Results 12,021-12,040 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Proposed Legislation (13 Mar 2012)

Alan Shatter: The working group on a court of appeal recommended in 2008 that a court of appeal be established by way of constitutional amendment. While the Court of Criminal Appeal has existed under legislation since 1961, the group strongly recommended a combined appellate court, encompassing both criminal and civil cases, should be established under the Constitution. There is a commitment in the...

Proposed Legislation (13 Mar 2012)

Alan Shatter: Today, the Government made decisions regarding appointments to the Circuit and District Courts. There were seven vacancies based on retirements and the untimely death of a member of the District Court some months ago. There were seven appointments made today to the Circuit Court to fill all vacancies therein. There were five appointments made today to fill five vacancies in the District...

Garda Operations (13 Mar 2012)

Alan Shatter: I apologise. Occasionally, the humour of something gets to me. I did not realise that Deputy Ó Cuív had a particular interest in the Garda mounted unit. I congratulate Deputy Calleary on nominating this question on his behalf. I have a vision of Deputy Ó Cuív riding into the twilight carrying a piece of turf on his shoulder. The allocation of Garda financial resources, including for...

Garda Operations (13 Mar 2012)

Alan Shatter: As the Deputy will be aware, many of the services the Defence Forces and the Garda provided in years gone by did not involve policing matters. They were not required for security or investigative reasons. The services were often provided at the request of communities in circumstances where the State was not in major financial difficulty. In respect of certain events where communities...

Garda Operations (13 Mar 2012)

Alan Shatter: As I do not want to mislead the House or the Deputy, I will revert to the Deputy on the question. I assume it is something that is determined at the higher levels of An Garda Síochána with regard to the particular event that arises. I will communicate with the Deputy on the matter. I do not want to give him an inaccurate reply.

Proposed Legislation (13 Mar 2012)

Alan Shatter: Legislation providing for same-sex marriage cannot be enacted without an amendment to the Constitution following a "Yes" vote in a referendum on the matter. This is something of which I have no doubt the Deputy is aware because it was for this very reason that my predecessor, Dermot Ahern, introduced legislation to provide for civil partnership. In this regard, the programme for Government...

Proposed Legislation (13 Mar 2012)

Alan Shatter: As the Deputy rightly said, the arrangements relating to the convention are being dealt with through the Office of the Taoiseach. When we discussed these matters last in Cabinet, the decision was made that there would be a consultative process with the Opposition leaders. I am not up to date on where that stands at present. I presume the issues the Deputy has raised will form part of the...

Asylum Support Services (13 Mar 2012)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 68 and 69 together. I am satisfied that the system of direct provision system and dispersal, which was established in 1999, is in compliance with human rights obligations placed on the State by domestic and international law. I do not believe an audit as suggested in the question is warranted. Over the years, the direct provision system has been open to...

Written Answers — Crime Prevention: Crime Prevention (8 Mar 2012)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 153 to 155, inclusive, together. The Deputy will appreciate that the questions posed raise issues that would go beyond the remit of my Department, including matters concerning the operation of payment services systems and best practice in doing business on-line. Of course, I do appreciate that in the current economic climate, the challenges faced by retailers...

Written Answers — Public Order Offences: Public Order Offences (8 Mar 2012)

Alan Shatter: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the situation concerning the protest encampment referred to had been monitored by An Garda Síochána for some time. The group in question were encamped on private property and there had been ongoing liaison between An Garda Síochána, the group in question, the Central Bank and other interested parties. Policing of the protest was of course at...

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (8 Mar 2012)

Alan Shatter: I wish to inform the Deputy that it has not been possible to provide the information requested in the time available. The information is currently being collated and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it is to hand.

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (8 Mar 2012)

Alan Shatter: I can inform the Deputy that the application has entered the final stage of processing and I intend to grant citizenship. The person concerned was informed of this in a letter issued to him on 16 February, 2012. Once the prescribed fee and requested documents have been submitted, an invitation to a citizenship ceremony will issue to him at which he will make a declaration of fidelity to the...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (8 Mar 2012)

Alan Shatter: In the time available it has not been possible for the Garda authorities to supply the information requested by the Deputy. I will be in contact with the Deputy when the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (8 Mar 2012)

Alan Shatter: The persons concerned were granted temporary permission to remain in the State in June 2000, under the arrangements then in place for the non-EEA parents of Irish born children. This permission to remain was renewed on a regular basis and is currently valid until 6 December, 2012. An application for a certificate of naturalisation from the first person referred to in the Deputy's Question was...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (8 Mar 2012)

Alan Shatter: The person in question has been asked to produce certain documentation in relation to his residence in the State. On production of satisfactory documentation, the situation regarding his residence in the State will be fully considered by my officials. Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to INIS by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (8 Mar 2012)

Alan Shatter: The person concerned was granted temporary permission to remain in the State until 3 March 2012. The person concerned was required to apply in writing one month before the end of the expiry period for the renewal of this permission. My Department's records show no evidence of such a renewal application having been made and consequently the person concerned is currently without permission...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (8 Mar 2012)

Alan Shatter: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Question 205 on 7th March, 2012. The position remains as stated. Reply to Parliamentary Question 205 of 7th March, 2012 I am advised by the Citizenship Division of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) that an application for a certificate of naturalisation was received from the person referred to by the Deputy in April, 2010....

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (8 Mar 2012)

Alan Shatter: The bodies under the aegis of my Department are the Civil Defence Board, the Army Pensions Board and the Board of Coiste an Asgard. The Civil Defence Act 2002 provides that the Board shall consist of at least eight but not more than fourteen members who shall be appointed by the Minister for Defence. Legislation is currently being drafted to dissolve the Civil Defence Board and transfer the...

Written Answers — Commercial Rents: Commercial Rents (7 Mar 2012)

Alan Shatter: The Deputy will recall that the Government announced in December last that it had decided not to proceed with legislation to abolish upward only rent reviews in existing commercial leases, i.e., those entered into prior to 28 February 2010. There was a substantial concern that any legislative scheme involving interference in the contractual relationships of private parties would find it...

Written Answers — Child Abduction: Child Abduction (7 Mar 2012)

Alan Shatter: The Irish Central Authority for Child Abduction within my Department has not received an application in relation to this matter. The Central Authority operates for the purpose of a number of international and EU instruments relating to child abduction. The purpose of these instruments is to facilitate the return of children who have been wrongfully removed from one contracting state where...