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Shatter welcomes EU Commission’s Rule of Law proposals

Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence Alan Shatter TD welcomed the EU Commission’s proposals for a three-stage Rule of Law Framework which were published on Tuesday (11 March 2014).

3rd March 2014

Varadkar & Hayes confirm buildings across Ireland to go green for St Patrick’s Day

More landmark buildings in Dublin and across Ireland will be turning green this year to mark St Patrick’s Day including the GPO, the Rock of Cashel, Trim Castle, Heuston Station and the National Gallery, Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport Leo Varadkar and Minister of State with special responsibility for the Office of Public Works Brian Hayes have confirmed.

3rd March 2014

Video initiative allows young people to voice concerns ahead of European elections - Harris

Fine Gael TD for Wicklow-East Carlow and Candidate for Ireland South, Simon Harris, has today (Thursday) welcomed a new youth advocacy project ahead of the European Elections. European Movement Ireland and a number of partners are bringing together a group of 18 to 25 year olds as part of the 32-county initiative.

3rd March 2014

Work starts on the first phase of the FAI’S National Training Centre

The Football Association of Ireland today (March 3) announced the start of work on the first phase of its National Training Centre on the National Sports Campus with a sod turning ceremony involving Minister Leo Varadkar TD, Minister Joan Burton TD, FAI CEO John Delaney, DDSL Chairman of the Board of Directors, Brendan Bermingham, DDSL Chairman, Paddy Dempsey, Chairman of the NSCDA Sean Benton, CEO of the Irish Sports Council John Treacy and Republic of Ireland management team, Martin O’Neill and Roy Keane.

3rd March 2014

Minister Shatter announces appointment of Garda Confidential Recipient

The Cabinet today agreed to the proposal of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence that he appoint Retired District Court Judge Mr Patrick McMahon to the position of Confidential Recipient under Regulation 6 of the Garda Síochána (Confidential Reporting of Malpractice) Regulations 2007.

2nd March 2014

Minister Shatter announces Humanitarian Admission Programme to assist vulnerable persons suffering in Syria and surrounding countries

In response to an approach by members of the Syrian community in Ireland and in light of the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Syria the Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence, Alan Shatter, TD today announced that he is putting in place an immigration based humanitarian admission programme with a view to providing some further assistance to vulnerable persons affected by the conflict in the region.

2nd March 2014

Seanad Adjournment Debate - Speech by Minister of State Fergus O’Dowd TD on behalf of Alan Shatter TD, Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence – The need to outline structures in place to deal with sexual offenders in prisons and communities

The need for the Minister for Justice and Equality to outline what structures he has in place to deal with sexual offenders in our prisons and in our communities and to what extent co-operation from the offender is mandatory

2nd March 2014

Statement by Minister Alan Shatter on the Garda Inspectorate Report

On 14th May last, I referred to the Garda Inspectorate the O’Mahoney Report and the Garda Professional Standards Unit Report into the Fixed Charge Notice issue. I set out and provided to the Garda Inspectorate seven principles which I believed should inform the operation of the Fixed Charge Processing System:

2nd March 2014

Statement by Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport Leo Varadkar

Speaking today, Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport Leo Varadkar said: “I welcome the High Court ruling which should allow the State airports to operate normal services this Friday. I have said on a number of occasions that the strike should have been deferred given that the Expert Panel is currently engaging with all parties involved in the dispute.”

2nd March 2014

Statement by Minister Shatter following the death of Mrs. Christine Buckley

Alan Shatter TD, Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence, has paid tribute to Mrs. Christine Buckley who today passed away following a long illness.

2nd March 2014

Statement by the Taoiseach on the Meeting of the European Council in Brussels

Next week’s meeting of the European Council was originally scheduled to be the first of 2014. However, as you are aware, an extraordinary meeting of EU Heads of State and Government was called in Brussels last week to discuss the deeply worrying situation in Ukraine.

2nd March 2014

Buttimer welcomes passage of motion in support of marriage equality at FG Ard Fheis

Fine Gael Cork South Central TD and Chair of Fine Gael’s LGBT Group, Jerry Buttimer, has today (Saturday) welcomed the passage of a motion at the Fine Gael Ard Fheis in support of marriage equality.

1st March 2014