council. However, seasonal fluctuations and the necessity to seek additional information on particular applications can result in this processing time being exceeded on occasion. In the interest of fairness...