Results 14,621-14,640 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Defence Forces Strength (21 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: I thank Deputy Calleary for his comments on the comprehensive report, published by the Department and prepared by Mr. Frank Callinan SC, into the tragic deaths in 1989 of the three soldiers mentioned. I certainly agree that it is appropriate that we would debate that report at some point in this House, and the Whips can make the appropriate arrangements. I hope the comprehensive inquiry...

Defence Forces Personnel (21 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: The military authorities have reported that the numbers of personnel discharged from the Permanent Defence Force on medical grounds in each year since and including 2008 are as follows: in 2008 some 19 enlisted personnel were discharged; in 2009, two officers and 42 enlisted personnel were discharged; in 2010, one officer and 33 enlisted personnel were discharged; and to date in 2011, one...

Defence Forces Personnel (21 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: I am sure the Deputy will appreciate that I cannot comment on individual cases. I am not familiar with the case to which the Deputy is referring. When a decision is made with regard to someone's capacity or fitness to continue within the Defence Forces there is a provision that an appeal may be made to the medical director with regard to decisions made. I do not know the reason why in the...

Defence Forces Personnel (21 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: If the Deputy passes on the details to me I will have an inquiry made into the matter. Having said that I cannot make any promises and I do not wish to give unrealistic expectations. There may be good reasons the decision was made.

Naval Service Operations (21 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: The Naval Service has powers to unilaterally intervene at sea. Under the Sea-Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006, the Naval Service is empowered to board and inspect vessels and their cargos and, when necessary, to formally detain vessels and direct them to port. Fishing vessels detained by the Naval Service at sea are handed over at a port to An Garda Síochána for arrest. The...

Naval Service Operations (21 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: Naturally the Naval Service has a particular role to assist the civil powers and the role that the Naval Service plays is important. As far as I am aware there is no costing whereby the Naval Service seeks to recover what could be designated as an expense incurred by it in these activities. This is part of the role the Naval Service plays in serving the State and it carries out important...

Naval Service Operations (21 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: I should say fishing vessels not naval vessels. We have not yet detained a submarine or a cruiser coming from any particular location. There are eight Spanish fishing vessels on the list, nine were from the United Kingdom, five were French and one was Belgian. During the period between 2009 and 2011 up to the end of August, there were a total of 34 separate vessels listed.

Official Engagements (21 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: I am pleased to inform the House that I will make my first visit to Irish troops serving overseas when I will accompany President McAleese on her official visit to Lebanon next month. The programme for the proposed visit which is being arranged by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade will include a visit to Camp Shamrock, the headquarters of the 104th Irish Battalion deployed with the...

Official Engagements (21 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: I thank the Deputy for her suggestion I am Head of State, but I have not yet been elevated to that particular post and do not anticipate ever seeking it or being elevated to it. The visit has been specifically arranged to visit and talk to the troops in Camp Shamrock and to get a sense of the situation in the region in the context of the very important work they are doing. I note what the...

Official Engagements (21 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: The Deputy is obviously unaware that I visited Gaza some three months after the last conflict which took place between Hamas and Israel, that I saw the nature of the difficulties in Gaza and that I am intimately aware of the complexity of the problem. It is a great pity in addressing the issues in the region she sees it all completely in black and white and is not prepared to engage in a...

Overseas Missions (21 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: Ireland has participated in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, UNIFIL, since its establishment in 1978. UNIFIL's mandate has been extended by the UN Security Council on an annual basis. On 30 August the Security Council extended the current mandate of UNIFIL until 31 August 2012. UNIFIL continues to play a critical role in helping to promote peace and stability in southern...

Written Answers — Charitable Organisations: Charitable Organisations (20 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: 1Irish charities may take a number of legal forms. For example, some charities are companies limited by guarantee while other charities are trusts. They are, therefore, governed by the relevant legislative or other provisions governing such entities. Incorporated charities, for example, are subject to the provisions of company law and are generally required to provide information to the...

Written Answers — Anti-Social Behaviour: Anti-Social Behaviour (20 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: 1I am very aware of the distress that anti-social behaviour and low level crime can cause to communities. There are strong legislative provisions in place to combat anti-social behaviour in communities. These include provisions to deal with alcohol abuse, its effect on public order and late night street violence. In its Policing Plan for 2011, An Garda Síochána has prioritised actions to...

Written Answers — Sexual Offences: Sexual Offences (20 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: 1The Deputy's question concerns the disclosure, to parents, of information relating to persons on the sex offenders' register. In exceptional circumstances, the provision of appropriate information to the public is already possible. This includes the disclosure of such information to parents. Currently, this is done on an administrative basis but, subject to Government approval, I intend to...

Written Answers — Magdalene Laundries: Magdalene Laundries (20 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: 1I can advise 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. As the working arrangements of the committee are a matter for its chairperson, Senator Martin McAleese, and he is independent in this matter, I...

Written Answers — Cash for Gold Trade: Cash for Gold Trade (20 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: 1My Department is currently finalising a report on 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 any proposals which may...

Written Answers — Community Restorative Projects: Community Restorative Projects (20 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: 1The system of restorative justice in this jurisdiction is already part and parcel of the justice system. In the case of juveniles, restorative justice was introduced on a statutory basis for the first time in the Children Act 2001. There are two restorative justice initiatives provided for in the Act: A restorative conference or restorative caution included in the Garda Diversion Programme...

Written Answers — Garda Civilian Support Staff: Garda Civilian Support Staff (20 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: 1There are currently around 2,100 full-time-equivalent civilian support staff in the Garda Síochána. These staff provide vital support services in a wide range of areas, such as human resources, training & development, IT and telecommunications, finance and procurement, internal audit, research and analysis, accommodation and fleet management, scene-of-crime support and medical services....

Written Answers — Garda Resources: Garda Resources (20 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: 1I understand the Deputy's question to relate to the Garda resources that are made available to the combatting of drug misuse. The Garda Síochána Policing Plan, 2011 sets out the commitment of An Garda Síochána to pro-actively target groups and individuals engaged in organised criminal activities including drug trafficking. I am informed by the Garda authorities that a multi-agency...

Written Answers — Judicial Staff: Judicial Staff (20 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: 1I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 386 on 28 June, 2011 and for his convenience I have again set out below the information requested. As the Deputy will appreciate court districts and circuits have more than one court venue and judges are required to travel between venues. During 2010, the latest year for which figures are available, there were 17 District judges and 13 Circuit...