Results 1,281-1,300 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Proposed Legislation (26 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: I am pleased to say that the recently published EU Anti-Corruption Report on Ireland noted, in positive terms, the implementation in the State of a broad anti-corruption legislative reform programme. The Scheme of the Criminal Justice (Corruption) Bill 2012, aims to strengthen the law on corruption and repeal and replace the existing provisions contained in the Prevention of Corruption Acts...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Appointments to State Boards (26 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: I am pleased that the percentage of women on State Boards under the aegis of my Department increased from 31 per cent in 2010 to 36.5 per cent in 2012, the most recent year for which data are available. As the data show, I have taken active steps to increase female representation on State Boards since I came into office in accordance with the Government's commitment to achieve a...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Consultancy Contracts Expenditure (26 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: The tabular statement contains details of all the total expenditure by my Department on external consultancy advice services, including legal services, in 2011, 2012 and 2013. Name Purpose 2011 2012 2013 AL Goodbody Legal Advice €21,169 €- €- Maurice Collins SC Legal Advice €9,075 €- €- Conor Flynn T/A ISAS ICT Security Advice & Support...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Appointments to State Boards (26 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: The only State Board under the aegis of my Department is the Army Pensions Board. The Army Pensions Board comprises three members: a chairman, an officer of the Army Medical Corps and a civilian medical doctor. There is one female member of the Board.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Semi-State Bodies Issues (26 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: There are no commercial semi State bodies under the aegis of the Department of Defence.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Death Certificates Issues (25 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: Under the Coroners Act, 1962, a Coroner is a statutory officer exercising quasi-judicial functions in relation to which he or she is independent and neither I nor my Department has any direct role in individual cases. However, to be of assistance, general inquiries have been made in connection with the matter raised by the Deputy and I understand that the Coroner is awaiting a Post Mortem...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: UN Conventions Ratification (25 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: The Government intends to proceed to ratification of the Convention as quickly as possible, taking into account the need to ensure that all necessary legislative and administrative requirements under the Convention are being met. As the Deputy may be aware, Ireland does not become party to treaties until it is first in a position to comply with the obligations imposed by the treaty in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (25 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: I am informed by officials in the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) that the person referred to by the Deputy made an application for a permanent residence card to the EU Treaty Rights Unit just two weeks ago - on 11 February, 2014. This application will be acknowledged and processed in due course. Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Firearms Licences (25 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 513, 521 and 563 together. In light of public safety concerns highlighted by the Garda Commissioner and difficulties in the interpretation of the legislation expressed by members of the judiciary, my Department is examining key issues relating to firearms licensing in conjunction with An Garda Síochána. Recommendations are currently being...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Vetting Applications (25 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: I am informed by the Garda authorities that a vetting application on behalf of the individual referred to by the Deputy was processed by the Garda Central Vetting Unit (GCVU) and returned to the Authorised Signatory in the registered organisation concerned on 7th February, 2014.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Recruitment (25 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: It is important that all persons wishing to join the full time force undergo the same competitive selection and recruitment process. In doing so the integrity of the process is maintained at all stages of the competition. The Deputy will be aware that recruitment to An Garda Síochána is governed by the Garda Síochána (Admissions and Appointments) Regulations 2013....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Investigation (25 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: The Interception of Postal Packets and Telecommunications Messages (Regulation) Act 1993 provides the legislative basis in Ireland for the interception of postal packets and telecommunications messages. Sections 4 and 5 of the Act provides that an authorisation may only be granted for interception for the purposes of the investigation of serious crime or for the purposes of protecting the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (25 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 517, 519 and 531 together. I can assure the Deputies that I am very much aware of concerns in rural communities about the incidence of crime, and of burglary and theft from farms in particular. These crimes cause deep distress to those affected and have a broader impact in terms of fear of crime in the community. Garda Operation Fiacla was established to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Levels (25 Feb 2014)

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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Cross-Border Co-operation (25 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: I maintain very regular contact with the Northern Ireland Minister of Justice, David Ford, to address matters of shared interest and to enhance co-operation on all policing and criminal justice matters on this island. I have taken a strong interest in cross-border co-operation in policing and criminal justice on this island since taking office as Minister. This co-operation is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Operations (25 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: I have requested a report from the Garda authorities in relation to the information sought by the Deputy. I will be in contact with the Deputy when this information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Data (25 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: I can inform the Deputy that the Garda Síochána Act 2005 makes provision for the compilation and publication of crime statistics by the Central Statistics Office (CSO), as the national statistical agency, and the CSO has established a dedicated unit for this purpose. I am advised that statistics in relation to the occurrence of hate crimes are maintained by the CSO. In addition...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Equality Proofing of Policies (25 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: As I stated in my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 5340/14 of 5 February 2014, I have asked the members designate of the new Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission to examine the impact of Section 37 of the Employment Equality Act on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons, to undertake a consultative process and a formal assessment of the options for its amendments and to let...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Health (25 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 525 to 527, inclusive, together. I have been informed by the Irish Prison Service that the prisoner referred to has access to the full range of services in prison, including all medical services. She was medically assessed on her committal to prison, and was seen by the Prison Doctor the next day. She has access to a 24 hour nursing service in prison, and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Welfare (25 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: The Deputy will appreciate that judges are independent in the matter of sentencing as they are in other matters concerning the exercise of judicial functions, subject only to the Constitution and the law. Therefore, I cannot comment in any way on the decision of any individual case. The Criminal Justice Act 1960, as amended by the Criminal Justice (Temporary Release of Prisoners) Act 2003...