News & Statements

Cannon to represent Government at St Pat’s for All parade in NYC

Fine Gael TD and Minister of State for Education and Skills, Ciaran Cannon TD, will tomorrow (Sunday) represent the Government at the St Pat’s for All parade in New York city. The annual event, which includes LGBT groups, community groups, children's bands, Irish organisations and religious and civic groups, celebrates the Irish community in New York.

Criminal Law (Incest)(Amendment) Bill 2012 Private Members Bill – Second Stage Speech by Alan Shatter T.D. Minister for Justice and Equality

The Deputy’s Bill is, in part, a response to the Roscommon child care case. An Inquiry Team chaired by Ms. Norah Gibbons presented a report into that case to the HSE in October, 2010. I am conscious that the preface of the report referred to the wave of publicity and comment that followed the sentencing of the mother and father in 2009 and 2010, respectively for physical abuse, sexual abuse and neglect.

Heydon seeks Government support to re-establish Irish sugar industry

Fine Gael Kildare South TD, Martin Heydon, has today (Saturday) highlighted the potential of a return to sugar beet production in Ireland. Speaking at the Fine Gael Ard Fheis at the RDS, he called on the Government to support the ongoing efforts to re-establish the industry.

Minister Shatter publishes the Joint Probation Service

The Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence, Mr Alan Shatter TD, today published the Joint Probation Service and Irish Prison Service Women’s Strategy 2014 - 2016 entitled “An Effective Response to Women Who Offend”. This joint strategy sets out how the two agencies will provide tailored interventions for women with the aim to reduce offending among women and improve outcomes.

Speech to be delivered by Alan Shatter TD, Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence 7 March 2014 Citizenship Ceremony City Hall, Waterford

Mayor Cummins, ladies and gentlemen, thank you for those warm words of welcome. I am delighted to be here in Waterford on this special day for all those of you who will be granted Irish citizenship. It is a very important day in the story of your life and it is also an important day for Ireland, as the host nation bestowing this honour on you.

Statement by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence, Alan Shatter TD on the Government’s Priorities for the Year Ahead

I intend to first address my Justice brief and, thereafter, Defence. As Deputies will know, the Programme for Government sets out a substantial and broad agenda for reform in the area of Justice and Equality. I believe we have made great progress in implementing this agenda in the first three years of this Government’s term of office and that we have achieved an unprecedented level of reform in that time.