Results 261-280 of 19,162 for speaker:Alan Shatter

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Operations (30 Apr 2014)

Alan Shatter: The Deputy raised issues about the complaints referee. As I said to the Deputy, the Act provides for the appointment of the complaints referee to investigate applications from persons who believe they might be the subject of an authorisation under the legislation. The Act does not require a person to know if he or she was in fact the subject of an authorisation but only that he or she might...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Gangland Killings (30 Apr 2014)

Alan Shatter: I can assure the Deputy that violent and organised crime is being tackled aggressively by An Garda Síochána with all necessary resources deployed to the investigation and prosecution of those involved. While any shooting incident, or an incident such as that the Deputy illustrated, is a cause of great concern, to speak of a surge is misleading and alarmist in the context of falling...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Operations (30 Apr 2014)

Alan Shatter: The Deputy is wrong when he says there is no external monitoring. I have only referenced the role of the designated judge and the reports that are published and laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas. He may also wish to note that in addition to independent judicial oversight by a designated judge of the High Court, a complaints mechanism is provided for in the legislation whereby any...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Official Engagements (30 Apr 2014)

Alan Shatter: The Deputy's difficulty is he cannot make up his mind, depending on which day of the week it is, whether he should come to this House and excoriate members of the Garda force or make a pretence of being supportive of members of the Garda force. In the meantime, the Deputy stayed extraordinarily quiet when one of his colleagues, who sits behind him in this House, greeted some of those members...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Official Engagements (30 Apr 2014)

Alan Shatter: One of the great advantages of creating a police authority is that, in the atmosphere that has been created purely based on political opportunism by Opposition Members of this House, we take the Garda out of politics.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Official Engagements (30 Apr 2014)

Alan Shatter: That is the great benefit of us putting in place legislation for a police authority.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Operations (30 Apr 2014)

Alan Shatter: The Deputy will be aware that the legislative basis for the carrying out of covert surveillance in this State is the Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Act 2009. From the outset I should clarify that as Minister for Justice and Equality, I have no role in authorising surveillance under the provisions of the 2009 Act. Under the Act, authorisations for surveillance are granted by a judge of the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Official Engagements (30 Apr 2014)

Alan Shatter: I think there is a need to de-politicise the debate on Garda matters. His concern is very touching, but it is also hypocritical as he spent most of the first four months of the year denigrating members of An Garda Síochána in this House.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Official Engagements (30 Apr 2014)

Alan Shatter: When interviewed yesterday on "Morning Ireland", I noted that a member of An Garda Síochána attending the GRA conference rightly criticised gardaí being used as political footballs by some Members of the House. He was clearly referencing Members opposite. I said and say again that I welcome constructive engagement with various Garda associations. Since becoming Minister, I...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Commissions of Investigation (30 Apr 2014)

Alan Shatter: The matter relating to Ms Cynthia Owen is not a matter that was referred to Mr. Guerin. I cannot and will not prejudge the outcome of the inquiry being conducted. The whole purpose was to refer the issues that were raised by Sergeant McCabe, about which the Deputy and his party leader made a variety of comment, for independent examination. Mr. Guerin will conduct that independent...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Official Engagements (30 Apr 2014)

Alan Shatter: As the Deputy may be aware, I was not in a position to attend the AGSI conference on the evening of Monday, 14 April for personal reasons. I was also scheduled to attend a meeting in Luxembourg on Tuesday, 15 April regarding my duties as Minister for Defence. My difficulties were explained to the general secretary of the AGSI and, while he was understandably disappointed, I believe he...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Commissions of Investigation (30 Apr 2014)

Alan Shatter: On 18 February 2014, I gave the Cabinet my assessment of the seriousness for both the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission and the Garda Síochána, and more widely for public confidence in the enforcement of law, of the ongoing controversy relating to reports of unlawful surveillance of GSOC. The Government subsequently appointed retired High Court judge, Mr. Justice John...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Drugs in Prisons (30 Apr 2014)

Alan Shatter: I wish to advise the Deputy that the current contract for the provision of training services to the Irish Prison Service Canine Unit will expire in the very near future. The options regarding the provision of future training services are currently being explored. The Deputy will appreciate that the release of such sensitive data could compromise and undermine the legitimacy of any future...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Racial Profiling (30 Apr 2014)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 and 19 together. Firstly, let me make my position quite clear. I would find it totally unacceptable if any member of the Garda Síochána were to engage in any discriminatory profiling, whether based on race, ethnic origin or otherwise, and I am quite sure that the Garda Commissioner shares my view in this matter. In fact, I am assured by the Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Anti-Social Behaviour (30 Apr 2014)

Alan Shatter: The functions and powers of Joint Policing Committees (JPCs) are set out in the Garda Síochána Act 2005, which provides for a Committee in each local authority area. The Act provides that JPCs operate under guidelines issued by the Minister for Justice and Equality after consultation with the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government. JPCs are a partnership...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Data Protection (30 Apr 2014)

Alan Shatter: The Data Protection Commissioner published a data protection audit report in March this year in relation to An Garda Síochána covering the period 2011 to October 2013. It includes a number of detailed recommendations made to An Garda Síochána arising from the audit along with the responses of An Garda Síochána. The full report is available on the website of An...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Proposed Police Authority (30 Apr 2014)

Alan Shatter: At a recent meeting the Government established a new Cabinet Committee on Justice Reform to oversee the development of proposals for an independent police authority and to have this new body in place by the end of 2014. The Cabinet Committee is chaired by the Taoiseach and it also comprises the Tánaiste, the Minister for Justice and Equality and the Minister for Communications, Energy...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Commissions of Investigation (30 Apr 2014)

Alan Shatter: During my appearance before the Joint Committee on Pubic Service, Oversight and Petitions on 19 February 2014 to discuss reports that the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission may have been subject to unlawful surveillance, I undertook to see if I could provide the Committee with any details of the main points of potential difference between the Verrimus report provided by GSOC and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Firearms Licences (30 Apr 2014)

Alan Shatter: I propose to take Questions Nos. 15, 534, 570 and 601 together. In light of public safety concerns highlighted by An Garda Síochána and difficulties in the interpretation of the legislation expressed by members of the judiciary, my Department is currently examining key policy, legislative, administrative and other issues relating to firearms licensing in conjunction with An Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (30 Apr 2014)

Alan Shatter: I can assure the Deputy that An Garda Síochána closely monitors the incidence of this type of crime and that a range of enforcement, prevention and community policing measures are in place to respond to these concerns. The circumstances of this type of offending varies but in many cases the perpetrators will persuade the householder to engage them to carry out work of dubious...