Results 10,301-10,320 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (11 Jul 2012)

Alan Shatter: I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that as of 31st May 2012, there were 75 Gardaí assigned to the Buncrana Garda District, which covers the Inishowen peninsula, with 5 members of the Garda Reserve and 5 civilian staff also assigned to the District. Local Garda management closely monitor the allocation of all resources in the context of crime trends, policing needs and other...

Written Answers — Crime Prevention: Crime Prevention (11 Jul 2012)

Alan Shatter: I am informed by the Garda authorities that policing measures are in place to address the difficulties referred to by the Deputy. These include the designation of certain areas as hotspots for such criminality and additional high visibility patrols being directed by local Garda management. Incidents of public disorder and other anti-social behaviour are dealt with by way of juvenile or...

Written Answers — Naturalisation Applications: Naturalisation Applications (11 Jul 2012)

Alan Shatter: I am advised by the Citizenship Division of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) that a letter issued to the applicant on 25 June, 2012 advising that the application is currently being processed and will be progressed to a final decision as expeditiously as possible. Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to INIS by e-mail...

Written Answers — Drug Treatment Programmes: Drug Treatment Programmes (11 Jul 2012)

Alan Shatter: There are a range of drug rehabilitation programmes available for prisoners which involve a significant multidimensional input by a diverse range of general and specialist services provided both by the Irish Prison Service and visiting statutory and non-statutory organisations.The programmes seek to reduce the demand for drugs within the prison system through education, treatment and...

Written Answers — Prisoner Complaints Procedures: Prisoner Complaints Procedures (11 Jul 2012)

Alan Shatter: It is not possible, in the time available, to collate the information requested by the Deputy. I will furnish the information to the Deputy as soon as possible. In respect of a complaints system I can inform the Deputy that prisoners may make a complaint about treatment in custody through a number of channels, including local prison management, the Prison Visiting Committee, the Inspector of...

Written Answers — Prison Staff: Prison Staff (11 Jul 2012)

Alan Shatter: I am advised by the Director General of the Irish Prison Service that Prison Officers working in visiting areas, gates, security, screening units, external posts or any other area where there may come into contact with members of the public, receive 'area specific' training. All of these training programmes highlight the critical necessity for prison staff to behave in a professional,...

Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (11 Jul 2012)

Alan Shatter: I wish to inform the Deputy that the information requested by him in respect of Bills published by my Department since I came into office is set out below under the relevant headings: Bills published by my Department since I came into office 2011 Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011 Criminal Justice Bill 2011 Criminal Justice (Community Service) (Amendment) Bill 2011 European...

Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (11 Jul 2012)

Alan Shatter: The Department of Justice and Equality undertakes Regulatory Impact Analyses and Poverty Impact Assessments in accordance with the latest relevant guidelines provided by the Department of the Taoiseach and the Social Inclusion Division of the Department of Social Protection respectively. The Regulatory Impact Assessment procedure incorporates the Poverty Impact Assessment through the...

Public Order Offences (11 Jul 2012)

Alan Shatter: I thank the Deputies for raising what is clearly a matter of great public concern. I share people's shock and concern over the series of disturbing incidents that took place at a concert in the Phoenix Park last Saturday night. Unfortunately, a number of people engaged in disgraceful and unacceptable conduct. I am sure Deputies will appreciate that as a number of people are facing charges...

Public Order Offences (11 Jul 2012)

Alan Shatter: I thank Deputies for their comments, some of which were constructive. I want to emphasise that this is a matter of very substantial concern to me. I want to give Deputies some insight into the security arrangements. I am told that the promoters had 511 security personnel present on the occasion of the concert on Saturday evening. That number actually exceeded the number that their licence...

Public Order Offences (11 Jul 2012)

Alan Shatter: That is a specific issue that must be seriously addressed. Deputy Keating raised the issue of airport-type security. The difficulty, I have been told, with this concert is that there was a large number of young people sitting around drinking in the Phoenix Park immediately before the concert, with the gates only opened a half hour before the performance so that 40,000 to 45,000 people could...

Family Law Cases (11 Jul 2012)

Alan Shatter: The Deputy has raised an issue that has been a concern of mine for many years. The difficult reality is that we have within our courts system no separate court to deal with family law matters, unlike the separate unified system of family courts in Australia. Within the District and Circuit Court there are separate court sittings dealing with family law issues, and the High Court sits...

Family Law Cases (11 Jul 2012)

Alan Shatter: The Deputy has now raised two entirely different issues to the issue with which she opened and I hope to have the time to respond to them for fear misinformation outside the House may cause concern.

Family Law Cases (11 Jul 2012)

Alan Shatter: The Criminal Justice (Withholding of Information on Offences against Children and Vulnerable Persons) Bill is under consideration by the House with Report and Final Stages to be considered tomorrow. The primary purpose of the Bill is to ensure there is an obligation on persons who have knowledge of all serious offences, including sexual offences against children or vulnerable adults, to...

Written Answers — Immigration Policy: Immigration Policy (10 Jul 2012)

Alan Shatter: I refer the Deputy to my response of 3rd July last appended below to Parliamentary Questions 490 & 479. In addition to my answer on that occasion I would point out that in many instances. 95% of all visa applications are approved and that the overall average rate of visa approval is 92%. While I am not averse in principle to the establishment of an immigration regime specifically geared to...

Written Answers — Human Trafficking: Human Trafficking (10 Jul 2012)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 343 and 344 together. I am informed by the Garda authorities that the number of children referred to or encountered by An Garda Síochána as possible victims of human trafficking were 17 in 2009; 19 in 2010 and 13 in 2011. This includes persons identified in the course of investigations into offences contrary to the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act 1998...

Written Answers — Asylum Support Services: Asylum Support Services (10 Jul 2012)

Alan Shatter: The Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) of my Department is charged with responsibility for the accommodation of asylum seekers while their applications for protection are being processed. Currently, there almost 5,100 persons accommodated in 37 RIA centres located throughout the State. RIA has recently signed another contract with Mosney for the accommodation of asylum seekers up to...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (10 Jul 2012)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 346 and 347 together. I can assure the Deputy that I attach the highest priority to the full investigation of white collar crime and bringing the perpetrators of such crime to justice. On taking office, I raised a number of cases of white collar crime with the Garda Commissioner and I am being briefed on an ongoing basis on the progress of the investigations....

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (10 Jul 2012)

Alan Shatter: I am informed that An Garda Síochána has not received any recent reports from the Central Bank regarding any suspicion attached to the exchange of money from Punts to Euros. I also understand that the Central Bank continuously monitors this process to ensure the provision of a secure public service including appropriate procedures to notify the authorities of any suspicious transactions.

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (10 Jul 2012)

Alan Shatter: The person concerned arrived in the State on 21 December 2003 and made an application for asylum the following day. His application was refused following consideration of his case by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner and, on appeal, the Refugee Appeals Tribunal. Subsequently, in accordance with Section 3 of the Immigration Act, 1999 (as amended), the person concerned was...