Results 461-480 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Services Regulation (15 Apr 2014)

Alan Shatter: The Legal Services Regulation Bill 2011, which has completed Committee Stage in the Dáil and which I expect to commence Report Stage in June, gives legislative expression to the commitment in the Programme for Government to "establish independent regulation of the legal professions to improve access and competition, make legal costs more transparent and ensure adequate procedures for...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Human Trafficking (15 Apr 2014)

Alan Shatter: The Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Act 2008 created the offence of human trafficking for labour exploitation, including forced labour. The Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) (Amendment) Act 2013 which came into effect in August 2013, expanded the definition of exploitation to include forcing a person to engage in illegal activities for financial gain. The phenomenon of persons who have been...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (15 Apr 2014)

Alan Shatter: The Policy Document on Non-EEA Family Reunification, which I published on 31 December 2013, is a comprehensive statement of Irish national immigration policy in the area of family reunification. It is available on the website of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service of my Department at www.inis.gov.ie. It is open to a visa required national to make a visa application, for any...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (15 Apr 2014)

Alan Shatter: While it is the case that there is no separate statutory instrument setting out the visa decision-making process, I can assure the Deputy that visa officers assess visa applications having regard to detailed administrative guidelines. Key elements of those guidelines are available on the website of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (www.inis.gov.ie). For example, the list of...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Official Commemorations (15 Apr 2014)

Alan Shatter: A number of changes were made to the 1916 Arbour Hill commemoration last year following a review of all aspects of the Commemoration in response to a number of issues raised by relatives of those who fought in 1916. The Military ceremonial element was removed from the Church on the basis that it was no longer considered appropriate that Military personnel would be requested to perform such...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Transport (15 Apr 2014)

Alan Shatter: Details of usage by Government of the Ministerial Air Transport Service (MATS) for 2011, 2012, 2013 and up to the end of March 2014 are set out in the tabular statement below. As stated in my answer to your Parliamentary Question of 25 June 2013, in line with a commitment made in the Programme for Government, information relating to the MATS is now published on my Department's website and is...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Legal Costs (15 Apr 2014)

Alan Shatter: The Chief State Solicitor's Office, Attorney General's Office and the State Claims Agency deal with all legal matters on behalf of the Department. The main requirement for legal services in my Department is in the context of litigation, usually in the form of administrative law and personal injury proceedings. The Chief State Solicitor's Office (CSSO) and the State Claims Agency (SCA)...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Public Relations Contracts Expenditure (15 Apr 2014)

Alan Shatter: My Department has not incurred any expenditure on external public relations since I took office in March 2011.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel (15 Apr 2014)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 506 to 508, inclusive, together. The unsatisfactory age and fitness profile of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) was an issue of serious concern during the 1990s and was the subject of severe criticism by a series of external reports, mainly Price Waterhouse Consultants and the Efficiency Audit Group (EAG). One of the key areas identified for urgent action...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Official Commemorations (15 Apr 2014)

Alan Shatter: The correspondence that the Deputy has referred to raises a wide range of issues in relation to the annual 1916 Commemoration in Arbour Hill. A detailed response has issued to the correspondent. A number of changes were made last year following a review of all aspects of the Commemoration and in response to some issues raised by relatives of those who fought in 1916. Due to the increase...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel (15 Apr 2014)

Alan Shatter: While the Defence Forces Chaplaincy Service caters for military personnel and their families who are predominantly Roman Catholic, there is one part-time Church of Ireland chaplain. Provision is also made to provide for the spiritual needs of all other faiths. The Chaplaincy Service respects the traditions and practice of those of other faiths and those of secular beliefs and ensures that...

Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Bill 2014: Referral to Select Committee (10 Apr 2014)

Alan Shatter: I move:That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality, pursuant to 82A3(a) and 126(1) of the Standing Orders relative to Public Business and paragraph (8) of the Orders of Reference of Select Committees.

Fines (Payment and Recovery) Bill 2013: From the Seanad (10 Apr 2014)

Alan Shatter: I thank Deputies for the support they have given to the Bill since its publication and the highly constructive discussions on it in the House. I also thank Senators for the discussions in the other House. In so far as possible, I have tried to take on board comments and suggestions made and believe the Bill, as amended, is the better for it. When work started on it, the initial intention...

Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Bill 2014: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Apr 2014)

Alan Shatter: I began my reply yesterday to the contributions made by Deputies on all sides of the House. I thank all those who have expressed support for the Bill, recognised its important role in the protection of human rights and that this is truly a reforming measure that will enhance the powers available to address issues both of human rights and equality in the context of the new provisions...

Other Questions: Departmental Expenditure (10 Apr 2014)

Alan Shatter: I understood I was to conclude Second Stage of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Bill 2014.

Other Questions: Departmental Expenditure (10 Apr 2014)

Alan Shatter: Very well

Fines (Payment and Recovery) Bill 2013: From the Seanad (10 Apr 2014)

Alan Shatter: These amendments deal with the value of fines eligible to be paid in instalments under the Bill. In the Bill as it stands only fines greater than €100 in value can be paid by instalment. However under section 6(5)(b) where more than one fine is imposed at a court sitting these fines can be added together and if the total exceeds €100 they can be paid by instalment. Having...

Fines (Payment and Recovery) Bill 2013: From the Seanad (10 Apr 2014)

Alan Shatter: These three amendments concern recovery orders and amend sections 7 and 20 of the Bill. Seanad amendment No. 3 has the effect of limiting the making of recovery orders to fines greater than €500 except where the fined person is a company. This would have the effect of excluding 90% of fines imposed from the recovery provisions. Recovery is a relatively cumbersome procedure and to my...

Fines (Payment and Recovery) Bill 2013: From the Seanad (10 Apr 2014)

Alan Shatter: This amendment corrects an error in the Bill where there is an incorrect cross-reference to subsection 4 at the start of section 8(1)(a). The amendment corrects the reference which should be to section 7(2).

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Operations (10 Apr 2014)

Alan Shatter: I am advised by the Garda authorities that figures are not available with respect to the recent operation referred to. As the Deputy is aware, there are three further such operations planned for 2014 and I have asked that figures be collated with respect to each such operation as it takes place.