Results 4,941-4,960 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (19 Jun 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. This allocation of resources is constantly monitored in the context of demographics, crime trends, policing needs and other operational strategies in place on a district, divisional and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (19 Jun 2013)

Alan Shatter: The perception of Ireland’s immigration and asylum system abroad is monitored primarily through Ireland’s representation at a number of international fora, in particular EU bodies and immigration and asylum related organisations such as the General Directors of Immigration Services Conference, GDISC, the Intergovernmental Consultations on migration, asylum and refugees, IGC, and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Operations (19 Jun 2013)

Alan Shatter: For security and operational reasons, it is not Garda policy and it would not be in the public interest to disclose detailed information of a kind that could potentially have an operational impact on policing arrangements, including the numbers of Gardaí deployed on an ongoing daily basis. The Garda Síochána is statutorily required to provide policing services for the State...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Equality Issues (19 Jun 2013)

Alan Shatter: The Equality Tribunal and the Courts have interpreted the existing equality legislation prohibiting gender discrimination as applying also to the situation of transgender persons. Therefore, amendment to these Acts is not necessary to ensure that the desired protections are in place in law for this group in society. I am, however, considering whether addition of an explicit reference in the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Controls (19 Jun 2013)

Alan Shatter: The Garda Síochána undertakes immigration controls at all approved ports of entry to the State and also deploys an immigration unit based at Dundalk to conduct such controls, as appropriate, at the border with Northern Ireland. The nature of these controls and how they are implemented are operational matters for the Garda Síochána. As the Deputy is aware, there is a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Investigations (19 Jun 2013)

Alan Shatter: As I advised the Deputy in my response to his parliamentary question dated 16 May 2013, I am informed by the Garda authorities that the incident, which occurred in 1989, was the subject of thorough investigation. Complaints were also made to the Garda Síochána Complaint Board who further investigated the matter and found no evidence of an offence or breach of discipline on the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Discipline (19 Jun 2013)

Alan Shatter: The inappropriate receipt of gifts or gratuities by members of An Garda Siochana is governed by An Garda Síochána (Discipline) Regulations 2007.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Data Protection (19 Jun 2013)

Alan Shatter: There is a comprehensive legislative regime in place to deal with such matters in this jurisdiction. With regard to interceptions, the Interception of Postal Packets and Telecommunications Messages (Regulation) Act, 1993 provides for the interception of postal and telecommunications messages. Under Section 2 of the Act, ministerial authorisation may be given for interceptions solely in the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Strength (19 Jun 2013)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 165 to 167, inclusive, 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. This allocation of resources is constantly monitored in the context of demographics, crime trends, policing needs and other...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Statute of Limitations (19 Jun 2013)

Alan Shatter: I have already publicly stated that I believe the practice of symphysiotomy and pubiotomy, the experience of which has been well articulated by the 'Survivors of Symphysiotomy' representative group, was both brutal and, in many cases, medically unjustified. The Deputy will also be aware that a Private Members' Bill seeking to temporarily lift the Statute of Limitations for women who...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Data Retention (19 Jun 2013)

Alan Shatter: I, of course, fully understand the concerns which have arisen here and in other countries in the wake of recent media reports about the PRISM programme. These concerns mainly centre on data privacy rights not being adequately respected. Commissioner Reding and myself raised these concerns with the US Attorney General Eric Holder at the EU-US Ministerial meeting last week. I also raised the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (19 Jun 2013)

Alan Shatter: The person concerned has had her permission to remain in the State renewed for a further three year period, valid to 25th June, 2016. This decision was conveyed in writing to the person concerned by letter dated 17th June, 2013. Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to the INIS by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Communications (19 Jun 2013)

Alan Shatter: I have requested a report from the Garda authorities in relation to the matter referred to by the Deputy. I will contact the Deputy directly as soon as the report is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: European Council Meetings (19 Jun 2013)

Alan Shatter: The European Council meeting in December next will include, for the first time in five years, a thematic discussion on defence issues. The European Council will discuss three clusters of issues. These are (a) increasing the effectiveness, visibility and impact of CSDP; (b) enhancing the development of defence capabilities; and, (c) strengthening Europe’s defence industry.The process is...

Development of Cork Prison: Motion (18 Jun 2013)

Alan Shatter: Off the top of my head from the plans, approximately 30 cells are intended and designed for single-cell occupancy. They will deal with the type of issue which Deputy Wallace or Deputy O’Sullivan raised about an individual who might be drug-addicted who needs to come off drugs and to provide for single-cell occupancy in those circumstances or other circumstances where that might be...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Garda-PSNI Transfers (18 Jun 2013)

Alan Shatter: The regulations I mentioned - the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (Police Service of Northern Ireland Appointments) Regulations and the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (Section 52) Regulations - were not made until 2012. They have not been in place for a lengthy period of time. They allow members of the PSNI to apply for promotions into the Garda. We will have to wait and see how that...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Garda-PSNI Transfers (18 Jun 2013)

Alan Shatter: I am not familiar with the issue.

Development of Cork Prison: Motion (18 Jun 2013)

Alan Shatter: I thank those who are supportive of this development. I note Deputy Kelleher's comments about conditions being inhumane and inadequate and that there is a need for proper visiting facilities and a need for dignity and respect for persons visiting prisons. Of course, for 14 years his party was in government and ignored Cork Prison. The conditions there were a disgrace when I visited it.

Development of Cork Prison: Motion (18 Jun 2013)

Alan Shatter: I have the height of respect for the prison officers and the governor working there. They are doing an extraordinary job in difficult circumstances. In circumstances where we have little funding available to us, I managed to secure funding to effectively replace the existing prison because in its current form, occupied by persons sentenced, there is nothing we can do with it. It is our...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Garda-PSNI Transfers (18 Jun 2013)

Alan Shatter: I thank the Senator for raising this issue. On 29 April 2002 the Irish and British Governments signed an agreement on police co-operation providing a framework for the implementation of certain Patten commission recommendations on enhanced police co-operation. I am pleased to inform the House that all of the necessary administrative and legislative measures are in place to allow for...