Results 7,181-7,200 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Other Questions: Penalty Points System (6 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: I am simply telling the Deputies this.

Other Questions: Penalty Points System (6 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: I do not intend to get into the issue of individuals. What I intend to do is to wait to receive the report that I expect. If the Deputies opposite could contain themselves for another three to four weeks-----

Other Questions: Penalty Points System (6 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: If the Deputies could contain themselves for another three to four weeks, I expect this investigation to be concluded. I expect to be in a position to publish in full the outcome of that investigation and I expect that if any remaining questions are not answered, that would be something I will pursue.

Other Questions: Penalty Points System (6 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: I am afraid the sight of the Deputy in full flight standing on a moral soapbox makes it a little difficult not to throw up. I agree with something the Deputy has just stated, which is that for justice to work, people must be assured that everyone should be treated equally. I have just listened to the Deputy's little diatribe. This was from a Member of this House who encourages people...

Other Questions: Penalty Points System (6 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: If the Deputy intends to morally lecture the rest of us, he should be aware the soapbox on which he is standing is resting on quicksand that is rapidly disappearing under him.

Other Questions: Penalty Points System (6 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: The Deputy does not want this matter to be investigated. She simply wishes to be told there was some sort of conspiracy.

Other Questions: Penalty Points System (6 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: All the Deputies opposite have made up their minds a long time ago. Were they not holding press conferences in Buswell's Hotel, at which material that is protected under the Data Protection Act and which would reveal the identities of individuals was about to be revealed breathlessly by them all in a great panoply of publicity and excitement to the assembled media until they suddenly...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Magdalen Laundries (6 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: I am happy the Deputy has quoted what I said because it has proved to be right. I said there was a State involvement and that people lived in barbaric conditions. The report has established that 26% of the residents were referred by the State in various modes, whether it was through the criminal justice system, or individuals who were residents in industrial schools and who were released...

Other Questions: Penalty Points System (6 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 6, 36, 58, 60 and 64 together. These questions all relate to the issue we have previously discussed surrounding the allegations concerning the cancellation of fixed charge notices. Fixed charge notices are provided for under the Road Traffic Act 2002 and are an alternative to prosecution. They give a motorist the opportunity to acknowledge the offence, pay...

Other Questions: Penalty Points System (6 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: I deplore the fact that it appears to be part of the approach taken by some Members of this House to constantly name individuals who have no opportunity to defend themselves and are not Members of this House. By doing so, it implies that they may have done something wrong. I am not going to get sucked into that process whereby examples are given with regard to particular named individuals.

Other Questions: Penalty Points System (6 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: Each of the cases that have been contained in allegations, whether individuals are named or anonymised, is being addressed by the assistant commissioner. There will be a detailed response following on from the completion of that investigation in which all of these issues will be addressed.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Magdalen Laundries (6 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: I announced yesterday the publication of the final report of the interdepartmental committee, independently chaired by former Senator, Dr. Martin McAleese, to establish the facts of State involvement with the Magdalen laundries. The report is extensive and detailed and, as has been stated in the House yesterday and today, runs to over 1,100 pages spanning the decades from 1922 onwards. I...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Magdalen Laundries (6 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: I was on the radio this morning immediately after the lady from the UN Committee against Torture and I noted she told us she read the summary, which is a short chapter at the start, but she had not read the rest of the report. It would be helpful if individuals internationally, as well as everyone at home, read the report in full. I could not be oblivious to the fact that much of the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Strength (6 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: As I said earlier, and previously in public, the Garda Commissioner and I are ad idem on the strength of An Garda Síochána not falling below 13,000. That is my view, as expressed privately and publicly. As I said earlier to the Deputy, I will be bringing a proposal in this regard before Cabinet in the coming weeks. On the closure of Garda stations, there has been much...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Strength (6 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: It is the difference between members of the force sitting in a station for three or four hours each morning or being out in the community.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Strength (6 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: We are not taking community gardaí out of communities. We are freeing them up to be more engaged with members of the community. These are operational decisions. I am not washing my hands of them. I support the Garda Commissioner. These are operational decisions made by the Garda Commissioner who has the statutory right and expertise to make them. I know some people are unhappy with...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Road Traffic Legislation (6 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: I am aware of the Deputy's concern about this issue and of the various queries he has raised about it. However, it is important not to assume that members of the Garda Síochána are dishonest, corrupt or unable to carry out their duties properly. Unfortunately that seems to be an assumption he is making. I will again reiterate what I said. I take this matter seriously, as does...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Road Traffic Legislation (6 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: This matter arose and following it arising, the matter is being investigated. If that investigation does not comprehensively address all the issues, the matter will be dealt with further. I am awaiting the result of that investigation and I have been assured that I will get it relatively shortly and thereafter will consider the position.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Strength (6 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: As of 31 December 2012, the latest date for which figures are readily available, the total strength of the force was 13,424 which is, in fact, 74 more than the figure of 13,350 proposed by Fianna Fáil in its National Recovery Plan 2011-2014. There are also approximately 2,000 civilian support staff and almost 1,000 Garda reserves in the Garda Síochána. The Deputy might be...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Judicial Appointments (6 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: As the Deputy well knows, as I have said this on a number of occasions and I am not saying anything new, despite the way the media have written about them, the appointments that have been made during my period in office have been on merit and merit alone. For some reason or other, on occasion I tend to be blissfully unaware of persons' political affiliations or which member of the legal...