Results 1,741-1,760 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Reports of Unlawful Surveillance of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission: Statements (11 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: I thank the Deputies who contributed to the debate. I thank those who said something constructive and those who made other sorts of contributions to which I will refer. I am interested in one thing only, the truth of the issues that arose, whether GSOC was bugged. It would be completely unacceptable for any surveillance to be conducted on its offices. I have the height of respect for GSOC...

Reports of Unlawful Surveillance of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission: Statements (11 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: He is being disingenuous. Ten days ago, before this controversy developed, I announced that we intended to amend the GSOC legislation and that I would bring proposals to Government in that regard. In its reports GSOC has indicated some issues it wishes addressed. That legislation will be brought to Government at some point during the course of this year and will come before the House. The...

Reports of Unlawful Surveillance of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission: Statements (11 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: I would like to begin by emphasising the important public role played by An Garda Síochána as the police force in this State and by the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, GSOC, as the independent body with the important remit of investigating allegations of police misconduct. Each is a crucial pillar in our constitutional democracy and each plays a vital role in the...

Reports of Unlawful Surveillance of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission: Statements (11 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: I understand that no connection between any member of An Garda Síochána with any of these matters arose. This is not my conclusion - it is that of GSOC. It would, of course, be a matter of the gravest concern if GSOC were, in fact, subject to surveillance from any quarter and I am sure the House will welcome the fact that, notwithstanding the conclusions of its investigation, it...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Recruitment (11 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: The age at which candidates may apply to join the Garda Síochána as a full time member is set by regulation 4 (a) of the Garda Síochána (Admissions and Appointments) Regulations 2013 which states as follows:-4. Subject to the provisions of these Regulations, a person is eligible to apply for admission as a trainee where, on the closing date specified in the advertisement...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Court Accommodation Refurbishment (11 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: As the Deputy is aware, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts, including the provision of accommodation for court sittings, is the responsibility of the Courts Service which is independent in exercising its functions. However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and the Courts Service has informed me that they are at...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Operations (11 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: I am informed by the Garda authorities that Operation Kerb has been in operation in the Bridewell Garda Sub-District since November 2010. The operation primarily focuses on the diversion of women who are engaged in street based prostitution in the area referred to and the prosecution of persons who solicit for the purpose of prostitution. An Garda Síochána engage as appropriate...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Operations (11 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: As part of the measures which are coordinated under Operation Fiacla, Operation Acer commenced in the Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR) in March 2012. The operation is in force throughout the DMR including the areas referred to by the Deputy, and has resulted in a reduction in the number of burglaries in those areas. Operation Acer is an intelligence driven operation and includes analysis...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Aid Service Expenditure (11 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 415 and 417 together. As the Deputy will be aware civil legal aid is provided by the Legal Aid Board in accordance with the Civil Legal Aid Act 1995, as amended. In November 2011, the Board's remit was widened to include the Family Mediation Service (FMS), which had previously come under the auspices of the Family Support Agency. The Board's funding is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Aid Service Expenditure (11 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: The Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) Act 1962 provides that free legal aid may be granted, in certain circumstances, for the defence of persons of insufficient means. Under the Act, the grant of legal aid entitles the applicant to the services of a solicitor and, in certain circumstances, up to two counsel, in the preparation and conduct of their defence or appeal. The granting of aid is a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Compensation Awards (11 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: As the Deputy will be aware, under the terms of the Scheme of Compensation for Personal Injuries Criminally Inflicted Tribunal members are entirely independent in the matter of individual applications that fall to be considered by them. I am informed by the Tribunal that this case has not been finalised to-date for reasons beyond their control but I am not in a position to provide further...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (11 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 419 to 426, inclusive, 429 to 431, inclusive, and 434 together. As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of all personnel among the Garda Regions, Divisions, and Districts. Garda management keep this distribution under continuing review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Expenditure (11 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 427 and 428 together. The Garda Commissioner is the Accounting Officer for the Garda Vote. In this context I am informed by the Garda authorities that the direct costs of running the Dundalk District and the Louth Division from 2008 to 2013 are outlined in the table below. I also understand that certain further Garda expenditure arose in relation to the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Data (11 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 432 and 433 together. The Garda Síochána Act 2005 makes provision for the compilation and publication of crime statistics by the Central Statistics Office (CSO), as the national statistical agency, and the CSO has established a dedicated unit for this purpose. The CSO publishes statistics on the number of criminal incidents recorded and detected,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (11 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: I have considered these reports and recommendations. The position is that the Reception & Integration Agency (RIA) of my Department is responsible for the administration of the system of Direct Provision accommodation. Currently, there are 4,365 asylum seekers being accommodated in 34 accommodation centres throughout the State under contract to RIA. The operation of the Direct...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Youth Services Funding (11 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: My Department, through the Community Programmes Unit of the Irish Youth Justice Service, manages the funding and the delivery of 100 Garda Youth Diversion Projects (GYDP) nationwide and 5 local Drug Task Force (LDTFs) projects. The GYDPs, which are staffed by two youth justice workers, are managed locally by community based organisations working with a local project committee which is chaired...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Child Abduction (11 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: As the Deputy will appreciate, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on individual cases that may be or have been the subject of an application under the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. The procedures for dealing with cases of international parental child abduction involving countries who are party to the Hague Convention are set out in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Vetting Legislation (11 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 438 and 440 together. The National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act was enacted in 2012. However, it has not yet been commenced. Elements of the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012 relating to the disclosure of convictions are under review at present having regard to a recent judgment of the UK Court of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Vetting Applications (11 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: I am committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources to perform this most essential of tasks. In that regard, during 2013 I received sanction from the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for the redeployment of additional staff from the Department of Agriculture and Food to the Garda Síochána specifically to work in the Vetting unit. I am informed...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (11 Feb 2014)

Alan Shatter: There is no record of any citizenship applications in my Department in respect of the persons whose details were supplied.