Results 6,721-6,740 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Organised Crime (6 Mar 2013)

Alan Shatter: The Deputy will appreciate that organised crime is constantly evolving and adapting to take advantage of the prevailing social and economic climate. With regard to organised crime structures in this jurisdiction, I am informed by the Garda authorities that there are currently two categories of organised crime groups operating in the jurisdiction. The first category consists of groups that...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Expenditure (6 Mar 2013)

Alan Shatter: The Vote for my Department is one of 5 Votes in the Justice and Equality Sector Group for estimates and expenditure purposes. As the Deputy will be aware, the Justice and Equality Sector has had to sustain reductions in budgets and resources in order to contribute to the rectification of our national finances. The details of the expenditure reductions for the entire sector are contained in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Strength (6 Mar 2013)

Alan Shatter: Garda numbers have been reducing due to the moratorium on recruitment. My objective, despite the enormous financial pressures facing the Government is to ensure that Garda numbers will not fall below 13,000. I have informed my Cabinet colleagues that I am reviewing the position regarding Garda strength in light of an estimated reduction to just over 13,000 by the end of 2013, and, in this...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Station Closures (6 Mar 2013)

Alan Shatter: It goes without saying that no Minister would choose to inherit the appalling financial position in which I have had to operate. In that context, the legacy the last Fianna Fáil-led government bequeathed to me was a series of expenditure ceilings for the Justice Sector which, if applied, would have resulted in devastating cuts in Garda services which I, as Minister, would not and could...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Rehabilitation Programmes (6 Mar 2013)

Alan Shatter: The Deputy will be aware from my replies to previous Parliamentary Questions that the statistics requested are not centrally recorded by the Irish Prison Service and to provide such information would require the allocation of a disproportionate and inordinate amount of staff time and resources. The Irish Prison Service provides a wide range of rehabilitative programmes that include...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Court Sittings (6 Mar 2013)

Alan Shatter: As the Deputy will be aware, under the Courts Service Act 1998, the management and administration of the courts is a matter for the Courts Service while the allocation of the business of the courts, scheduling of cases and management of lists are matters for the judiciary and in particular the Presidents of the courts. The Deputy will also be aware that judges are, subject to the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Proposed Legislation (6 Mar 2013)

Alan Shatter: A decision to grant bail in a particular case is a matter for the court, which is, subject only to the Constitution and the law, independent in the exercise of its judicial functions. There is a constitutional presumption in favour of bail, since, in the eyes of the law, a person is innocent until proven guilty. The provisions of the European Convention on Human Rights also restrict the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Charities Regulation (6 Mar 2013)

Alan Shatter: The Charities Act 2009 provides for an integrated system of mandatory registration and proportionate regulation and supervision of the charities sector in Ireland. The various sections of the Charities Act are subject to implementation through commencement orders. Sections that it was possible to commence in advance of the establishment of the Charities Regulatory Authority, as provided for...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Strength (6 Mar 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: Court Accommodation Provision (6 Mar 2013)

Alan Shatter: I wish to inform the Deputy that under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service which is independent in exercising its functions, which includes the provision of accommodation for court sittings. However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and have been informed that the Courts...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Court Accommodation Provision (6 Mar 2013)

Alan Shatter: As the Deputy may be aware, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service. The Act provides that the Service is independent in the performance of its functions, including the provision of courthouse facilities. As I indicated to the Deputy in my reply of 5 February 2013, the Criminal Courts of Justice (CCJ) has...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Victim Support Services (6 Mar 2013)

Alan Shatter: I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that it is the policy of An Garda Síochána to make victims of sexual crime aware of all relevant crime victims’ services both statutory and voluntary in their local area, which may be of assistance to them and to provide victims with literature relating to those agencies. It is also the policy of An Garda Síochána that...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Private Security Authority Licence Applications (6 Mar 2013)

Alan Shatter: The Private Security Authority (PSA) is the regulatory body with responsibility for the regulation of the security industry in Ireland. The Authority is an independent body under the aegis of my Department and so the processing of licence applications is a matter solely for the Authority. I am however informed by the Authority that a licence will issue in the coming days for the individual...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Policing Plans (6 Mar 2013)

Alan Shatter: I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that An Garda Síochána articulates its strategic plans by way of a Strategy Statement and an Annual Policing Plan. The Strategy Statement 2013-2015 which was published on 25 January 2013 will be actioned through a series of three annual Policing Plans, the first of which is the Policing Plan for 2013. A significant consultation...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Policing Plans (6 Mar 2013)

Alan Shatter: I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that An Garda Síochána articulates its strategic plans by way of a Strategy Statement and an Annual Policing Plan. The Strategy Statement 2013-2015 which was published on 25 January 2013 will be actioned through a series of three annual Policing Plans, the first of which is the Policing Plan 2013. A significant consultation process...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Station Closures (6 Mar 2013)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 197 and 198 together. The decision to close 100 Garda stations in 2013, including Stepaside Garda Station, was the result of a comprehensive operational assessment carried out by the Garda Commissioner over a 12 month period and contained in his Policing Plan 2013, which I laid before the House in December last. It is a matter for the Garda Commissioner to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Station Closures (6 Mar 2013)

Alan Shatter: Garda stations closed under the 2013 Garda Síochána Annual Policing Plan form part of the portfolio of State properties owned and maintained by the Office of Public Works. Minister Hayes, who has responsibility for the Office of Public Works, has indicated that, if an appropriate community management structure is put in place, closed stations could be used for local community purposes.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Vetting Applications (6 Mar 2013)

Alan Shatter: The Garda Central Vetting Unit (GCVU) provides employment vetting for approximately 20,000 organisations in Ireland which employ personnel to work in a full time part time, voluntary or student capacity with children and or vulnerable adults and who are registered with the Unit for this purpose. The Unit processed approximately 328,000 vetting applications on behalf of these organisations in...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Foreign Military Personnel (6 Mar 2013)

Alan Shatter: Where requests are received by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for permission for persons to enter the State wearing any foreign uniform in accordance with Section 317 of the Defence Act, 1954, they may be forwarded to my Department for observations and information purposes. Foreign military personnel enter the State from time to time in order to attend official meetings,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Tribunals of Inquiry Recommendations (5 Mar 2013)

Alan Shatter: Insofar as the report of the Moriarty Tribunal made recommendations concerning the future operation of tribunals of inquiry, many of these recommendations are anticipated by the Tribunals of Inquiry Bill 2005 which awaits Report Stage debate in the Dáil. Other recommendations are the subject of consultation with the Attorney General and other relevant Departments. With regard to the...