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Positive start to tourism for 2014 - Varadkar

The tourism year has got off to a strong start and the positive impact from The Gathering in 2013 is still being felt, Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport Leo Varadkar said following publication of the latest CSO visitor figures.

26th February 2014

Speech by Alan Shatter TD, Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence during Dáil Statements on Allegations in relation to An Garda Síochána

I want to say, initially, that Deputy Martin was quite right to hand over to An Taoiseach last week material which he had received from a member of An Garda Síochána, Sergeant Maurice McCabe.

26th February 2014

Community courts provide a local solution to local problems - Conway

Fine Gael Seanad Spokesperson on Justice and Clare Senator, Martin Conway, has said that the roll out of community courts across the country could revolutionise our justice system and would provide a local solution to local problems. Senator Conway’s comments coincide with a Private Members’ Motion on the subject tabled by him in the Seanad today.

25th February 2014

Feighan welcomes RSA’s efforts to speed up processing time for driving licence applications

Fine Gael TD for Roscommon/South Leitrim, Frank Feighan, has welcomed the Road Safety Authority’s efforts to speed up processing times for driving licence applications.

25th February 2014

Minister Donohoe travels to Strasbourg to advance Ireland’s priorities within the European Parliament

Minister for European Affairs, Paschal Donohoe TD, is this morning (Tuesday) travelling to Strasbourg for a series of meetings with key members of the European Parliament, including Irish and Northern Irish MEPs and the Commissioner for Enlargement, Stefan Fule.

25th February 2014

Minister Shatter publishes General Scheme of the Court of Appeal Bill

The Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence, Alan Shatter, TD, has today secured Government approval for the drafting of the Court of Appeal Bill 2014 and for the publication of the General Scheme of that Bill. The purpose of the Bill is to make the necessary legislative provision for the establishment of the Court of Appeal following on from the successful Referendum result of October 2013 which was passed by 65.2% of voters. The establishment of such a Court was one of the key commitments in the Programme for Government.

25th February 2014

O’Sullivan report contains practical proposals on how to boost entrepreneurship – Collins

Fine Gael Cork North West TD and member of the Oireachtas Jobs Committee, Aine Collins, has today (Tuesday) said that the report from the Entrepreneurship Forum, chaired by Sean O’Sullivan, contains practical proposals on how to boost our number of successful entrepreneurs. Deputy Collins was speaking after the former Dragon’s Den star appeared before the Jobs Committee to discuss the report’s contents.

25th February 2014

Seanad Éireann, Private Members’ Business Tuesday 25 February 2014 Private Members’ Motion on Community Courts Response by Minister of State Joe Costello T.D on behalf of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence Alan Shatter, T.D

I am speaking today on behalf of Minister Alan Shatter who would like to thank the Senators for raising this matter today. This is an important topic which Minister Shatter has been considering alongside the many other reforms of our court systems that are already underway.

25th February 2014

Conway welcomes European Day for victims of crime

Fine Gael Clare Senator and Seanad Spokesperson on Justice, Martin Conway, has said that victims’ rights should be central to the operation of the criminal justice system in Ireland. Senator Conway made his comments in advance of the European Day for victims of crime, which takes place tomorrow (Saturday).

21st February 2014

Private Member’s Bill - Thirty-Fourth Amendment to the Constitution (Judicial Appointments) Bill 2013

The Minister for Justice and Equality, Alan Shatter TD, has asked me to convey to the House his regret at not being in attendance today. He is in Greece at a meeting of the EU Defence Ministers, a matter of considerable importance in the context of his work as Minister for Defence.

21st February 2014

Shatter Statement on Confidential Recipient

Speaking today, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence, Alan Shatter TD said, “Yesterday, I found it necessary to relieve the Garda Confidential Recipient Mr Oliver Connolly of his position.

21st February 2014

Stronger regulation of mental health professionals is urgently required - Neville

Fine Gael Limerick TD and President of the Irish Association of Suicidology, Dan Neville, has today (Friday) welcomed the warning from Gerry Raleigh from the HSE’s National Office for Suicide Prevention (NOSP) about the dangers of using services offering suicide and mental health counselling services which are not vetted and may be unsafe.

21st February 2014