Results 13,981-14,000 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Written Answers — Prison Accommodation: Prison Accommodation (25 Oct 2011)

Alan Shatter: I am informed by the Irish Prison Service that there were 4,275 prisoners in custody on 20 October, 2011 against a bed capacity of 4,510. This represents an occupancy level of 95%. The information requested with the breakdown per prison is set out in the attached table. As the Deputy may be aware, there has been a consistent increase in the total prisoner population in Ireland over recent...

Written Answers — Restorative Justice: Restorative Justice (25 Oct 2011)

Alan Shatter: Following examination of the final report provided by the National Commission on Restorative Justice my Department, through the Probation Service, introduced a scheme to test a range of restorative interventions for adult offenders based on the recommendations contained in the report. The scheme involves the expansion of both the Nenagh and the Tallaght projects. The Nenagh Community...

Written Answers — Traveller Community: Traveller Community (25 Oct 2011)

Alan Shatter: During the course of the examination by a working group of the UN Human Rights Council of Ireland's report to that Council, prepared under the Universal Periodic Review procedures of the Council, I was asked, among many other matters, about the position of Travellers in Irish society. One delegation specifically recommended that Ireland should recognise Travellers as an ethnic minority while...

Written Answers — Judicial Appointments: Judicial Appointments (25 Oct 2011)

Alan Shatter: As indicated in the Government Legislation Programme announced by the Chief Whip on 14 September 2011, the Judicial Council Bill is in the course of being drafted with a view to being published in early 2012. As well as providing for the establishment of a Judicial Council which will promote excellence and high standards of conduct by judges, the proposed Bill is aimed at providing a means...

Written Answers — Garda Complaints Procedures: Garda Complaints Procedures (25 Oct 2011)

Alan Shatter: I am informed by the Garda authorities that, following a formal complaint made to An Garda Síochána, investigating gardaí searched the home of the person referred to by the Deputy under warrant in June 2010 and seized a number of items as part of their investigation. The person was subsequently arrested on suspicion of having committed an offence of harassment under section 10 of the...

Written Answers — Prison Inspections: Prison Inspections (25 Oct 2011)

Alan Shatter: I receive regular updates on the implementation of the Inspector's recommendations. The Inspector himself recognised that in certain areas prisons will not be able to comply with all the recommendations in the short term. As long as there is overcrowding and limitations on resources there will be difficulties in achieving full implementation. However, progress is being made. To give...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (25 Oct 2011)

Alan Shatter: Following the submission in 2004 of a report and recommendations by an expert group on crime statistics, it was decided that the compilation and publication of crime statistics should be taken over by the Central Statistics Office, as the national statistical agency, from An Garda Síochána. The Garda Síochána Act 2005 consequently makes provision for this and the CSO has established a...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (25 Oct 2011)

Alan Shatter: The Garda Computer system, PULSE, has the capacity to generate automated letters to victims of crime. PULSE letters are sent when a crime is reported to An Garda Síochána. It contains the name of the investigating Garda, how to contact the Garda, details of the PULSE incident number and the number of the National Crime Victims Helpline or Irish Tourist Assistance Service as appropriate. A...

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (25 Oct 2011)

Alan Shatter: As with every other public sector organisation, the reality is that the Garda Síochána is going to have to manage with reduced resources. The Garda Commissioner is therefore quite properly reviewing all aspects of the Garda Síochána's policing model, so as to ensure that Garda resources are managed and deployed in the most appropriate manner to meet existing and emerging policing...

Written Answers — Crime Strategy: Crime Strategy (25 Oct 2011)

Alan Shatter: Work on the development of a White Paper on Crime is at an advanced stage, following an extensive consultation process. The intention is that this will incorporate a framework National Anti-Crime Strategy which will reflect and respond to the issues raised during the White Paper on Crime consultation process.

Written Answers — Drug Seizures: Drug Seizures (25 Oct 2011)

Alan Shatter: Methamphetamine is a controlled drug under the Misuse of Drugs Acts 1977 and 1984. Recorded seizures of methamphetamine by An Garda Síochána and the Revenue Customs Service, as recorded by the Forensic Science Laboratory, for the years 2007 – 2011 (up to 30 September, 2011) are set out below. I am further informed by the Garda authorities that a recent seizure of methamphetamine at...

Written Answers — Human Trafficking: Human Trafficking (25 Oct 2011)

Alan Shatter: I assume the Deputy is referring to the announcement I made last week concerning a consultation process to help inform the future direction of legislation on prostitution. For ease of reference, I am appending the text of the relevant press release and trust that it explains the position in this matter. Minister Shatter announces publication of his Department's report on Sweden's legislation...

Written Answers — Courts Service: Courts Service (25 Oct 2011)

Alan Shatter: As I have previously informed the House, the majority of the Fines Act 2010 has been commenced. It is particularly important to note the commencement of Section 14 of the Act, which for the first time placed an obligation on the court to take account of a person's financial circumstances before the amount of a fine, if any, to be imposed. Implementation work is continuing on two key...

Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (25 Oct 2011)

Alan Shatter: I have no plans at present to reform the legislation on citizenship and naturalisation beyond those changes contained in the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2011. My primary objective for legislative reform in the immigration area is to progress the Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill 2010 through the Oireachtas. I will, of course, continue to keep the Act in question under...

Written Answers — Drug Dealing: Drug Dealing (25 Oct 2011)

Alan Shatter: Tackling serious crime including drug trafficking remains a key ongoing priority both for the Government and for An Garda Síochána. These priorities are clearly reflected in the Garda Policing Plan for 2011. A key action in the Plan is the proactive targeting by An Garda Síochána of drug trafficking, including low-level drug dealing. Under the direction of the Assistant Commissioner at...

Written Answers — Magdalene Laundries: Magdalene Laundries (25 Oct 2011)

Alan Shatter: I can advise the Deputy that the Committee, under the independent chairmanship of Senator Martin McAleese, has submitted an interim progress report. The report was considered by Cabinet this morning and arrangements are being made for its publication.

Written Answers — Cash for Gold Industry: Cash for Gold Industry (25 Oct 2011)

Alan Shatter: My Department is currently finalising a report on criminal justice aspects of the "Cash for Gold" trade and I can inform the Deputy that this report will be submitted to me shortly for consideration. Following consideration of the report I will make an assessment as to what, if any, action, legislative or otherwise, may be required. I will, in due course, make known the report's findings and...

Written Answers — Drug Trafficking: Drug Trafficking (25 Oct 2011)

Alan Shatter: The Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre, Narcotics (MAOC-N) was established pursuant to an international agreement concluded on 30 September 2007 between Ireland, the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, Portugal, France and the United Kingdom. The impetus for this regional initiative was a concern that the analysis of dug imports, in particular cocaine imports from South America into Western...

Written Answers — Asylum Support Services: Asylum Support Services (25 Oct 2011)

Alan Shatter: In response to this question, I will firstly explain the direct provision system, how it came about, why it remains a necessary feature of the State's asylum and immigration system. The accommodation of asylum seekers through the direct provision system is the responsibility of the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) of my Department. Direct Provision means that the State, through RIA,...

Written Answers — Deportation Orders: Deportation Orders (25 Oct 2011)

Alan Shatter: Frontex http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_language(European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Member States of the European Union) is the European Union agency for external border security. It is responsible for coordinating the activities of the national border guards in ensuring the security of the EU's borders with non-member states....