Results 8,881-8,900 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Overseas Missions (7 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: The Defence Forces are primarily deployed on overseas missions in support of international peace and security under UN mandates. On 20 December 2001, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1386 under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, authorising the establishment of an International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan. There are fourteen UN Security Council...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Drug Smuggling (7 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 24 and 26 together. The Customs Service of the Revenue Commissioners has primary responsibility for the prevention of drug smuggling into the country and responsibility for the prevention of crime rests primarily with An Garda Síochána. However, the White Paper on Defence (2000) provides for a security role for the Naval Service and the Air Corps...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Military Archives (7 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: The Military Service Pensions Archive project is a cornerstone of the Government Centenary Programme. Approximately 300,000 files relating to the period from Easter Week, 1916, through the War of Independence and Civil War comprise this collection. The files relate mainly to applications by individuals and/or their dependants for the award of pension and gratuities for veterans who served...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Deployment (7 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: The Defence Forces receive an extensive number of requests each year from individuals, organisations and from Government Departments and Agencies to deploy personnel to civilian events. These events range from a local charity organisation, where a handful of personnel might provide a Military display, to a national event such as the annual National Day of Commemoration where the Defence...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Deployment (7 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: Arising from the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure (CRE), the Government stablised the strength ceiling of the PDF at 9,500 personnel. A major re-organisation of the PDF was initiated which will entail a reduction in the number of Army Brigades from three to two. As part of this re-organisation the number of PDF personnel (known as PDF Cadre) available to work full-time with the Army...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: EU Battlegroups (7 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: Ireland is currently participating in the Austro-German led Battlegroup, which will be on stand-by until 31 December 2012. In 2010, the then Government approved Ireland's participation in this Battlegroup. The other members of the Austro-German Battlegroup are Austria, Germany, Czech Republic, Croatia and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM). Our contribution is a Reconnaissance...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Operations (7 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: Five (5) members of the Permanent Defence Force are deployed in Syria as part of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation (UNTSO). The Defence Forces have participated in UNTSO since 1958. Defence Forces personnel serving with this mission are based in Syria, Israel and Lebanon. The 5 Defence Forces personnel based in Syria are part of Observer Group Golan (OGG) responsible for...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Property Registration Authority (7 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: The Property Registration Authority (PRA) was established on 4 November 2006 under the provisions of the Registration of Deeds and Title Act 2006 and is responsible for managing and controlling the Registry of Deeds and the Land Registry. The Registry of Deeds is located in the Registry of Deeds Building, Kings Inns, Henrietta Street, Dublin 1 and the number of staff located there is 28. ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigrant Investor Programme (7 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: The Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service has informed me that there continues to be a significant number of enquiries from potential applicants and their representatives for both programmes. To date, three applications for the Immigrant Investor Programme have been received as well as eighteen applications for the Start-up Entrepreneur Programme. On foot of the recommendations of the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Property Services Regulatory Authority (7 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: The Property Services Regulatory Authority was established on the 3rd of April 2012 under the Property Services (Regulation) Act 2011 to regulate, control and supervise property services providers (i.e. auctioneers/estate agents, letting agents and property management agents) and to establish and enforce standards within the property services industry. A new licensing regime has been...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Stations (7 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 144 and 145 together. Any proposals for the closure of Garda stations must be contained in the annual Policing Plan prepared by the Commissioner and submitted to the Minister for Justice and Equality. While the policing plan for 2013 has not yet been finalised, it will be laid before the House in due course. Until then it would be premature to speculate on...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Same-sex Marriage (7 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: Legislation providing for same-sex marriage cannot be enacted without an amendment to the Constitution following a decision of the people in a referendum on the matter in accordance with Article 46 of the Constitution. In this regard the Programme for Government includes a commitment to establish a Constitutional Convention to consider constitutional reform on a number of issues including...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Closed Circuit Television Systems (7 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: The Community-based CCTV Scheme was launched in 2005 to provide financial assistance towards the capital costs of establishing a Community CCTV system. To date, two major rounds of the Scheme have been advertised, in 2005/2006 and 2007. The Scheme provided for a substantive grant of up to €100,000 towards the capital cost of establishing a system. In addition it provided...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Training (7 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: I am informed by the Garda authorities that no Intoxilyser Training Courses have been delivered to date in 2012.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Closed Circuit Television Systems (7 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: Garda CCTV systems are planned and implemented on the basis of An Garda Síochána's identified operational requirements. Accordingly, decisions in relation to the introduction or extension of such systems are a matter for the Garda Commissioner. In that context, I am advised by the Garda authorities that while there are currently no plans to increase the number of Garda cameras in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Releases (7 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: I can advise the Deputy that funding has not been provided by my Department to develop the residence referred to for transition housing for released prisoners.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Court Procedures (7 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: The Deputy will be aware that the Government recently approved in principle my proposals for reforms to our courts structures which will, in due course, require the holding of a Constitutional referendum. The proposed reforms are intended, if approved in a referendum, to facilitate the establishment of a new separate Family Courts structure which will streamline family law court processes...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention Officers (7 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that under the GRACE Programme, which was established in September 2011, the Commissioner has tasked a small group to examine the overall operational effectiveness and resilience of the Force and recommend where further savings and effectiveness could be achieved. One of the issues being addressed is the role of the Crime Prevention Officers...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Proposed Legislation (7 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: The Coroners Bill 2007 is before the Seanad having been restored to the Order Paper on my initiative. The Bill is in the course of being reviewed in my Department with a view, among other matters, to making it as cost-effective as possible. The Bill, as published, provides for the comprehensive reform of the existing legislation and structures relating to coroners and provides for the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (7 Nov 2012)

Alan Shatter: The Irish Short-stay Visa Waiver Programme, which was devised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department, commenced on 1 July, 2011 and was originally scheduled to run on a pilot basis until the end of October, 2012. It allows tourists or business people who have lawfully entered the UK, including Northern Ireland, on a valid UK visa to travel on to Ireland...