Results 6,981-7,000 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (14 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: In 2012, over 88,000 visa applications for travel to Ireland were processed, of which 91% were approved. Of that total, around 39,700 applications (49%) were for "Visit Visas", which include short-term visas for those who wish to visit family/friends as well as those who wish to visit as independent holiday makers. Just under 35,000 of these (88%) were granted. It is important to note that...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Seeker Accommodation (14 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: The question relates to the spending and procurement policy of the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA), a functional unit of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department, which is responsible for the accommodation of persons while their applications for international protection are being processed. Currently there are 4,836 persons accommodated throughout the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Strategies (14 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: I would like to state at the outset that Ireland's National Traveller/Roma Integration Strategy is envisaged to be a living document and as time goes on there is nothing to prevent the development and inclusion of new actions in any of the sectors; therefore the necessity for a revised strategy as suggested by the Deputy does not arise as such at this point. The Commission’s...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Vetting of Personnel (14 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: This question concerns two issues. Firstly, it concerns the welfare and protection of children and vulnerable adults living in direct provision asylum seeker accommodation centres under contract to the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) of my Department. Secondly, it concerns the remit of the independent inspections by a Galway based firm, QTS Limited contracted by RIA to carry out...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Funding (14 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: RIA is a functional unit of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department, responsible for the accommodation of persons while their applications for international protection are being processed. Currently there are 4,836 persons accommodated throughout the State in 35 centres under contract to RIA. Expenditure on the direct provision accommodation services in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Personal Insolvency Service (14 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: The full operation of the provisions of the Personal Insolvency Act 2012 is expected in the early part of 2013. The Insolvency Service of Ireland aims to open its office, launch its website and commence an information campaign with the issuing of publications and relevant guidelines during March 2013. The regulatory and IT frameworks required for the Service to accept and process...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Stardust Fire Issues (14 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 272 and 273 together. I would like to begin, this being the anniversary of the Stardust fire tragedy, by expressing my continuing sympathy for all those affected by the fire, for whom this time of year must be especially difficult. As the Deputy will recall, the Coffey Report acknowledged the original Tribunal's findings that there is no evidence that the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Alcohol Sales (14 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: The position is that the Report of the Steering Group on a National Substance Misuse Strategy which was published last year contains a broad range of recommendations which seek to address the negative consequences of alcohol misuse and alcohol-related harm in this country. The Department of Health is currently developing an Action Plan for submission to the Government in response to the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Station Closures (14 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: Details of any station closures since 2007 are available in the Policing Plans for 2012 and 2013. These plans were lodged in the Oireachtas Library and are also available on the Garda Síochána web site www.garda.ie.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Levels (14 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: The Garda Síochána Act 2005 makes provision for the compilation and publication of crime statistics by the Central Statistics Office (CSO), as the national statistical agency, and the CSO has established a dedicated unit for this purpose. I have requested the CSO to provide statistics directly to the Deputy. The personnel strength, by rank, of the Meath Garda Division as at 31...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Proposed Legislation (14 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: The case referred to by the Deputy concerned a pre-leave judicial review hearing involving a national of Pakistan who sought to have the decision of the Refugee Appeals Tribunal in his appeal quashed. In its judgment, the High Court was critical of the Tribunal's decision in the applicant's appeal citing, inter alia, errors of law and fact. In light of the High Court's judgment the Chairman...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Proposed Legislation (14 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: The situation in relation to this matter remains as set out in my Written Reply to Questions No. 152 and 154 of 30 January 2013 which I will, therefore, reiterate on this occasion. The Legal Services Regulation Bill 2011 has completed Second Stage in the Dáil and is awaiting Committee Stage. The Bill does not make any provision in relation to the role or status of "legal executives"...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Contracts (14 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: This question concerns a Galway based firm, QTS Limited, which is contracted by the Reception & Integration Agency (RIA) to carry out inspections of asylum accommodation centres. RIA is a functional unit of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department responsible for the accommodation of persons while their applications for international protection are being...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (14 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: I am informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) that the person referred to by the Deputy is the subject of a Deportation Order so therefore has no residency status in the State nor does the issue of naturalisation arise. The Deportation Order was signed on 10 September 2009, following a comprehensive and thorough examination of his asylum claim, and a detailed...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (14 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) that an application for a certificate of naturalisation was received from the person referred to by the Deputy in March, 2012. The application is at an advanced stage of processing and the applicant will be informed of my decision in due course. As well as being a significant event in the life of its recipient, the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (14 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) that an application for a certificate of naturalisation was received from the person referred to by the Deputy in September 2011. The application is at an advanced stage of processing and will be submitted to me for decision in due course. As well as being a significant event in the life of its recipient, the granting...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (14 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: I can inform the Deputy that the application has entered the final stage of processing and I intend to grant citizenship. A letter has issued to the person referred to by the Deputy asking him to submit the prescribed fee and other documents so he can attend the next citizenship ceremony at which he will make a declaration of fidelity to the Irish Nation and loyalty to the State and receive...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (14 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: I am advised by the Citizenship Division of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) that an application for a certificate of naturalisation was received from the person referred to by the Deputy in July, 2009. As the person referred to by the Deputy did not confirm on her application form that she intended to reside in the State after naturalisation, one of the statutory...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Deportation Orders (14 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: The person concerned had her case examined in accordance with the provisions of Section 3(6) of the Immigration Act 1999, (as amended), and Section 5 of the Refugee Act 1996, (as amended) on the prohibition of refoulement. Refoulement was not found to be an issue here. In addition, no issue arises under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice (UN Convention against Torture) Act, 2000. Consideration...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Investigations (14 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: I am aware of the case referred to by the Deputy, and I have requested a report on the current position from the Garda authorities. I will contact the Deputy directly when the report is to hand.