Results 12,901-12,920 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (24 Jan 2012)

Alan Shatter: Under the Prohibition of Incitement to Hatred Act 1989 it is an offence, inter alia, to use words, publish or distribute written material, or broadcast any visual images or sounds which are threatening, abusive or insulting and are intended, or, having regard to all the circumstances, are likely to stir up hatred. The word "hatred" is defined as "hatred against a group of persons in the...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (24 Jan 2012)

Alan Shatter: Currently, just over 10,000 standard cases are awaiting a decision for more than 6 months. This compares to approximately 17,500 cases in early 2011. In addition, there are about 3,500 complex cases in the system for longer periods which require further investigation before a decision can be made on them. Measures I introduced since coming to office have resulted in a significant increase in...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (24 Jan 2012)

Alan Shatter: Long Term Residency is granted on the basis that a non-EEA national has completed a minimum of five years legal residence in the State on work permit conditions. I am informed by the Long Term Residency Section of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) that applications generally take approximately six months to process. For example, a person who submitted a valid...

Written Answers — Public Sector Reform: Public Sector Reform (24 Jan 2012)

Alan Shatter: Under the Public Service Reform Plan, a new approach is to be adopted in relation to managing the performance and governance of State Agencies. This includes the greater use of Service Level Agreements with Departments that focus on outputs and outcomes. I understand that the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform will issue guidance on best practice in this regard and the new...

Written Answers — Army Barracks: Army Barracks (24 Jan 2012)

Alan Shatter: The Department wrote to the employees concerned on 16 November 2011 to inform them of the decision to close Columb Barracks and to provide relevant contact details if they had any queries. Discussions have also been ongoing with unions representing the employees concerned. In addition, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform has recently approved an application from the Department to...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (24 Jan 2012)

Alan Shatter: The White Paper on Defence recommended the establishment of a High Level Civil-Military Planning and Procurement Group (HLPPG) to identify equipment requirements and agree a procurement programme to provide the Defence Forces with the type and quantities of equipment necessary to carry out their assigned roles. The Group monitors and reviews equipment, infrastructure and property expenditure...

Written Answers — Public Sector Reform: Public Sector Reform (24 Jan 2012)

Alan Shatter: Last year, the Government decided to transfer the functions of the Civil Defence Board back into the Department of Defence. A Bill is currently being drafted and it is anticipated that it will be published this year.

Written Answers — Public Sector Reform: Public Sector Reform (24 Jan 2012)

Alan Shatter: The bodies under the aegis of my Department are the Army Pensions Board, the Civil Defence Board and the Board of Coiste an Asgard. The Army Pensions Board is an independent statutory body whose main function is to investigate applications for pensions, allowances and gratuities from retired members of the Permanent Defence Force under the Army Pensions Acts. The Army Pensions Board does...

Written Answers — Public Sector Reform: Public Sector Reform (24 Jan 2012)

Alan Shatter: Last year, the Government decided to transfer the functions of the Civil Defence Board back into the Department of Defence. A Bill is currently being drafted and it is anticipated that it will be published this year. In terms of the potential savings to be made from the transfer of functions of the Civil Defence Board back to my Department, it is estimated that the savings in running costs...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (24 Jan 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 Board comprises 14 members. There is no remuneration attached to membership of the Civil Defence Board. Board members, including the Chairperson, are entitled to claim reimbursement of travel and subsistence expenses in accordance with...

Army Barracks (19 Jan 2012)

Alan Shatter: I thank my colleague, Deputy McFadden, for raising an issue of great concern to her. The defence organisation has an enviable track record of reform and modernisation. During the past decade when public service expenditure and employment levels increased, defence expenditure declined in real terms and personnel numbers decreased. During this period Defence Forces' capabilities were also...

Army Barracks (19 Jan 2012)

Alan Shatter: I would have hoped the Deputy would have regarded what I said as a hopeful answer for the future. We had a three brigade structure in the Defence Forces at a time when we had more than 15,000 troops. In the context of where we now stand with the number at 9,500, to ensure the maximum efficiencies, economies of scale and the delivery of service, it no longer makes any sense to retain a three...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (19 Jan 2012)

Alan Shatter: In line with a commitment in the Programme for Government, the Personal Insolvency Bill is in the course of being urgently developed in my Department to provide for a new framework for settlement and enforcement of debt and for personal insolvency. It is intended that the Heads of the Bill, which are expected to be finalised in the near future, will be forwarded to the Joint Oireachtas...

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (19 Jan 2012)

Alan Shatter: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the personnel strength of An Garda Síochána assigned to each Garda District in the Waterford Garda Division in the years referred to by the Deputy and as at the latest date for which figures are readily available, is set out in the following table. 31/12/07 31/12/08 31/12/09 31/12/10 31/12/11 District Dungarvan* 62 61 66 67 61 Tramore 47 50...

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (19 Jan 2012)

Alan Shatter: I am advised by the Garda authorities that the number of official accommodation properties occupied by former members of An Garda Síochána is 31. There are no such properties within the Irish Prison Service. I am further advised that accommodation which forms part of the State portfolio of properties is exempt from the household charge.

Written Answers — Peace Commissioners: Peace Commissioners (19 Jan 2012)

Alan Shatter: The Office of Peace Commissioner is an honorary appointment under section 88 of the Courts of Justice Act, 1924 for which there is no remuneration or compensation by way of fees or expenses for their services. An application for appointment may be submitted by a person who is interested in obtaining an appointment, or a third party may submit a nomination in respect of a person considered...

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (19 Jan 2012)

Alan Shatter: In reaching a decision on the closure of Garda stations, the Commissioner reviewed all aspects of the Garda Síochána's policing model, including the deployment of personnel, the utilisation of modern technologies and the operation of Garda stations, both in terms of opening hours and possible closures. In addition, all Divisional Officers were asked to assess the level of activity in each...

Written Answers — Airport Security: Airport Security (19 Jan 2012)

Alan Shatter: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the cost of policing arrangements at Shannon Airport for 2011 is €994,052. A detailed breakdown of the figures is set out in the following table. Subhead description 2011 Salaries and Allowances 657,576 Overtime 315,633 Travel and Subsistence Expenses 16,833 Other non-pay expenditure 4,010 Total 994,052

Written Answers — Security Industry: Security Industry (19 Jan 2012)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 198 and 199 together. The Private Security Authority (PSA) is the regulatory body with responsibility for the regulation of the security industry in Ireland. The Authority is an independent body under the aegis of my Department and so the processing of licence applications is a matter solely for the PSA. The Authority has however informed me that the average...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (19 Jan 2012)

Alan Shatter: The fees payable under the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act, 1956 were most recently reviewed by me in late 2011. In November 2011, I signed into law Statutory Instrument 569/11, which left certification of naturalisation fees unchanged at €950 and introduced an application fee of €175 for all applications for naturalisation. Managing and dealing with incomplete applications...