Results 4,701-4,720 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Seanad: Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) (Amendment) Bill 2013: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (2 Jul 2013)

Alan Shatter: I thank Senators for their supportive comments. This is a small but very important change in our law. It is about the protection of children. I agree with all Senators that we must address the issue of trafficking as effectively as we can. It is not an issue that can be addressed by any State on its own. It is important to have the maximum amount of co-operation at European level and the...

Seanad: Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (2 Jul 2013)

Alan Shatter: The amendment was recommended by the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel, which has advised that this technical amendment should be made to the Long Title for consistency with section 22.

Seanad: Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (2 Jul 2013)

Alan Shatter: The Office of the Parliamentary Counsel has advised these technical drafting amendments to section 4 are necessary to improve the clarity of the section.

Seanad: Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (2 Jul 2013)

Alan Shatter: I thank the Senators for proposing the amendment. I deliberate in a deliberate and focused manner and was conscious of this issue. We might be dealing with this Stage at some speed, but obviously these are issues that were given consideration during the drafting of the various provisions of the Bill. I agree that there must be very careful rules regarding the publishing of material about...

Seanad: Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (2 Jul 2013)

Alan Shatter: The Office of the Parliamentary Counsel has advised that these technical drafting amendments are necessary to improve the clarity of section 23.

Seanad: Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (2 Jul 2013)

Alan Shatter: This amendment inserts the definition of "Director" in section 3 of the Bankruptcy Act 1988 into the Bill. The definition is necessary for the interpretation of the Act, given the transfer of responsibility for the office of the official assignee in bankruptcy to the Insolvency Service of Ireland. Amendment No. 10 corrects an error in the text. Amendment No. 11 makes clear that all...

Seanad: Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (2 Jul 2013)

Alan Shatter: Section 6 of the Personal Insolvency Act 2012 provided for the repeal of sections 87 to 109 of the Bankruptcy Act 1988, which had the effect of abolishing arrangements in bankruptcy. The rationale for this was that the new debt resolution mechanisms in the 2012 Act, in particular the personal insolvency arrangement mechanism, will offer debtors the possibility of arranging a repayment plan...

Seanad: Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (2 Jul 2013)

Alan Shatter: Amendment No. 16 inserts a new section to amend section 37 of the Personal Insolvency Act 2012, which relates to payments by a debtor who is the subject of a debt relief notice. It seeks to improve on the current text of the 2012 Act to make clearer what happens when a specified debtor's payment or payments under section 36(2) or 36(3) or section 37 amount to 50% or more of the specified...

Seanad: Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (2 Jul 2013)

Alan Shatter: These amendments relate to the verification of matters with which an appropriate court must be satisfied before it can approve a debt settlement arrangement or a personal insolvency arrangement. Amendments Nos. 17 to 20, inclusive, are mainly technical. They propose to improve on the existing construction of sections 71, 75, 76 and 78 of the 2012 Act to make clearer how a court is to...

Seanad: Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (2 Jul 2013)

Alan Shatter: Again, I want to thank Senator van Turnhout for raising this matter. It is one on which, in principle, we are all agreed. The issue is how we address it appropriately. On Committee Stage, I said we should deal with it as speedily as possible. I did point out that the issue is complex and requires careful consideration to ensure any proposal in this area correctly balances the...

Seanad: Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (2 Jul 2013)

Alan Shatter: I thank the House for its co-operation on this Bill which has grown as we have brought it through the House. It started off as a relatively modest courts Bill. In the context of the myriad issues that I am anxious we address and the reforms that I want to see implemented, it has proved, because having published it we let it sit for some time to give different groups and individuals an...

Seanad: Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (2 Jul 2013)

Alan Shatter: I diplomatically did not mention that issue.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Bodies (2 Jul 2013)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 538 and 539 together. The Cross-Departmental Group on Migrant Integration was established in June 2008 and met three times. In addition to my own Department, the membership would include representatives of the Departments of the Taoiseach, Public Expenditure and Reform, Education and Skills, the Environment, Community and Local Government, Jobs, Enterprise...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (2 Jul 2013)

Alan Shatter: References to these pilot programmes being "awarded" are not correct. These programmes were not awarded to Marketing English in Ireland (MEI) and in that regard there are no public procurement issues arising. It is Government policy to develop Ireland's international education services industry, of which the English language tuition sector is an important component. The strategy is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Criminal Prosecutions (2 Jul 2013)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 541, 572 and 578 together. As I have stated previously in this House I share the widespread concern that the criminal investigations into the former Anglo-Irish Bank be resolved as soon as possible. However, what is most important now is that nothing be said which would in any way risk the possibility of prejudicing any criminal proceedings. The...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Vetting Applications (2 Jul 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 26 February 2013. The application was processed and returned to the registered organisation concerned on 9 May 2013.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Proposed Legislation (2 Jul 2013)

Alan Shatter: The General Scheme of the Criminal Justice (Corruption) Bill 2012 has been published and is with the Office of Parliamentary Counsel for drafting. I am informed that this Office has a considerable volume of work on hand, so I am not in a position to give a definitive response as to when drafting of this measure, which is complex and innovative in nature, will be completed.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Support Services (2 Jul 2013)

Alan Shatter: I am satisfied that the system of direct provision system and dispersal, which was established in 1999, is in compliance with human rights obligations placed on the State by domestic and international law. The Government policy of Direct Provision for asylum seekers ensures that a suitable standard of accommodation, food, medical and other services is maintained. This is a fair system...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Reunification Applications (2 Jul 2013)

Alan Shatter: I am informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) that the person referred to by the Deputy, made a Family Reunification application in March 2012. The application was forwarded to the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner (ORAC) for investigation as required under Section 18 of the Refugee Act 1996. The investigation was completed by ORAC on 5th June 2012...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (2 Jul 2013)

Alan Shatter: An application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to by the Deputy was received in the Citizenship Division of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) in January, 2010 and I decided to refuse the application. The person concerned was informed of this and the reasons for it in a letter issued on 7 August, 2012. The Irish Nationality and Citizenship...