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

Garda Inspectorate Report on the Fixed Charge Processing System: Statements (26 Mar 2014)

Alan Shatter: I thank all of those who contributed to this debate. Deputies raised various points, most of which we have travelled through in the extended question and answer session we had. I do not want to delay the House unduly by repeating matters I have already addressed. We have substantially dealt with all the substantive issues I am not going to respond tonight to political charges.

Garda Inspectorate Report on the Fixed Charge Processing System: Statements (26 Mar 2014)

Alan Shatter: I am disappointed that very little of the contribution to the debate this evening by Members opposite dealt with the detail of the report of the Garda Inspectorate. It is a very detailed report containing very worthwhile recommendations some of which involve administrative change and some change in legislation. Some of the recommendations affect the Garda Síochána and relate to...

Garda Inspectorate Report on the Fixed Charge Processing System: Statements (26 Mar 2014)

Alan Shatter: I cannot speak on behalf of the Attorney General in respect of details I do not know. My understanding is that on her side, this particular issue arose in regard to a piece of litigation involving two different people that was taking place and that tapes were disclosed or found that could be of relevance - and proved ultimately to be of relevance - to this litigation. This is my...

Garda Inspectorate Report on the Fixed Charge Processing System: Statements (26 Mar 2014)

Alan Shatter: Clearly, the legal implications of all of this are a matter to be considered by the statutory commission of inquiry.

Garda Inspectorate Report on the Fixed Charge Processing System: Statements (26 Mar 2014)

Alan Shatter: I have already dealt with the matter relating to the letter. I explained that, as has been explained to me, it arrived on 10 March. It contained information that was relevant to the issue we have been discussing, but there was also information which was primarily focused on particular sets of civil proceedings. I understand that information was the initial focus of any engagement by...

Garda Inspectorate Report on the Fixed Charge Processing System: Statements (26 Mar 2014)

Alan Shatter: I emphasise that it is my understanding that it is an internal Garda working group and that the Attorney General does not have an official on it. I hope the Deputy will ensure he passes that information on to Deputy Gerry Adams who had left the Chamber before I made the correction earlier. This is a complicated issue as it is, without some inadvertent piece of information giving rise to...

Garda Inspectorate Report on the Fixed Charge Processing System: Statements (26 Mar 2014)

Alan Shatter: I find it extraordinary that information on the tapes has emerged in the way it has. At the highest levels within An Garda Síochána work is necessary to understand fully the extent of the taping and where it took place. I am not clear on the extent to which, if any, information recorded is accessed or used. I am very conscious, not just as Minister for Justice and Equality but as...

Garda Inspectorate Report on the Fixed Charge Processing System: Statements (26 Mar 2014)

Alan Shatter: This was a report that was sought, as I understand it, in 2007 on the fixed charge processing system. GSOC conducted a substantial examination of the system and produced its report in 2009. I genuinely do not know why it was not published and I am not going to attribute any motive for its not being published. It is a very detailed report which seems to have been sent to the former...

Garda Inspectorate Report on the Fixed Charge Processing System: Statements (26 Mar 2014)

Alan Shatter: I would be happy, when we publish the report on the website, to also publish the accompanying letter because it synopsises one or two issues of relevance and importance. I would have thought that it was a report that warranted publication. Its recommendations certainly have not been implemented in full, although some elements of the Road Traffic Act 2010 sought to reflect some aspects of...

Garda Inspectorate Report on the Fixed Charge Processing System: Statements (26 Mar 2014)

Alan Shatter: I ask Deputy Higgins to repeat his very first question.

Garda Inspectorate Report on the Fixed Charge Processing System: Statements (26 Mar 2014)

Alan Shatter: I understand.

Garda Inspectorate Report on the Fixed Charge Processing System: Statements (26 Mar 2014)

Alan Shatter: We are now ranging far and wide and way beyond the confines of the report of the Garda Inspectorate but I will do my best to respond to the Deputy's questions. I will truthfully say that I do not recall whether or not I had phone conversations with the Garda Commissioner between 10 and 15 March, when I would have gone to Mexico. I certainly did not talk to him from Mexico. I genuinely...

Garda Inspectorate Report on the Fixed Charge Processing System: Statements (26 Mar 2014)

Alan Shatter: I can only tell the Deputy what happened. This letter apparently arrived in my Department on 10 March. It arrived in the context of issues relating to the civil action that was taking place. I understand there was some initial meeting on 10 March and a further meeting on 11 March. I think the substantial focus on the part of officials in the Department was on the proceedings, which I...

Garda Inspectorate Report on the Fixed Charge Processing System: Statements (26 Mar 2014)

Alan Shatter: With which of the two issues are we dealing?

Garda Inspectorate Report on the Fixed Charge Processing System: Statements (26 Mar 2014)

Alan Shatter: In regard to the issue the Deputy raised, I have already gone through the matter. These are serious matters and when I became aware of the extent of this matter, I took it with great seriousness, as did the Taoiseach and the Attorney General. In the context of the working group, this, as I understand it, was an internal Garda working group and there was a representative of the Attorney...

Garda Inspectorate Report on the Fixed Charge Processing System: Statements (26 Mar 2014)

Alan Shatter: Yes.

Garda Inspectorate Report on the Fixed Charge Processing System: Statements (26 Mar 2014)

Alan Shatter: I will take these matters in reverse order. First, the Deputy has raised a case regarding a matter in Cork of which I am not aware. Everyone in this House who has an interest in these issues is familiar with the report that was produced by GSOC arising out of the Boylan case, in which it made a complaint about the length of time it took to get some information and documentation from An...

Garda Inspectorate Report on the Fixed Charge Processing System: Statements (26 Mar 2014)

Alan Shatter: Yes.

Garda Inspectorate Report on the Fixed Charge Processing System: Statements (26 Mar 2014)

Alan Shatter: Sure.

Garda Inspectorate Report on the Fixed Charge Processing System: Statements (26 Mar 2014)

Alan Shatter: Yes, but that is the exact reason I invited the Deputy to give me the details. Clearly, I cannot follow it up without her agreement and until I get the details. However, I am very happy to do it.