Results 1,041-1,060 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Transport Data (11 Mar 2014)

Alan Shatter: Decisions in relation to the provision and allocation of Garda vehicles are a matter for the Garda Commissioner in the light of his identified operational demands and the availability of resources. As the Deputy will be aware, I recently secured a further €9m for investment in the Garda fleet which resulted in the purchase of 305 Garda vehicles towards the end of 2013, at a cost of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Vetting of Personnel (11 Mar 2014)

Alan Shatter: Elements of the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012 relating to the disclosure of convictions are under review at present having regard to a recent judgment of the UK Court of Appeal in (On the Application of) T and others v Chief Constable of Greater Manchester [2013]. The UK Court considered the circumstances in which it is appropriate to disclose convictions...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Illicit Trade in Tobacco (11 Mar 2014)

Alan Shatter: As the Deputy will appreciate, the lead role in investigating the illegal trade in tobacco rests with Revenue's Customs Service in the context of preventing financial losses to the national exchequer due to the avoidance of the payment of excise duties. There is a close working relationship in place between the Customs Service of the Revenue Commissioners and An Garda Síochána in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: UN Conventions Ratification (11 Mar 2014)

Alan Shatter: I refer the Deputy to the response given by my colleague, Minister of State Kathleen Lynch on 27 February 2014, in which she informed the House that the Government intends to proceed to ratification of the Convention as quickly as possible, taking into account the need to ensure all necessary legislative and administrative requirements under the Convention are met. As the Deputy may be aware,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Legal Costs (11 Mar 2014)

Alan Shatter: I wish to inform the Deputy that in the majority of cases legal advice is provided for my Department by the Office of the Attorney General and/or the Office of the Chief State Solicitor and as such the costs incurred are borne by those Offices. However, on a few occasions my Department has incurred expenditure in respect of legal fees to law firms in respect of services received. Details of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (11 Mar 2014)

Alan Shatter: The Irish Nationality and Citizenship Regulations 2011 set out the prescribed fees to be paid by an applicant for a certificate of naturalisation. An application fee of €175 is payable on application for a certificate of naturalisation and a fee is payable by applicants on the issue of a certificate of naturalisation. The standard certification fee is €950, while a reduced fee...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Magdalen Laundries (11 Mar 2014)

Alan Shatter: Following a statement made by the Holy See to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) in relation to the Magdalen Laundries, I wrote to the four religious congregations concerned and asked if, based on the statement made by the Holy See, they had reconsidered their position with regard to making a financial contribution to the Scheme. I have received responses from...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Communications (11 Mar 2014)

Alan Shatter: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the Automated Vehicle and Personnel Locations System (AVPLS) was introduced into An Garda Síochána during 2012 and piloted in the Waterford and DMR North Central Divisions. On the basis of this successful pilot, implementation of a rollout of the system into other areas is currently under consideration by Garda management and is linked to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Personal Insolvency Act (11 Mar 2014)

Alan Shatter: The Personal Insolvency Act 2012 already provides for the debtor to appoint an independent person to act as their personal insolvency practitioner (PIP) or approved intermediary (AI), and to negotiate a debt resolution arrangement with creditors on their behalf (a Debt Relief Notice, Debt Settlement Arrangement, or Personal Insolvency Arrangement.) The Act also sets out the duties of PIPs...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Insolvency Service of Ireland (11 Mar 2014)

Alan Shatter: Guidelines as to what constitutes a reasonable standard of living and reasonable living expenses were prepared by the Insolvency Service of Ireland (ISI) in accordance with Section 23 of the Personal Insolvency Act 2012. They were first issued in April 2013 and reissued in June 2013 to include changes in the Consumer Price Index. The ISI chose a model which is a modified version of the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Strength (11 Mar 2014)

Alan Shatter: As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of all personnel among the Garda Regions, Divisions, and Districts. Garda management keep this distribution under continuing review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the best possible use is made of these resources. The information regarding figures from 2007...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (11 Mar 2014)

Alan Shatter: The Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) of my Department is responsible for the accommodation of asylum seekers in accordance with the Government policy of direct provision and dispersal. Currently, there are over 4,300 residents in 34 centres across the State under contract to RIA. Details of all of these centres and the companies or persons RIA has contracted to provide accommodation...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (11 Mar 2014)

Alan Shatter: The Direct Provision system, which system is managed by the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) of my Department, is constantly evolving to take account the number of asylum seekers entering or leaving the system and, generally, to meet the aim of improving and maintaining standards. This Government came to office on 9 March, 2011. From then to today, the number of asylum seekers...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Funding (11 Mar 2014)

Alan Shatter: I wish to advise the Deputy that there are no organisations funded by my Department that are bound by a service level agreement which are subject to a clause prohibiting the use of funding to change law or Government policies, or prohibiting the use of funding to persuade persons to adopt a view on law or public policy.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Investigations (11 Mar 2014)

Alan Shatter: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the Computer Crime Investigation Unit (CCIU), which is part of the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation, is the national central reference point for high-tech crime and computer forensics. The role of the CCIU is to investigate or assist with the investigation of complex or serious criminal misuse of information and communications technology,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Money Laundering (11 Mar 2014)

Alan Shatter: Under the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act 2010 ("the Act"), the person to whom the Deputy refers was granted two applications for authorisation to carry on business as a trust or company service provider under section 89 (6) of the Act on 1 December 2010 and 16 January 2012 for periods of three years, having satisfied the requirements for authorisation under...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Court Accommodation Refurbishment (11 Mar 2014)

Alan Shatter: Under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service which is independent in exercising its functions. However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and the Courts Service has informed me that Ballinamore Courthouse is no longer in use for court sittings. As you will appreciate, the funding...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Issues (11 Mar 2014)

Alan Shatter: I presume the Parliamentary Question being referred to by the Deputy is number 530 answered on 25 February 2014, not 4 March 2014 as stated by the Deputy. Where a member of the public feels aggrieved over the level of service he or she has received from the Ombudsman Commission they may take this up with the Commission itself. As has been pointed out previously, the Garda Síochána...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel (11 Mar 2014)

Alan Shatter: Under Defence Forces Regulations made in accordance with the Defence Acts 1954 as amended, married quarters were allocated to serving members of the Defence Forces in certain circumstances and a number of these serving personnel still occupy the quarters with their spouses and children. Where a serving member is in authorised occupation of such quarters, the Regulations provide for...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Recruitment (11 Mar 2014)

Alan Shatter: I announced the launch of a new recruitment campaign for Enlisted Personnel in both the Permanent and the Reserve Defence Force on Friday 7th March 2014. The Government is committed to maintaining the stabilised strength of the Permanent Defence Force at 9,500 personnel and this current campaign will enable us to do that. The Defence Forces plan to induct up to 400 personnel to the...