Results 5,121-5,140 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Magdalen Laundries Issues (13 Jun 2013)

Alan Shatter: I am sure the Deputy does not expect me to pre-empt decisions yet to be made by the Cabinet. A comprehensive, sensitive and considered report has been received from Mr. Justice Quirke which addresses the many issues involved. I look forward to my Cabinet colleagues dealing with that report and there is ongoing work on it. When a decision is to be made by Cabinet on it, I hope it will be...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (13 Jun 2013)

Alan Shatter: I recall many of Deputy MacLochlainn's colleagues saying over many years that they did not engage in the politics of condemnation, in a different context. My job as Minister for Justice and Equality is to ensure that the Garda Ombudsman Commission can fully and properly do its job, independently of me and of the Garda force. I have said in my response that it is of the utmost importance...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (13 Jun 2013)

Alan Shatter: I just want to quote from this letter. It is important that I do. This is from Mr. Justice Smyth's letter of 2 October 2012, or his report, in which he refers to work he undertook in the preceding 12 months:I have reviewed and monitored the use within an Garda Síochána of Covert Human Intelligence Sources: and I am satisfied that there has been substantial compliance with the Code...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (13 Jun 2013)

Alan Shatter: I am conscious of the other questions but I am very happy to deal with the matter the Deputies are raising.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (13 Jun 2013)

Alan Shatter: One month.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (13 Jun 2013)

Alan Shatter: I will go back to where I started. It is of crucial importance that the Garda Ombudsman Commission independently exercises all of its statutory functions. It has available to it the statutory powers that it requires to ensure that it can progress investigations. It has available to it instruments to use should it be obstructed in those investigations. In the context of this issue there...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (13 Jun 2013)

Alan Shatter: -----setting out the difficulties described by the Garda Ombudsman Commission that the Garda Commissioner be given an opportunity to furnish a detailed response to that report. That is what I am awaiting and expect to receive it in a few days. Mr. Justice Thomas Smyth, an eminent retired member of the High Court appointed by my predecessor to engage in oversight of human surveillance issues,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (13 Jun 2013)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 2 together. The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission was established under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 to provide for independent oversight of complaints made against members of An Garda Síochána. The commission has a hugely important role in ensuring public confidence in An Garda Síochána is safeguarded. It has...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (13 Jun 2013)

Alan Shatter: The great value of the current system is that the Garda Ombudsman Commission is an entirely independent body with an independent investigative remit. I took the concerns expressed by the commission in its 2012 report with great seriousness, arranging to meet members within days of its publication. The second report was published subsequent to that meeting. It is completely appropriate that...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service Administration (13 Jun 2013)

Alan Shatter: The Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956 as amended sets out the process for the granting of a certificate of naturalisation. It is open to any individual to lodge an application for a certificate of naturalisation at any time if they consider they are in a position to meet the prescribed statutory requirements. In reaching a decision on applications full consideration is given to each...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Insolvency Service of Ireland Issues (13 Jun 2013)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 12 and 116 together. The Insolvency Service of Ireland (ISI) was established on 1 March 2013 and significant progress has been achieved in a short period of time including: staffing the Service; drafting of Statutory Instruments under the Personal Insolvency Act 2012; launch of an Information campaign; development and launch of the ISI website containing a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Judicial Working Group (13 Jun 2013)

Alan Shatter: As the Chief Justice recently highlighted, the Government has facilitated a new arrangement in the form of a Working Group chaired by the Chief Justice and comprising the Presidents of the Courts and other representative judges. The Attorney General, who has traditionally acted as the formal link with the Judiciary, also attends the Group accompanied by the Secretary General to the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Human Rights Issues (13 Jun 2013)

Alan Shatter: Since March 2011 the conflict in Syria has led to a dire humanitarian crisis. According to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees at least 1,600,000 Syrians have fled into countries neighbouring Syria. To date approximately 37,000 Syrians have applied for asylum in the Member States of the European Union. The BBC Newsnight television programme to which the Deputy...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Restorative Justice (13 Jun 2013)

Alan Shatter: As the Deputy will be aware, the Diversion Programme operates in accordance with Part 4 of the Children Act 2001, as amended, and under the general superintendence and control of the Garda Commissioner. The programme embraces, whenever possible, the principles of restorative justice and has regard to the needs of the victims of youth offending. An Annual Report of the Committee appointed...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (13 Jun 2013)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 and 27 together. The Law Reform Commission is considering, at my request, a possible amendment to section 10 of the Non-fatal Offences against the Person Act 1997, which deals with harassment. This arises from reports of difficulties in bringing successful prosecutions under that section in relation to domestic and sexual violence. I understand that...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Recruitment (13 Jun 2013)

Alan Shatter: It is of course the case that a resumption of Garda recruitment, at a time when both overall headcount and the size of the pay bill in the public service must be reduced, would have financial implications that must be managed within the overall resources available to Government. In that context, it is important that the LRC proposals, or what is now known as the Haddington Road Agreement, on...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residential Institutions Redress Scheme (13 Jun 2013)

Alan Shatter: I met with members of the Bethany Survivors Group together with Minister for State Kathleen Lynch on Tuesday 16 April. The group raised the question of their inclusion within the Residential Institutions Redress scheme or a similar type scheme designed for children who had been in the Bethany Home. They also raised the question of access to personal records, a memorial and an apology. ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Remit (13 Jun 2013)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 19 and 28 together. The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission was established under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 to provide independent oversight of complaints made against members of the Garda Síochána. For the purpose of preventing complaints arising or of reducing the number of complaints, the Minister under section 106 may...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service Administration (13 Jun 2013)

Alan Shatter: When I came into office in March 2011 one of my immediate priorities was to address the large backlog of citizenship applications for naturalisation pending a decision that had built up over several years. At that time there were approximately 22,000 applications awaiting decision, many of which had been waiting for 3 years or longer. Notwithstanding the significant increase in the volume...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (13 Jun 2013)

Alan Shatter: I wish to advise the Deputy that the categories of non-EEA nationals who qualify for educational supports are determined by the Department of Education and Skills. It is for that Department and the bodies operating under its aegis to decide on the criteria that must be satisfied before any educational support can be made available. Neither I, as Minister, nor my Department have any function...