Results 13,341-13,360 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Prison Service (1 Dec 2011)

Alan Shatter: I can advise the Deputy it is not factually correct that work undertaken by prisoners in Irish prisons is unpaid. All prisoners are eligible for a daily gratuity whether or not they carry out prison work, which is not the case in many other countries, and prisoners in most prisons may earn additional gratuities by carrying out certain types of work. The current rate of the daily gratuity is...

Prison Service (1 Dec 2011)

Alan Shatter: Yes.

Prison Service (1 Dec 2011)

Alan Shatter: The moneys which prisoners receive go into a fund and it is available for them to use in prison if they wish by way of the tuck shop or other expenditure. It is also open to them to have it transmitted to family members if they wish. People are in prison for a particular reason. It is a privilege that in return for work done they receive some small additional benefit, if I could put it that...

Prison Service (1 Dec 2011)

Alan Shatter: I am giving consideration to the review that has been undertaken. In so far as there are changes to be made, they will be made appropriately. However, I do not envisage major changes and certainly not any changes that will result in any additional expense to taxpayers at a time when the funding available to the Government is extremely limited.

Prison Accommodation (1 Dec 2011)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 12, 29 and 43 together. The reply covers some of the ground we covered in an earlier question. As the Deputy may be aware, responsibility for the children detention schools under Part 10 of the Children Act 2001 will shortly transfer to my colleague, the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. Accordingly, both I and the Minister for Children and Youth...

Prison Accommodation (1 Dec 2011)

Alan Shatter: This is one of the issues in relation to the design of the prison. It is a matter for consideration by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs in the work she is doing. I will certainly bring to the Minister's attention the Deputy's concerns in that regard.

Written Answers — Prison Accommodation: Prison Accommodation (1 Dec 2011)

Alan Shatter: I wish to advise the Deputy that an administrative building on the Dóchas Centre site has been converted into a new accommodation block which will provide an additional 70 spaces. It is expected that this block will be ready for occupation in early 2012. The opening of the new spaces at the Dóchas Centre will assist in alleviating the overcrowding issue. The ethos upon which the Dóchas...

Written Answers — Mental Illness in Prisons: Mental Illness in Prisons (1 Dec 2011)

Alan Shatter: The prevalence of mental illness is significantly higher among prisoners compared to the general population and that the mental health problems suffered by prisoners range from mild to severe. There is a strong argument that persons with severe mental illnesses who are involved in minor offences should be diverted away from the criminal justice system and measures have been undertaken to...

Written Answers — National Women's Strategy: National Women's Strategy (1 Dec 2011)

Alan Shatter: The National Women's Strategy 2007-2016 was published by the previous Government in 2007. The aims of the strategy are largely in line with the policies of the present Government. Its actions are being implemented by a wide range of Government Departments and Agencies. It goes without saying that the constraints of the public financial situation apply to some extent. This is a ten-year...

Written Answers — Domestic Violence: Domestic Violence (1 Dec 2011)

Alan Shatter: The National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence 2010-2014, includes an action to promote and develop understanding and recognition of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence across the State sector. Work in relation to relevant domestic and sexual violence training programmes for the justice sector, including An Garda Síochána, is being progressed by a committee led...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (1 Dec 2011)

Alan Shatter: A decision to grant bail in a particular case is a matter for the court, which is, subject only to the Constitution and the law, independent in the exercise of its judicial functions. There is a constitutional presumption in favour of bail, since, in the eyes of the law, a person is innocent until proven guilty. The provisions of the European Convention on Human Rights also restrict the...

Written Answers — Coroners Service: Coroners Service (1 Dec 2011)

Alan Shatter: The Coroners Bill 2007 is before the Seanad having been restored to the Order Paper on my initiative. The Bill is in the course of being reviewed in my Department with a view, among other matters, to making it as cost-effective as possible. The Bill, as published, provides for the comprehensive reform of the existing legislation and structures relating to coroners and provides for the...

Written Answers — Legal Aid Service: Legal Aid Service (1 Dec 2011)

Alan Shatter: I wish to advise the Deputy that legal aid in Ireland falls under two separate categories, i.e civil legal aid and criminal legal aid and I will deal with these separately as follows. Civil legal aid in Ireland is delivered by the Legal Aid Board, which is a statutory independent body. Legal services are delivered through the Board's 29 law centres and a small number of specialist units. The...

Written Answers — Prison Visiting Committees: Prison Visiting Committees (1 Dec 2011)

Alan Shatter: The reports highlighted a number of issues across the prison system but there was also an acknowledgement of the efforts made by the Irish Prison Service to address the issues despite limited resources. As I outlined in the House last week, several issues have been addressed. These include, for example, increased Library access in the Dóchas Centre; consideration to increasing the number of...

Written Answers — Human Trafficking: Human Trafficking (1 Dec 2011)

Alan Shatter: The Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Act, 2008 came into effect on 7 June 2008. I am informed by the Garda authorities that since then An Garda Síochána have undertaken human trafficking investigations involving 49 suspected victims under the age of eighteen as follows: June to December 2008 - 6 2009 - 17 2010 - 19 2011 (to date) - 7 Administrative Immigration Arrangements...

Written Answers — Irish Prison Service: Irish Prison Service (1 Dec 2011)

Alan Shatter: A new Five Year Prison Capital Programme from 2012-2016 is currently being drafted by the Irish Prison Service in the context of the revised capital allocations which I announced recently. I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that it has not been the practice in the past to formally publish Prison Capital Programmes. However, the one currently being drafted can be made available to the...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (1 Dec 2011)

Alan Shatter: In the context of the fiscal difficulties being experienced in the economy and in keeping with the budgetary cutbacks which are consequently necessary, it is regrettably necessary to reduce the level of support which my Department is in a position to provide to Community Alert in 2011. Funding totalling €137,000 has been provided to Community Alert in 2011. I would like to emphasise that...

Written Answers — Prison Accommodation: Prison Accommodation (1 Dec 2011)

Alan Shatter: As I announced recently, the Government remains very much committed to addressing the twin problems of overcrowding and poor physical conditions, particularly in Mountjoy and Cork prisons. Since my announcement of its 2012 Capital Allocation (€24.1 million), the Irish Prison Service has commenced work on developing a five year strategy for the continued enhancement of the prison estate...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (1 Dec 2011)

Alan Shatter: The law as it stands allows children born through surrogacy arrangements to acquire Irish citizenship, provided the commissioning father is the biological father of the child. Such a father may apply to court for a declaration of paternity under section 35 of the Status of Children Act 1987. Once paternity is established the child can be determined to be an Irish citizen. Given the complex...

Written Answers — Probation Service Staff: Probation Service Staff (1 Dec 2011)

Alan Shatter: I am advised that the number of staff in whole-time equivalent terms in the Probation Service who are Probation Officers including Senior Probation Officers and Assistant Principal Probation Officers for each of the years is as follows: Year end 2005 : 280 2006 : 280 2007 : 285 2008 : 332 2009 : 296 2010 : 286 The Deputy will note that the current number of Probation...