Alan Shatter, TD, Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence reports on work done during first 16 months of Government
A message from Minister Alan Shatter
“My ambition is that, at the end of the Government’s term in office, we will be seen as the most radical reformist government in the history of the State. I am determined in my privileged role as Minister in two great Departments – Justice and Equality and the Department of Defence – to fully play my part. Being a member of a Cabinet composed of talented colleagues who are committed to public service, to restoring our economic sovereignty and getting our people back to work is truly a privilege. That is the difference between our Government led by An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny and the Fianna Fail led governments of yesteryear. Since I was appointed Minister on the 9 March 2011, I have enacted 11 separate pieces of legislation and an additional 12 Bills are at advanced stages of drafting. In addition, I have prioritised reform across a number of areas to improve efficiency, reduce costs and protect the frontline. I hope that this document serves as a useful resource as well as providing an insight into the work done during the past 16 months.”
Summary of Bills Enacted
1. Criminal Justice Act 2011
2. Property Services (Regulation) Act 2011
3. Criminal Justice (Withholding Information on Crimes Against Children and Vulnerable Adults Act) 2012
4. Criminal Law (Defence and the Dwelling) Act 2011
5. Criminal Justice (Community Service) (Amendment) Act 2011
6. Criminal Justice (Search Warrants) Act 2012
7. Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2011
8. Twenty-Ninth Amendment of the Constitution (Judges’ Remuneration) Act 2011
9. Defence (Amendment) Act 2011
10. Jurisdiction of Courts and Enforcement of Judgments (Amendment) Act 2012
11. European Arrest Warrant (Application to Third Countries and Amendment) and Extradition (Amendment) Act 2012
Summary of Bills passing through Oireachtas / at an advanced stage of drafting
1. Personal Insolvency Bill 2012
2. Legal Services Regulation Bill 2011
3. National Vetting Bureau Bill 2012
4. Criminal Justice (Corruption) Bill 2012
5. Criminal Justice (Spent Convictions) Bill 2012
6. Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Bill 2012
7. Mediation Bill 2012
8. Criminal Records Information System Bill 2012
9. Gambling Bill
10. Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) (Amdt) Bill 2012
11. Civil Defence Board Bill 2012
12. Landlord and Tenant Law Reform Bill 2012
Alan Shatter, TD, Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence reports on work done during first 16 months of Government
Contents
1. Criminal Justice Act 2011
2. Property Services (Regulation) Act 2011
3. Criminal Justice (Withholding Information on Crimes Against Children and Vulnerable Adults) Act 2012
4. Criminal Law (Defence and the Dwelling) Act 2011
5. Criminal Justice (Community Service) (Amendment) Act 2011
6. Criminal Justice (Search Warrants) Act 2012
7. Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2011
8. Twenty-Ninth Amendment of the Constitution (Judges’ Remuneration) Act 2011
9. Defence (Amendment) Act 2011
10. Jurisdiction of Courts and Enforcement of Judgements (Amendment) Act 2012
11. European Arrest Warrant (Application to Third Countries and Amendment) and Extradition (Amendment) Act 2012
12. Personal Insolvency Bill 2012
13. Legal Services Regulation Bill 2011
14. National Vetting Bureau Bill 2012
15. Criminal Justice (Corruption) Bill 2012
16. Criminal Justice (Spent Convictions) Bill 2012
17. Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Bill 2012
18. Mediation Bill 2012
19. Criminal Records Information System Bill 2012
20. Gambling Bill
21. Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) (Amendment) Bill 2012
22. Civil Defence Board Bill
23. Landlord and Tenant Law Reform Bill
24. Ministerial Transport
25. State Visits
26. Capital Announcement
27. Progress on clearing of backlog of applications for citizenship and new Citizenship Ceremony
28. Referendum on Article 34 of Constitution
29. Cash for Gold
30. Surrogacy Guidelines
31. Civilian Staff Dublin Airport
32. Streamlined Immigration Procedures
33. Reduction in fees payable under the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme
34. Consolidation and Closure of Garda Stations
35. Graduation Ceremonies
36. Garda Retirements & Promotions
37. Investor and Entrepreneur (Jobs) Schemes
38. Visa Waiver Programme
39. Recognition of Foreign Civil Partnerships and Gay Marriages
40. 6th European Gay Police Association Conference
41. Garda Vetting
42. Criminal Assets Bureau
43. Victims of Crime
44. Zambrano Judgement
45. Visits to Prisons by the Minister
46. Cork Prison
47. Limerick Prison
48. Mountjoy Prison
49. Prison Governance Structures
50. Prison Deaths
51. Thornton Hall Prison Project Review Committee
52. Prison Reform
53. Data Protection
54. Future Direction of the Legislation on Prostitution
55. Magdalene Laundries
56. Cloyne Report
57. Upward Only Rent Reviews
58. Meeting with relatives of the disappeared
59. Omagh Support and Self-help Group
60. Private Paddy Kelly Posthumous Award
61. Defence Forces
62. Defence Forces Participation in Missions Abroad
63. Visit to Lebanon
64. Callanan Report 19th September 2011
65. Irish Red Cross
66. Signing of Memorandum of Understanding to support cooperation between forensic science agencies on the island of Ireland
67. The White Paper on Defence
68. Implementation of the Defence Forces Medical Services Review
69. Ombudsman for the Defence Forces
70. Visits to Military Facilities
