Results 13,701-13,720 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (17 Nov 2011)

Alan Shatter: Part of the information sought by the Deputy is set out in the attached tabular statement. Rents are reviewed on a regular basis and amounts are determined by a number of factors, including size, location and quality of the facility. Information regarding the specific rents paid in respect of each premises is commercially sensitive and I cannot therefore provide this information. However the...

Written Answers — Army Barracks: Army Barracks (17 Nov 2011)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 191 and 192 together. As the House is aware, on Tuesday, 15 November the Government approved a proposal from me to proceed with a further phase of consolidation of Defence Force personnel into fewer locations with the closure of four barracks. The barracks being closed are Kickham Barracks Clonmel, Columb Barracks Mullingar, O'Neill Barracks Cavan and...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (17 Nov 2011)

Alan Shatter: There are no former Secretaries General employed by my Department or by any bodies under the aegis of my Department.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (17 Nov 2011)

Alan Shatter: The Department sources its staff through the Public Appointments Service. There is no cost to the Department for using this service.

Seanad: Tribunal of Inquiry: Motion (17 Nov 2011)

Alan Shatter: This motion proposes to amend the terms of reference of the tribunal of inquiry into allegations of collusion by members of the Garda Síochána or other employees of the State in the murder by the Provisional IRA of RUC Chief Superintendent Harry Breen and RUC Superintendent Bob Buchanan in March 1989. The tribunal was established in 2005 and is chaired by Judge Peter Smithwick, former...

Written Answers — State Agencies: State Agencies (16 Nov 2011)

Alan Shatter: I wish to inform the Deputy that it has not been possible to provide the information required 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 (16 Nov 2011)

Alan Shatter: I am advised by the Citizenship Division of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) that a valid application for a certificate of naturalisation was received from the person referred to by the Deputy in August 2011. The application is currently being processed with a view to establishing whether the applicant meets the statutory conditions for the granting of naturalisation...

Written Answers — Garda Vetting of Personnel: Garda Vetting of Personnel (16 Nov 2011)

Alan Shatter: I am informed by the Garda authorities that it is not possible to check the status of an application for Garda vetting in the absence of a date of birth. Notwithstanding that, I am further informed that no vetting application in the name of the person referred to by the Deputy has been received from any organisation registered with the Garda Central Vetting Unit (GCVU). In the circumstances,...

Written Answers — Ministerial Appointments: Ministerial Appointments (16 Nov 2011)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 192 and 195 together. I wish to inform the Deputy that it has not been possible to provide the information required 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 — Judicial Appointments: Judicial Appointments (16 Nov 2011)

Alan Shatter: I wish to advise the Deputy that Judges are appointed by the President on the advice of the Government. Such appointments are dealt with by the Judicial Appointments Advisory Board which was established pursuant to the Courts and Court Officers Act 1995. Under section 16 of the Act, where a judicial office stands vacant or before a vacancy in a judicial office arises, the Advisory Board...

Written Answers — Prison Visiting Committees: Prison Visiting Committees (16 Nov 2011)

Alan Shatter: A Visiting Committee is appointed to each prison under the Prisons (Visiting Committees) Act, 1925 and Prisons (Visiting Committees) Order, 1925. There are currently 14 Visiting Committees - one for each institution. While dates of appointment vary, members of Committees are appointed by the Minister for Justice and Equality for a term not exceeding three years. At the end of their term,...

Written Answers — Prison Building Programme: Prison Building Programme (16 Nov 2011)

Alan Shatter: As I announced last week, 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 — Prison Accommodation: Prison Accommodation (16 Nov 2011)

Alan Shatter: As of 14 November, 2011, there were a total of 4,257 prisoners in custody and 799 on temporary release. The number on temporary release equates to 15% of the total prisoner population. There has been a consistent increase in the total prisoner population in Ireland over recent years, with dramatic increases in the number of sentenced prisoners, those being committed on remand and a trend...

Written Answers — Prison Accommodation: Prison Accommodation (16 Nov 2011)

Alan Shatter: I can inform the Deputy that 72% of prisoner accommodation has in-cell sanitation at present. This will rise to approximately 80% when the extension currently under construction in the Midlands Prison is opened in 2012. A refurbishment project in the C-wing at Mountjoy Prison is nearing completion and will result in all cells on that wing having in-cell sanitation. Depending on the...

Written Answers — Prison Education Service: Prison Education Service (16 Nov 2011)

Alan Shatter: The Irish Prison Service places a strong emphasis on the provision of education, work and training for prisoners with a wide range of education classes and training workshops available across the prison estate. The Irish Prison Service will continue to improve services available to prisoners insofar as resources allow. In this regard, a number of projects are currently under way which will...

Written Answers — Irish Prison Service: Irish Prison Service (16 Nov 2011)

Alan Shatter: I can inform the Deputy that the Irish Prison Service has assigned part of its 2012 capital allocation for the development of a number of key systems designed to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the management of the prisoner population and to enhance facilities for prisoners. The Irish Prison Service continues to develop IT facilities in the prison schools which will enhance...

Written Answers — Prison Building Programme: Prison Building Programme (16 Nov 2011)

Alan Shatter: The capital allocation to the Justice sector for 2012 is €56 million. The largest single allocation of this, €24.1million, will be allocated to the Prisons Service and spent on the prisons building programme. Despite the challenging economic climate, it is my intention to use a large portion of these funds to improve the situation in our prisons. This Government remains committed to...

Written Answers — Prisoner Releases: Prisoner Releases (16 Nov 2011)

Alan Shatter: As the Deputy is aware, periods of temporary release granted can vary greatly from a few hours following a family bereavement to, for example, a requirement to report to the prison every 12 months in the case of a life sentenced prisoner who has been released into the community a considerable time ago. Most prisoners will benefit from temporary release at some stage but it is not possible to...

Written Answers — Prisoner Releases: Prisoner Releases (16 Nov 2011)

Alan Shatter: I wish to inform the Deputy that it is not possible to forecast how many prisoners will benefit from temporary release in each of the next two years. I can, however, advise that on Monday, 14 November 2011, 799 prisoners were on temporary release. The number on temporary release equates to 15% of the total prison population. The Criminal Justice Act 1960, as amended by the Criminal Justice...

Written Answers — Penal Policy Review Group: Penal Policy Review Group (16 Nov 2011)

Alan Shatter: In April 2011 I established the Thornton Hall Review Group. They reported to me in July 2011 and one of their recommendations was the establishment of an all encompassing strategic review of penal policy which would incorporate an examination and analysis of all aspects of penal policy including prevention, sentencing policies, alternatives to custody, accommodation and regimes, support for...