Results 8,041-8,060 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Gangland Killings (11 Dec 2012)

Alan Shatter: If the Deputy had listened-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Gangland Killings (11 Dec 2012)

Alan Shatter: I have been asked questions, but I cannot respond if the gentlemen feels the need to keep on shouting at me.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Gangland Killings (11 Dec 2012)

Alan Shatter: If the Deputy wants an answer to his questions, perhaps he might do me the courtesy of staying quiet while I am replying.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Gangland Killings (11 Dec 2012)

Alan Shatter: If the Deputy was listening to my reply, he would have noticed that in the context of the success of An Garda Síochána, whereas there were drugs seized in 2011 to a value of €65 million, in the first three quarters of 2012 the figure came to €90.4 million. The Garda has had an exceptionally successful year in targeting organised crime, those engaged in the sale of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Gangland Killings (11 Dec 2012)

Alan Shatter: We have similar numbers in the Garda Síochána to the numbers in 2007. Is the Deputy suggesting the Garda was not up to the job in that year? We have more members of An Garda Síochána today than we had at the height of the Troubles in Northern Ireland. An additional 213 Garda vehicles were purchased this year at a cost of €4 million. At a time of financial...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Gangland Killings (11 Dec 2012)

Alan Shatter: When I entered government, the Defence Forces had been-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Gangland Killings (11 Dec 2012)

Alan Shatter: The Deputy is at it again. He cannot resist.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Gangland Killings (11 Dec 2012)

Alan Shatter: The Deputy cannot resist.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Gangland Killings (11 Dec 2012)

Alan Shatter: I know the truth is irritating, but the Deputy might let me finish.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Gangland Killings (11 Dec 2012)

Alan Shatter: I know the Deputy is upset when I tell the truth, but he might let me finish.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Gangland Killings (11 Dec 2012)

Alan Shatter: When I entered government and had the privilege of being appointed Minister for Justice and Equality and Defence, I discovered in the defence area that the way funding had been allocated by the Deputy's predecessors in government was to make a pretence of the amount available for the current members of the Defence Forces when in reality the Defence Forces were heading towards a position where...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Gangland Killings (11 Dec 2012)

Alan Shatter: In the context of An Garda Síochána, the previous Government tied us to a position where we would be honour bound to reduce expenditure-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Gangland Killings (11 Dec 2012)

Alan Shatter: -----and a commitment was given that by the end of 2013 numbers in An Garda Síochána would reduce to 13,000. If the Deputy wants to be in denial, it does not matter how loud he shouts at me. These are the facts.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Deployment (11 Dec 2012)

Alan Shatter: The delivery of a policing service is the statutory responsibility of the Garda Síochána and I have full confidence in its capacity to deliver that service efficiently and effectively. Where necessary, the Garda Síochána is assisted in carrying out certain specific duties by members of the Defence Forces in fulfilment of the role assigned to the Defence Forces to provide...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Prison Visiting Committees (11 Dec 2012)

Alan Shatter: It is my intention to introduce legislation, which is also referenced in the programme for Government, under which the visiting committee reports will be submitted directly to the Inspector of Prisons, and if members of visiting committees have concerns about any institution they visit during a year they will have direct contact with the Inspector of Prisons. Under the new legislation, it...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Prison Visiting Committees (11 Dec 2012)

Alan Shatter: New arrangements have already been established with regard to a complaints system. On the question of meeting former prisoners, in the preparation of his report on St. Patrick's Institution, the Inspector of Prisons not only visited the prison at various unexpected times of the day and night, including at weekends, but went to the trouble of meeting former prisoners from St. Patrick's...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Gangland Killings (11 Dec 2012)

Alan Shatter: I remain in ongoing contact with the Garda Commissioner about all aspects of serious crime and I can assure the House that the Garda authorities will continue to bear down heavily on the activities of those involved in gangland crime, including criminal terrorists. I am aware of the US report to which the Deputy refers, and it confirms our long-standing knowledge of the involvement of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Penalty Points System (11 Dec 2012)

Alan Shatter: The individual who has made complaints in this area has made a calculation of the alleged total number of fixed-charge notices cancelled. The calculation, as furnished in the allegation I saw, gave rise to an assumption that every single cancellation was inappropriate and due to some inside influence. Let me make it very clear that on my watch as Minister for Justice and Equality I will not...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Penalty Points System (11 Dec 2012)

Alan Shatter: I said to the Deputy that I will publish the outcome of the investigation that is under way.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Prison Visiting Committees (11 Dec 2012)

Alan Shatter: The Deputy will know that for many years I expressed concerns about St. Patrick's Institution and believed it was an inappropriate facility for children. I was instrumental in ensuring that the programme for Government included a specific commitment to end the practice of sending children there. I visited St. Patrick's within two weeks of my appointment and I met the Inspector of Prisons at...