Results 7,221-7,240 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Complaints Procedures (6 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: As the Deputy is aware, the new prisoner complaints procedure was introduced with effect from the 1 November 2012. The new procedure allows for all complaints made by prisoners alleging serious ill treatment, use of excessive force, serious intimidation/discrimination or threats by a member of staff of the Irish Prison Service to be investigated by an independent investigator. The Inspector...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Overtime (6 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the number of overtime hours worked by members of An Garda Síochána during 2010, 2011 and 2012 was: 2010, 2,462,484 hours; 2011, 2,565,684 hours; and 2012, 1,310,954 hours. The 2011 figure also includes overtime in respect of duties carried out during the State Visits of President Obama and Queen Elizabeth II which amounted in total to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Sentencing Policy (6 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 19 and 43 together. The Deputy will appreciate that judges are independent in the matter of sentencing, as in other matters concerning the exercise of judicial functions, subject only to the Constitution and the law. In accordance with this principle, the role of the Oireachtas has been to specify in law a maximum penalty and a court, having considered all...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Accommodation (6 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: I wish to inform the Deputy that the Irish Prison Service provides a comprehensive range of drug treatment services tiered to meet the needs of the prison population. The nine beds referred to by the Deputy are allocated specifically for the therapeutic Drug Treatment Programme (DTP) based in the Medical Unit, Mountjoy Prison. This programme is 8 weeks in duration and the model used is a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Agreements (6 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: The Deputy will be aware that in March last year the Government decided to extend for a four year period the Irish Short-stay Visa Waiver Programme to the end of October, 2016. The programme, which was devised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department, was originally scheduled to run on a pilot basis until last October. The Programme allows tourists or...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Investigations (6 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: The murder of Garda Richard Fallon was a terrible tragedy for his family and I want to, again, express my deepest sympathy to them. On top of that personal tragedy, his murder was also an event that can only be described as a heinous crime carried out by ruthless individuals. As the Deputy will be aware, this case is currently being reviewed by An Garda Síochána’s Serious...

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

Alan Shatter: As I indicated in response to Question No. 789 of 16 January 2013, I am presently engaged in the preparation of a Family Relationships and Children Bill, which will, among other matters, deal with parentage issues arising from surrogacy. I intend to publish the Heads of the Bill as soon as possible in 2013 having regard to the need for consultations and the need to dispose of urgent...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Transport (6 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: I am advised by the Garda authorities that the strength of the Garda fleet for the years 2010 to date is as outlined in the table below: YEAR FLEET TOTAL 2010 2,740 2011 2,623 2012 2,414 31st January 2013 2,402 The Deputy will be aware that an additional 213 new vehicles were purchased in 2012 on foot of an investment of €4 million. These new vehicles are currently...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Refugee Numbers (6 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: The number of programme refugees accepted by the State during each of the past ten years is as follows: 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Total 28 50 58 115 184 114 101 192 20 45 49 956

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Career Breaks (6 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: I am informed by the Garda authorities that there are currently 40 members on a career break and there are no applications pending.

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

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 27 and 34 together. The Garda Commissioner is the Accounting Officer for the Garda Vote and I have been informed by the Garda authorities that financial cost statements are maintained at District Headquarters level rather than at Garda station level. In the circumstances the Deputies will appreciate that the specific financial information they have sought...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Equipment (6 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: As the Deputy will be aware, the Medical Bureau of Road Safety (MBRS), which is under the aegis of the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, has statutory responsibility for the testing, approval and supply of evidential testing machines and roadside breath testing screening devices to An Garda Síochána. I am informed by the Garda authorities that there are currently 64...

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

Alan Shatter: As stated in my reply to parliamentary question no. 740 answered on 16 January, I expect to bring legislative proposals to Government shortly. Subject to Government approval, I intend to publish these proposals when they have been considered by the Cabinet. It is not possible to specify a precise date for publication.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Refugee Status Applications (6 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: The person concerned applied for asylum on 14th August, 2007. In accordance with Section 9 of the Refugee Act 1996 (as amended), the person concerned was entitled to remain in the State until his application for asylum was decided. His asylum application was refused following the consideration of his case by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner and, on appeal, the Refugee...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Law Reform Commission Recommendations (6 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: I presume that the Deputies are referring to the Report of the Law Reform Commission on Civil Law of Missing Persons. Since the Report only came to our attention on 30 January 2013, you will appreciate that I am not in a position to comment on its recommendations at this stage. However, as normally happens with Reports of the Law Reform Commission, the recommendations are being examined in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Judicial Council Legislation (6 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: The Programme for Government undertakes to “legislate to establish a Judicial Council, with lay representation, to provide an effective mechanism for dealing with complaints against judges” and this commitment is being given expression in the form of the proposed Judicial Council Bill. As well as providing for the establishment of a Judicial Council and Board that will promote...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Levels (6 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: I am of course concerned about any level of racist crime and can assure the Deputy that An Garda Síochána monitors this type of crime, and indeed all other types of crime, very carefully. All members of An Garda Síochána are tasked with enforcing all legislation relating to criminal matters, including the relevant provisions relating to racist behaviour. On receipt of any...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Vetting of Personnel (6 Feb 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. The Unit processed approximately 328,000 vetting applications on behalf of these organisations in 2012. I am informed by the Garda authorities that the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Sentencing Policy (6 Feb 2013)

Alan Shatter: The Irish Sentencing Information System, or ISIS, results from the work of the judiciary to oversee the development of an electronic system to gather information about the range of sentences and other penalties that have been imposed for particular types of offences across court jurisdictions. The project was developed and is overseen by a Committee of the Court Service Board set up in 2004...

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

Alan Shatter: Work on the details of the Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill 2010 is ongoing at my Department pursuant to current Government policy which is committed, under the Programme for Government, to "introduce comprehensive reforms of the immigration, residency and asylum systems, which will include a statutory appeals system and set out rights and obligations in a transparent way". As I...