Results 5,941-5,960 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Training (2 May 2013)

Alan Shatter: I would like to assure the House that the Garda College remains fully open as the main training centre for the Garda Síochána. The Chief Superintendent in charge of the College, and the members of the team there, develop, coordinate and direct all training interventions up to the most senior ranks. The College provides operationally focused training across a range of areas...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Criminal Assets Bureau (2 May 2013)

Alan Shatter: The Criminal Assets Bureau is a vital component in the State's law enforcement response to serious and organised crime. The remit of the Bureau is to target those persons who seek to derive benefit from criminal activities. In carrying out this role the Bureau utilises all available legal remedies, primarily those contained in the Proceeds of Crime legislation, Taxes legislation and Social...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Insolvency Service of Ireland Application Numbers (2 May 2013)

Alan Shatter: It is difficult to estimate the likely demand on the Insolvency Service of Ireland (ISI). The tentative estimate of applications for the Debt Settlement Arrangement (DSA) and Personal Insolvency Arrangement (PIA) is roughly 15,000 applications plus a further 3,000 to 4,000 applications for Debt Relief Notices (DRNs) in the first full year. In addition, approximately 3,000 bankruptcy...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Penalty Point System (2 May 2013)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 37, 42 and 44 together. The allegations relating to the cancellation by members of the Garda Síochána of fixed charge notices were forwarded to the Garda Commissioner in October 2012. The Garda Commissioner appointed an Assistant Commissioner to conduct an examination and to report on the allegations. I received an interim report from the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Divorce Process (2 May 2013)

Alan Shatter: I would refer the Deputy to my response to Parliamentary Question No. 196 of 18th April 2013, in which I indicated as follows: "The basis for the four year period required for divorce is that it is mandated by Article 41.3.2.i of the Constitution. The Oireachtas cannot legislate to change this period unless the majority of voters approve such a change in a referendum." The position remains...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Investigations (2 May 2013)

Alan Shatter: I am advised by the Garda authorities that the examination surrounding the circumstances of the death of Father Niall Molloy is almost complete and that a report of this examination is expected to be submitted to the Commissioner sometime this month. Upon receipt of a report from the Commissioner I will review the situation. I understand that the officers carrying out the examination are...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Levels (2 May 2013)

Alan Shatter: I can advise the Deputy that An Garda Síochána is very conscious of the impact of racist incidents and relevant structures are in place to support appropriate policing responses and to encourage reporting. All members of An Garda Síochána are tasked with enforcing all legislation relating to criminal matters, including the relevant provisions relating to racist...

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

Alan Shatter: The Programme for Government includes a commitment to hold a Referendum to amend the Constitution to provide for a separate family court structure. The intention is that if the Referendum is approved by the People, detailed implementing legislation of the type referred to by the Deputy will be introduced. In the meantime, work on the drafting of the Scheme of a Referendum Bill is proceeding...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Human Trafficking (2 May 2013)

Alan Shatter: The process for the identification of victims of human trafficking used in Ireland is based on the model developed by the International Organisation on Migration (IOM); this envisages a two step process involving an assessment of the varying indicators and a detailed interview with the individual. Participation by front-line and policy personnel working in this area in various national and...

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

Alan Shatter: I am advised by the Irish Film Classification Office that its latest Annual Report will be submitted to my Department by end May 2013. The Report will be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas as soon as possible thereafter.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (2 May 2013)

Alan Shatter: The Immigrant Investor Programme and the Start-up Entrepreneur Programme were opened for applications in April 2012. Since then, the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service have received 27 applications for the Start-up Entrepreneur Programme and 10 Applications for the Immigrant Investor Programme. Fourteen applications have been approved under the Start-up Entrepreneur Programme,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Insolvency Payments Scheme Eligibility (2 May 2013)

Alan Shatter: Under the provisions of the Personal Insolvency Act 2012, all income received by an applicant for one of the three personal insolvency arrangements must be taken into account. Therefore foster care allowance will be taken into account when calculating the income of an applicant. However, the Insolvency Service of Ireland's Guidelines on a Reasonable Standard of Living and Reasonable Living...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Insolvency Service of Ireland Issues (2 May 2013)

Alan Shatter: The Insolvency Service of Ireland (ISI) will shortly publish Regulations under Section 161 of the Personal Insolvency Act 2012 in regard to the authorisation and regulation of personal insolvency practitioners (PIPs). The Regulations will set out the necessary criteria in relation to qualifications. The Insolvency Service will accept applications from individuals to become PIPs if they meet...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Programme (2 May 2013)

Alan Shatter: The Courts Bill 2013 is currently before the Seanad and I hope to progress the Bill before the Oireachtas with a view to its enactment before the Summer recess. The purposes of the Bill are (i) to amend the in camera rule in order to introduce greater transparency in the administration of family and child care law by allowing press access to the courts in family and child care proceedings,...

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

Alan Shatter: I can advise the Deputy, that no appeal has been submitted to date. The person concerned has been contacted directly and intends to submit an appeal shortly. Once received the appeal will be considered and a decision made without delay. Queries in relation to general immigration matters may be made directly to INIS by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Traffic Regulations (2 May 2013)

Alan Shatter: I have requested a report from the Garda authorities on the matters raised by the Deputy. I will contact the Deputy directly when the report is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Operations (2 May 2013)

Alan Shatter: I am informed by the Garda authorities that Operation Nascar, which commenced in December 2011, is an ongoing operation targeting suspected fraudulent motor insurance claims. The investigation is focused on alleged offences within the meaning of deception as outlined under section 6 of the Criminal Justice (Theft & Fraud) Offences Act 2001. I am further informed that there has been...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Anti-Social Behaviour (2 May 2013)

Alan Shatter: Part 11 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006, which provides for civil proceedings in relation to anti-social behaviour by adults, was commenced on 1 January 2007. Part 13 of the Act, which relates to anti-social behaviour by children, was commenced on 1 March 2007. These provisions set out an incremental procedure for addressing anti-social behaviour by adults and children. With regard to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Strength (2 May 2013)

Alan Shatter: There is no mathematical formula for determining the optimum strength of the Garda Síochána, or indeed any police force. Instead, it is a matter of Government policy, taking into account all the relevant factors such as population and the crime rate, as well of course as the availability of resources. Nor is it a straightforward matter to compare police strength in different...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Charities Regulation (2 May 2013)

Alan Shatter: The Charities Act 2009 was designed to support and enhance public trust in charities by providing for the statutory registration and regulation of charities operating in Ireland by an independent Charities Regulatory Authority. The decision was taken in 2011, because of the urgent need to make savings in Government expenditure, to defer full implementation of the Charities Act. This...