Results 14,201-14,220 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Written Answers — Prison Accommodation: Prison Accommodation (18 Oct 2011)

Alan Shatter: I am informed by the Irish Prison Service that there were 830 prisoners in custody on 12 October 2011 who did not have access to 24-hour in-cell sanitation. Of that number, 555 prisoners were in multiple-occupancy cells. Unfortunately, this issue cannot be resolved overnight. However, I can assure the Deputy that the Government is committed to the elimination of slopping out in all prisons...

Written Answers — Youth Projects: Youth Projects (18 Oct 2011)

Alan Shatter: The project in question is one of a hundred Garda Youth Diversion Projects nationwide. The projects are community-based, multi-agency crime prevention initiatives which seek to divert young people who have been involved in criminal and/or anti-social behaviour or who are at serious risk of such behaviour. The projects, which are funded by the Irish Youth Justice Service and delivered in...

Written Answers — Property Services Regulation: Property Services Regulation (18 Oct 2011)

Alan Shatter: The position is that the Property Services (Regulation) Bill 2009, which is currently awaiting Dail Committee Stage, provides for establishment of the Property Services Regulatory Authority to control and supervise providers of property services, including auctioneers, and to improve standards in the provision of those services. The proposed statutory powers of the new Authority include: -...

Written Answers — Garda Vetting: Garda Vetting (18 Oct 2011)

Alan Shatter: Garda vetting certificates are issued to specified registered organisations in respect of a particular post or employment in response to a written request and with the permission of the person who is the subject of that request. Decisions on the suitability for the recruitment/engagement of the person concerned rest at all times with the recruiting organisation. The Garda Vetting...

Written Answers — Illegal Immigrants: Illegal Immigrants (18 Oct 2011)

Alan Shatter: By definition, it is not possible to estimate accurately the number and source of illegal immigrants in any jurisdiction. Ireland is no different in this regard as by its very nature illegal immigration is clandestine and covert. Any estimate of the number involved would be conjecture. In keeping with practice elsewhere, illegal immigrants are likely to have entered the State by legal means...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (18 Oct 2011)

Alan Shatter: Under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, the management and administration of the courts, including responsibility for maintaining and publishing court statistics, is a function of the Courts Service. However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had inquiries made and, while the Courts Service has informed me that it is not possible to provide statistics solely...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (18 Oct 2011)

Alan Shatter: In the Stakeholder Summary Report, reference is made to a submission by Equality for Fathers Ireland (EFI) which stated that, contrary to section 6 of the Guardianship of Infants Act 1964 conferring joint guardianship to the mother and the father of a child, fathers were generally discriminated against, notably following separation or divorce. EFI recommended that wherever consent was deemed...

Written Answers — Legal Aid Service: Legal Aid Service (18 Oct 2011)

Alan Shatter: I wish to inform the Deputy that an independent body, the Legal Aid Board, is responsible for the number of persons receiving civil legal aid and for matters dealing with the administration of civil legal aid, including waiting lists. However, in order to be helpful to the Deputy, enquires were made with the Board. I am informed that it is difficult, at a particular point in time, to give...

Written Answers — Legal Aid Service: Legal Aid Service (18 Oct 2011)

Alan Shatter: I wish to inform the Deputy that the provision of legal aid within this State is split into two separate categories, namely civil legal aid and criminal legal aid. Civil Legal Aid The Legal Aid Board is the statutory body charged with providing legal aid in civil law cases. The Board was placed on a statutory footing by the Civil Legal Aid Act, 1995 and is completely independent in its...

Written Answers — Security Industry: Security Industry (18 Oct 2011)

Alan Shatter: The Private Security Authority 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 I have no involvement in the day to day operations of the Authority. The Authority has however advised me that all individuals providing a security service as either a door supervisor...

Written Answers — Croke Park Agreement: Croke Park Agreement (18 Oct 2011)

Alan Shatter: Under the Public Service Agreement 2010-2014, detailed action plans have been developed across the Justice Sector to underpin the change and reform process envisaged by the Agreement. The Action Plans were first developed in October 2010 and subsequently revised in January 2011. The Department and the Agencies under its remit were required to prepare their first detailed report on the...

Written Answers — Legal Aid Service: Legal Aid Service (18 Oct 2011)

Alan Shatter: I wish to inform the Deputy that under the Civil Legal Act 1995, as passed by the Oireachtas, the Legal Aid Board is independent in the operation of its functions. I have no responsibility for the matters which the Deputy has raised. However, as a courtesy to the Deputy I have obtained from the Board the information sought and am providing it to the Deputy. At the outset, I wish to clarify...

Written Answers — Interdepartmental Committees: Interdepartmental Committees (18 Oct 2011)

Alan Shatter: I can inform the Deputy that the inter-departmental committee is charged with establishing the facts of the State's involvement, clarifying any State interaction with the Magdalen Laundries, and with producing a narrative detailing such interaction. There are presently no plans to extend its brief beyond those institutions.

Written Answers — Immigration Service: Immigration Service (18 Oct 2011)

Alan Shatter: As I informed the Deputy in my reply to Parliamentary Question No 131 on 6 October 2011, I am currently considering recommendations for a new immigration scheme for entrepreneurship and investment.

Written Answers — Liquor Licensing Laws: Liquor Licensing Laws (18 Oct 2011)

Alan Shatter: Section 17 of the recently-enacted Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2011 provides statutory support for Codes of Practice dealing with standards for the display, sale, supply, advertising promotion or marketing of intoxicating liquor. Such Codes may be drawn up by the Minister for Justice and Equality following appropriate consultation or, if a draft Code has been drawn up by some...

Written Answers — Electoral Legislation: Electoral Legislation (18 Oct 2011)

Alan Shatter: I have sought a report from An Garda Síochána in relation to matters within the question that may fall within their remit. The Deputy will appreciate that the legislation for the registration of electors and the conduct of elections is a matter for my colleague the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government.

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (18 Oct 2011)

Alan Shatter: The estimated savings that would be generated if pensions paid to retired members of An Garda Síochána were capped at €35,000 amounts to €7.6 million per annum. The estimated savings from other pension payments made by my Department, subject to a cap of €35,000, would be €200,000. These estimates take no account of the reduction in income tax and other statutory deductions that...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (18 Oct 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 July, 2009. The application is at an advanced stage of processing and will be finalised as expeditiously as possible. The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (18 Oct 2011)

Alan Shatter: As the Deputy will be aware, the Programme for Government indicates that legislation will be introduced to end upward only rent reviews for existing business leases. In order to progress that commitment outline proposals were forwarded to the Attorney General for examination and development. I am giving further consideration to those proposals in the light of the most recent advices of the...

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (18 Oct 2011)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 389 and 397 together. I wish to make it clear at this juncture that no decisions have been made in relation to the closure of Garda stations. The Commissioner is currently carrying out a review of the entire Garda organisation in the context of ensuring that the Force will be in a position to match the deployment of resources to its policing commitments as...