Results 12,681-12,700 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Garda Strength (7 Feb 2012)

Alan Shatter: The strength of the Garda Síochána at the end of 2011 was just under 13,900, along with over 2,000 civilian support staff and over 800 Garda Reserve members. I am informed by the Garda authorities that the total number of Garda retirements from the force in the first two months of this year is expected to be around 300. To put that figure into context, in 2009 the number of retirements...

Garda Strength (7 Feb 2012)

Alan Shatter: As the Deputy is aware, under the EU-IMF agreement, substantial efficiencies must be effected. His party, when in government, entered into arrangements with a view to reducing the numbers in the Garda force to 13,500 by 31 December 2011. In the context of ensuring proper use of taxpayers' money and the maximum use of resources, the Garda Commissioner made the decisions he made on Garda...

Northern Ireland Issues (7 Feb 2012)

Alan Shatter: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that I regularly meet my Northern Ireland counterpart, the Minister of Justice, Mr. David Ford, and we have developed a close working relationship. We have a shared desire to enhance and further develop North-South co-operation across the range of our respective areas of responsibility. Structured co-operation between our Departments and the related criminal...

Northern Ireland Issues (7 Feb 2012)

Alan Shatter: There is a series of meetings at ministerial level with the Minister, Mr. Ford. As I detailed, at official level there is ongoing contact and strategies are being developed on a continuous basis, not as piecemeal responses to issues that arise. For example, there is ongoing interaction between the probation services, North and South. I attended a meeting of the two services at a conference...

Northern Ireland Issues (7 Feb 2012)

Alan Shatter: The alcohol legislation is a classic example of the cross-Border co-operation in which we are engaged. One of the proposals we are considering is for both Governments to enact legislation to prevent what are known as volume sales of alcohol, where, for example, there might be an offer of 12 bottles for the price of six. Given their proximity, one cannot enact legislation in areas such as...

Human Rights Issues (7 Feb 2012)

Alan Shatter: On 6 October 2011 I announced the terms of reference of the working group to advise me on the merger of the Human Rights Commission and the Equality Authority. At the time I made a clear statement that the new human rights and equality commission would retain all the statutory powers and duties of the existing bodies. The House will have an opportunity to consider whether that requirement...

Human Rights Issues (7 Feb 2012)

Alan Shatter: The review group I have appointed comprises four members each from the Equality Authority and the Human Rights Commission, as well as representatives of my Department and an independent chairman. Its remit is to examine the changes and reforms which might be effected, at the same time as the introduction of legislation to bring together the two bodies. It was originally my hope the working...

Human Rights Issues (7 Feb 2012)

Alan Shatter: The review group was given a broad remit to present from its perspective the best possible option. My duty as Minister is to ensure there are reasonable resources in place for what is established. I cannot pre-empt the decisions the group may make. While I was concerned previously that the Irish Human Rights Alliance was under-resourced, in particular during recent years, substantial...

Asylum Support Services (7 Feb 2012)

Alan Shatter: The Reception and Integration Agency, RIA, of my Department currently accommodates more than 5,300 persons across 39 centres. Complaints by centre residents are dealt with in accordance with the procedures outlined in the RIA's house rules, a copy of which is provided to all residents and sets out, inter alia, the obligations on the centre manager and resident. The complaints procedure...

Asylum Support Services (7 Feb 2012)

Alan Shatter: There are, of course, fewer people in such accommodation than in previous years. The numbers are falling. I note that during the Deputy's party's 14 year term of office it did not deem it appropriate to introduce a different system such as the one he now advocates. Extending the remit of the Ombudsman is, in the first instance, a matter for the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform....

Courts Service (7 Feb 2012)

Alan Shatter: As the Deputy will be aware, the biggest volume of crime in Ireland is tried in the local District Courts which are established pursuant to the Constitution as courts of local and limited jurisdiction. Some jurisdictions also have developed what are sometimes referred to as problem solving courts. Models include community courts, drug courts and restorative programmes. These can vary in...

Courts Service (7 Feb 2012)

Alan Shatter: As the Deputy is aware, crime levels in particular areas are influenced by a range of issues and a community court would not provide a panacea in the context of dealing with the various difficulties which exist in such areas. We are engaged in a number of different pilot schemes. I share the Deputy's view that too many people currently within our prisons are serving very short sentences....

Courts Service (7 Feb 2012)

Alan Shatter: The best way for an offender to make amends to a community is through community service. The Probation Service is involved in extensive engagement in this area. The effect of the community service orders legislation was evident in the final quarter of 2011 when it became apparent that there had been a substantial increase in the making of community service orders. I welcome the latter...

Departmental Expenditure (7 Feb 2012)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 66 and 91 together. I wish to clarify for the House that the National Women's Council of Ireland is wholly independent of my Department. However, my Department will make up to €350,000 available to the council towards its core funding and to deliver a programme of activities in 2012. This represents a decrease of 35% on the Department's provision in 2011...

Departmental Expenditure (7 Feb 2012)

Alan Shatter: As the Deputy may be aware, the Government has a substantial programme in the area of women's rights. Unlike the Deputy's party, we will put in place legislation to ensure greater participation by women in electoral politics, in particular in general elections. This is legislation that would never have been contemplated by the Deputy's party in government. A very successful conference was...

Departmental Expenditure (7 Feb 2012)

Alan Shatter: The Deputy cannot have it both ways. He is a member of a party which destroyed the economy of the country. He knows there are substantially fewer resources available to my Department. In circumstances where I have €100 million less to meet expenditure incurred through my Department-----

Departmental Expenditure (7 Feb 2012)

Alan Shatter: -----the Deputy constantly pretends there can be no reduction, regardless of the areas in which it is made.

Departmental Expenditure (7 Feb 2012)

Alan Shatter: I do not want to comment on the resignation of the chief executive officer.

Departmental Expenditure (7 Feb 2012)

Alan Shatter: She had her own reasons for resigning. All I can say is that a very successful conference was held in Dublin Castle to address serious issues to give women an opportunity to engage in electoral politics to a far greater extent. The Government is committed to women's rights and ensuring greater participation in a broad range of areas. The Deputy might have noticed in the many appointments I...

Departmental Expenditure (7 Feb 2012)

Alan Shatter: We have to examine whether we can fund some of these organisations on a multi-annual basis. As we go through the three difficult years of 2012, 2013 and 2014 choices will have to be made as between organisations which provide services for women and those which advocate such services should be provided. We need to monitor what will happen during the course of the year to ensure we get our...