Results 16,561-16,580 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Written Answers — Control of Livestock: Control of Livestock (7 Apr 2011)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 67 and 68 together. I assume the Deputy is referring to the Animals Act 1985 which amended the law relating to liability for damage done by animals. The Act at section 2 provides for an amendment to the former immunity in the common law of negligence in respect of animals on the highway, and, subject to certain conditions, provides for a duty on a person to...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (7 Apr 2011)

Alan Shatter: I am pleased to be able to tell the Deputy that the Government's legislative programme published earlier this week provides for a new Bill on spent convictions, with publication expected before the end of this term. The new Bill will build on the proposals from the Law Reform Commission. Unlike the previous Government's Bill, which lapsed upon the dissolution of the last Dáil, it will...

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (7 Apr 2011)

Alan Shatter: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Priority Question No.1 of today's date. I would like, nevertheless, to repeat that the Government is fully committed to supporting the Garda Síochána in its continuing anti- and counter-terrorist activities and to ensuring, in line with the Programme for Government, that it has all the resources required to defeat this menace. Cross-border security...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (7 Apr 2011)

Alan Shatter: A valid application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to in the Deputy's Question was received in the Citizenship Division of my Department in October 2009. The application is currently being processed in the normal way with a view to establishing whether the applicant meets the statutory conditions for the granting of naturalisation and will be submitted to me for...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (7 Apr 2011)

Alan Shatter: The Commission for the Support of Victims of Crime, an independent body under the aegis of my Department, provides funding to the voluntary body One in Four. One in Four provides professional support to men and women who have experienced sexual violence, many of them during childhood. Such assistance may be considered appropriate, having regard to the details supplied. I am not in a position...

Written Answers — Garda Recruitment: Garda Recruitment (7 Apr 2011)

Alan Shatter: A decision on when Garda recruitment will re-commence will take into account the rate of retirement in the Garda Síochána and Government targets for reductions in public service numbers. I am informed by the Garda authorities that on 31 December 2010 the number of dedicated Community Gardaí attached to Dublin's North and South Central Garda Division's was 159 and 96 respectively. I am...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (7 Apr 2011)

Alan Shatter: I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) that a request by the applicant for a review of the decision in this case was received on 23rd February, 2011. The EU Treaty Rights Review section of INIS wrote to the applicant on 5th April, 2011 advising them that the application had been received. Each application for review is examined on its own merits and a...

North-South Co-operation (7 Apr 2011)

Alan Shatter: The Government is committed to maintaining the highest level of co-operation between the Garda and the Police Service of Northern Ireland, PSNI, and between my Department and the Northern Ireland Department of Justice. It is clear that by working together on matters of mutual concern and interest we can improve the lives of all the people on the island of Ireland. Co-operation between the...

North-South Co-operation (7 Apr 2011)

Alan Shatter: The second part of the Deputy's question is, of course, an operational matter between the Garda Síochána and the PSNI. As for the first part of the question, there is absolutely no question but that the Garda will be fully supported in its efforts to counter the activities of the criminal terrorists who robbed Constable Kerr of his life. The programme for Government makes clear the...

Garda Deployment (7 Apr 2011)

Alan Shatter: I am firmly committed to supporting the Garda Síochána in prioritising operational front-line policing. This commitment is very much reflected in the Government's programme for national recovery which sets the objective of ensuring administrative duties are carried out by civilian staff to free up highly trained gardaí for the prevention and detection of crime. It also calls for a higher...

Garda Deployment (7 Apr 2011)

Alan Shatter: Civilianisation enables the direct replacement of sworn members who are engaged in exclusively clerical, administrative or technical duties with civilian staff. In many other cases, however, it allows sworn members who would otherwise need to devote substantial parts of their working days performing administrative duties, such as data entry about crime incidents into the PULSE system, to...

Garda Deployment (7 Apr 2011)

Alan Shatter: I do not want at this stage to put a definitive figure on it because it is an issue that the Garda Commissioner is examining. I expect we will have a further conversation about the matter in the not-too-distant future. When the proposals we are considering are finalised, I will be happy to bring the matter before the House again.

Prison Accommodation (7 Apr 2011)

Alan Shatter: I am committed to addressing the issue of in-cell sanitation in line with the Government programme for national recovery. The recent report of the Council of Europe's Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, CPT, acknowledged positive developments in the Irish prison system, such as the modernisation of the prison estate, the provision of...

Prison Accommodation (7 Apr 2011)

Alan Shatter: I agree with the Deputy's view that imprisonment should be a last resort, but there are some very bad and violent people in respect of whom, to protect the community, the only option is a sentence of imprisonment when a conviction is obtained. I agree with the Deputy's view regarding in-cell sanitation. It is a view I expressed from her side of the House. Within our prison system, all cells...

Garda Strength (7 Apr 2011)

Alan Shatter: I do not want to upset the Deputy on our first Question Time.

Garda Strength (7 Apr 2011)

Alan Shatter: I congratulate him and wish him well in his position as my opposite number.

Garda Strength (7 Apr 2011)

Alan Shatter: This is a rather odd question and is what would be termed, in the lexicon of the United States and a language with which my father is familiar - Yiddish - as one of the best examples of chutzpah I can find. It is difficult to take the Deputy's question seriously as the previous Government, led by the Deputy's party, in its National Recovery Plan 2011–2014 published late last year, required...

Garda Strength (7 Apr 2011)

Alan Shatter: The Deputy correctly states that the programme for Government commits to a strong and efficient police force and it is our commitment to maintain such a force. With regard to numbers we are considering the implications of the EU and IMF agreement and I have an obligation in my Department to meet the financial estimates and not to over-reach in that regard. The Garda Commissioner must also...

Sentencing Policy (7 Apr 2011)

Alan Shatter: The traditional approach to sentencing is for the Oireachtas to lay down the maximum penalty and for a court, having considered all the circumstances of the case, to impose an appropriate penalty up to that maximum. There are a small number of cases, however, where statute has created important exceptions to this approach. Mandatory sentencing requirements apply most notably for murder,...

Criminal Justice (Community Service) (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2011: Order for Second Stage (7 Apr 2011)

Alan Shatter: I move: "That Second Stage be taken now."