Results 14,781-14,800 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Written Answers — Financial Legislation: Financial Legislation (14 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: The position is that my Department is in consultations with the Office of the Attorney General regarding the implications of the High Court judgment concerned. The action to be taken is dependent on the outcome of those discussions.

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (14 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: I am informed by the Garda Authorities that the total amount provided from the Garda Vote in 2010 to St. Paul's Medical Society was €195,664. This includes a subvention for postage and telephone, a grant-in-aid and staff costs.

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (14 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: The position is that Parts 12 and 13 of the recently-enacted Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2011, which contain amendments to the Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Act 2009 and the Registration of Title Act 1964 respectively, amend the law relating to the acquisition of easements, including rights of way, by prescription. The amendments permit the Property Registration Authority...

Written Answers — Legal Aid Service: Legal Aid Service (14 Sep 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. However, as a courtesy to the Deputy I have obtained the information sought and am providing it to the Deputy. I am informed by the Board that there has been a very significant increase in demand for general civil legal aid...

Written Answers — Garda Vetting of Personnel: Garda Vetting of Personnel (14 Sep 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 certificate...

Written Answers — Garda Vetting of Personnel: Garda Vetting of Personnel (14 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: I am informed by the Garda Authorities that the average processing time for vetting applications received at the Garda Central Vetting Unit (GCVU) is approximately 10 weeks. I appreciate that it is important to process these applications in as timely a manner as possible and that the length of time currently being taken is a matter of concern which I am determined to address. A number of...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (14 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 611 and 651 together. I can inform the Deputy that while the recording of expenditure on taxi services does not allow for the precise identification of all the spend under this heading, the identified spend for the last four years by my Department as is set out in the table below. No money has yet been allocated for taxi services in 2012. Year € 2008...

Written Answers — Deportation Orders: Deportation Orders (14 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: The removal of individuals from the State in compliance with the provisions of the law is, by its nature, a difficult process. It is however a necessary feature of the enforcement of immigration-related legislation where individuals do not exercise the option available to them to leave the State voluntarily when they have not got permission to remain in the State, or where they may not be in...

Written Answers — Illegal Immigrants: Illegal Immigrants (14 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: The Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill 2010 will provide a statutory framework within which immigration policies will be developed and amended as the need arises. It is not proposed to set out in primary legislation the detailed rules for different categories of migrants. This will be better achieved through regulations and administrative guidelines. New guidelines for...

Written Answers — Direct Provision System: Direct Provision System (14 Sep 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, and why legislative proposals before the House will, if passed, of necessity reduce the length of time persons stay in the system. The accommodation of asylum seekers through the direct provision system is the...

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (14 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: I am informed by the Garda authorities that, as of the latest date for which figures are readily available, the personnel strength of the Garda Reserve was 819. To date, some 40 members of the Garda Reserve have joined An Garda Síochána as full time members. The Garda Síochána (Admissions and Appointments) (Amendment) Regulations 2006 allow the Public Appointments Service to give due...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (14 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: In Parliamentary Question No. 246 of 14 July 2011, the Deputy asked "... the total cost of hiring external public relations companies by his Department over the past decade ...". I refer the Deputy to my reply to his Question, as follows: I wish to inform the Deputy that the information requested is not readily available. Given the period of time concerned and the fact that my Department...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (14 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: The Deputy has clarified to officials in my Department that this question relates to an application made to the Private Security Authority (PSA). As the Deputy will be aware, the PSA, established under the Private Security Services Act 2004, is the regulatory body with responsibility for regulating and licensing the private security industry. The Authority is an independent body under the...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (14 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) that the position with each of the persons referred to by the Deputy is as follows. Arising from the refusal of her asylum application, and in accordance with the provisions of Section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended), the first named person concerned was notified, by letter dated 25th November, 2009, that the...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (14 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: I am pleased to say that considerable progress has been made in the preparation of the Criminal Justice (Spent Convictions) Bill. The Bill, which will build on the recommendations in the 2007 Law Reform Commission Report on Spent Convictions, will provide for the non-disclosure of certain convictions when a person is seeking employment, once certain conditions have been met. These...

Written Answers — Drug Courts: Drug Courts (14 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: My Department carried out a review of the Dublin Drug Treatment Court which was published in May 2010. The findings of the Review suggested there is some evidence that participants on the court's programme have reduced rates of recidivism and improved health, education and social skills which impact positively on the participants themselves and the community. However, the Report identified...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (14 Sep 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. Following on from an initial consultation process with the Attorney General, I have forwarded outline proposals to her for further examination and development. Those proposals have already been the subject of preliminary...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (14 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: I understand that an acceptable solution has been agreed by the parties involved and that the new contractor has engaged the services of the staff employed by the previous contractor.

Written Answers — Sentencing Policy: Sentencing Policy (14 Sep 2011)

Alan Shatter: I wish to inform the Deputy that judges are independent in the matter of sentencing as they are in other matters concerning the exercise of judicial functions, subject only to the Constitution and the law. Insofar as the role of the Houses of the Oireachtas is concerned, the traditional approach to sentencing is to lay down the maximum penalty and for a court, having considered all the...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (14 Sep 2011)

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