Results 14,481-14,500 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Garda Stations (28 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: I will conclude by saying clearly that neither Deputy has learned anything. Both of them engaged in what could best be described as the demeaning and discredited politics of yesteryear. It is very interesting to listen to both Deputies. I refer to the scare achieved by listing stations which are going to be closed in circumstances when no decision has yet been taken to close any station....

Written Answers — Refugee Status: Refugee Status (27 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: Applications for refugee status in the State are determined by an independent process comprising the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner (ORAC) and the Refugee Appeals Tribunal (RAT) which make recommendations to me on whether such status should be granted. If an application for asylum has been made by the person concerned the Deputy will of course be aware that it is not the...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (27 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: I am informed by the Garda authorities that, in accordance with the provisions of the service agreement for the provision and operation of safety cameras, the service provider is responsible for the recruitment and selection of personnel, ensuring they are qualified to undertake the role assigned to them and providing remedial or renewal training as necessary. An Garda Síochána does not...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (27 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: I am informed by the Garda authorities that An Garda Síochána apply to the Courts Service for the issue of summonses, which are served in accordance with the Courts Acts and the District Court Rules. The service provider does not apply for the issue of summonses. However, An Garda Síochána is also responsible for the issue and service of fixed charge notices for road traffic offences....

Written Answers — Violence Against Women: Violence Against Women (27 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: Cosc, the National Office for the Prevention of Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence, an executive office within my Department, actively contributed to all stages of the drafting process in relation to the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence. Cosc is currently considering the steps which need to be taken to pave the way...

Written Answers — Garda Vetting of Personnel: Garda Vetting of Personnel (27 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: On 27 July, I published the Scheme of a National Vetting Bureau Bill which will provide for the vetting of persons working with children or vulnerable adults. The Bill will provide a statutory basis for the existing system of vetting provided by the Central Vetting Unit of the Garda Síochána. In addition, and in line with the recommendation of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (27 Sep 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 2009. 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 — Prison Committals: Prison Committals (27 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: I am informed by the Irish Prison Service that the person referred to by the Deputy has been in custody in the Dóchas Centre, Women's Prison, Mountjoy since 13th September 2011 for being held in Contempt of Court. The Deputy will appreciate that in such cases the ongoing detention of the person is a matter for the Courts. Consequently it is not open to me to intervene in this matter.

Written Answers — Garda Equipment: Garda Equipment (27 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: I am informed by the Garda authorities that An Garda Síochána adopts a strategic approach to the procurement of goods and services consistent with its Procurement Strategy 2011 - 2012 policy document. The key goals of the strategy are; o The development of a procurement planning framework o Maximising the opportunities for entering formalised contracting arrangements o Participating...

Written Answers — Tribunals of Inquiry: Tribunals of Inquiry (27 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: I presume that the Deputy is referring to the Tribunals of Enquiry under the Tribunal of Inquiry (Evidence) Act 1921. As I stated in response to Parliamentary Question No. 384 of 20 September 2011, I can confirm to the Deputy that as Minister for Justice and Equality, ''I do not have a role in overseeing or coordinating inquiries undertaken by other Government Departments. Government operates...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (27 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 377 and 378 together. I must inform the Deputy that neither the Bar Council nor the Law Library receives State funding.

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (27 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: At the outset I would like to advise the Deputy that documents submitted by an applicant as evidence of identity or nationality, or in support of a case to remain in the State, can only be returned to that applicant once the case has had a definitive outcome. Insofar as the case referred to by the Deputy is concerned, a copy of a passport submitted by the person concerned during the course of...

Written Answers — Prison Accommodation: Prison Accommodation (27 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: I am aware of the European Convention on Human Rights finding which relates to a Scottish case. However I have no knowledge of any recent judicial enquiry recommendations on conditions in Mountjoy Prison. I can assure the Deputy however that the Government is committed to the elimination of slopping out in all prisons and places of detention. The Programme for Government, includes the...

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (27 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: I can assure the Deputy and the House that it is a priority for this Government to maintain frontline services at the highest level possible. I have been advised that 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...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (27 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: As at the current date my Department has received sixteen confirmed notifications of retirement on or before the 29 February 2012 deadline for payment of retirement benefits based on pre-1 January 2010 salary scales. This figure includes three staff who will reach the compulsory retirement age of 65 on or before that date. Staff in my Department have access to a personal Pension Service...

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (27 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: As of Friday, 23 September 2011, 399 members of An Garda Síochána had either left the force or declared their intention to leave the force in 2011. Of this number, 167 are intending to leave in the months of October, November or December. The Garda Code requires that Members intending to retire must give three months notice of doing so and therefore we will have a clearer idea of the final...

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (27 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: I am informed by the Garda authorities that statistics relating to Garda response times for call-outs in the Meath Division are not readily available as incidents referred to the Divisional Control Room are currently manually recorded. I have been advised by the Garda authorities that the highest importance is given to emergency calls in the Meath Division and that they are responded to on a...

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (27 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the personnel strength of An Garda Síochána as at 31 December 1997 - 31 December 2010 and 31 August 2011 was as set out in the following table: Year Strength 1997 10,968 1998 11,235 1999 11,458 2000 11,640 2001 11,815 2002 11,895 2003 12,017 2004 12,209 2005 12,264 2006 12,954 2007 13,755 2008 14,412 2009 14,547 2010 14,377 2011...

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (27 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 386 to 389, inclusive, together. I am informed by the Garda authorities that the name of each Garda Station, together with its allocated personnel strength, in the Donegal Garda Division as at 31 December 1997 - 31 December 2010 and 31 August 2011 is set out in the following table. The current opening times for the Garda public offices are also listed. ...

Written Answers — Illegal Immigrants: Illegal Immigrants (27 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: A foreign national who is present in the State without permission or in contravention of the terms of a permission is in breach of Irish immigration law. In general, such persons may have entered the State either through covert means or through the use of false documentation at a port of entry or they may have entered lawfully but remained beyond the duration of a permission or have breached...