71. Irish and Finnish Perspectives on European Security and Defence Policy
72. Memorandum of Understanding – Ireland’s Participation in the Austro/German Battlegroup 2012
73. European Defence Agency (EDA) Projects
74. Opportunities in the European Security and Defence Markets
75. Cavalry Corp Day 3rd September 2011
76. Ceremony to mark the 50th Anniversary of the death of Trooper Patrick Mullins in the Congo
77. World War II Deserters
78. Recruitment Age for Permanent Defence Forces
79. Appointments Advertised
80. Councils of Europe
81. Attended various meetings
82. Winter Ready Campaign 2011
9. The Defence (Amendment) Act 2011 provides for amendments to the Defence Acts to expand the potential candidature for appointment to the post of Military Judge and the Director of Military Prosecutions to persons other than members of the Defence Forces and for an amendment to the powers of the Selection Committee to determine a candidate’s qualification for appointment to these posts. In relation to the alternative judge, it also provides for the appointment of a Circuit Court Judge to perform the functions of the Military Judge where the Military Judge is not available for whatever reason. The Act was commenced in full on 9 November 2011. Following a public competition for the post of Military Judge, the Government at its meeting on 3 July 2012 approved the appointment of Mr. Michael Campion as military judge for the Defence Forces. Mr. Campion will be appointed as a Colonel in the Permanent Defence Force with effect from 4 September 2012 for the purpose of taking up the appointment as military judge.
22. The Civil Defence Board Bill 2012: On 12 July 2011 the Minister secured Government approval to dissolve the Civil Defence Board and transfer its functions, property, rights, liabilities and other responsibilities to the Department of Defence. At a subsequent meeting on 30 August 2011 the Government approved the drafting of the Civil Defence Repeal Bill. The Bill is currently being drafted and it is anticipated that it will be published in September 2012.
The proposed transfer of functions will result in verifiable savings and will allow management to develop the provision of training support, which is a key demand in a voluntary organisation like Civil Defence rather than duplicating the corporate governance of the Department.
24. Ministerial Transport: Changed arrangements for Ministerial transport resulting in estimated savings of €4 million per year.
25. State Visits: As Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence, Minister Shatter had political responsibility for the necessary security and protection arrangements put in place by An Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces and for their participation in civil ceremonies and events during the visits in 2011 to this State of HRH Queen Elizabeth II and President Barack Obama.
A message from Minister Alan Shatter
“My ambition is that, at the end of the Government’s term in office, we will be seen as the most radical reformist government in the history of the State. I am determined in my privileged role as Minister in two great Departments – Justice and Equality and the Department of Defence – to fully play my part. Being a member of a Cabinet composed of talented colleagues who are committed to public service, to restoring our economic sovereignty and getting our people back to work is truly a privilege. That is the difference between our Government led by An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny and the Fianna Fail led governments of yesteryear. Since I was appointed Minister on the 9 March 2011, I have enacted 11 separate pieces of legislation and an additional 12 Bills are at advanced stages of drafting. In addition, I have prioritised reform across a number of areas to improve efficiency, reduce costs and protect the frontline. I hope that this document serves as a useful resource as well as providing an insight into the work done during the past 16 months.”
Summary of Bills Enacted
1. Criminal Justice Act 2011
2. Property Services (Regulation) Act 2011
3. Criminal Justice (Withholding Information on Crimes Against Children and Vulnerable Adults Act) 2012
4. Criminal Law (Defence and the Dwelling) Act 2011
5. Criminal Justice (Community Service) (Amendment) Act 2011
6. Criminal Justice (Search Warrants) Act 2012
7. Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2011
8. Twenty-Ninth Amendment of the Constitution (Judges’ Remuneration) Act 2011
9. Defence (Amendment) Act 2011
10. Jurisdiction of Courts and Enforcement of Judgments (Amendment) Act 2012
11. European Arrest Warrant (Application to Third Countries and Amendment) and Extradition (Amendment) Act 2012
Summary of Bills passing through Oireachtas / at an advanced stage of drafting
1. Personal Insolvency Bill 2012
2. Legal Services Regulation Bill 2011
3. National Vetting Bureau Bill 2012
4. Criminal Justice (Corruption) Bill 2012
5. Criminal Justice (Spent Convictions) Bill 2012
6. Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Bill 2012
7. Mediation Bill 2012
8. Criminal Records Information System Bill 2012
9. Gambling Bill
10. Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) (Amdt) Bill 2012
11. Civil Defence Board Bill 2012
12. Landlord and Tenant Law Reform Bill 2012
Alan Shatter, TD, Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence reports on work done during first 16 months of Government
Contents
1. Criminal Justice Act 2011
2. Property Services (Regulation) Act 2011
3. Criminal Justice (Withholding Information on Crimes Against Children and Vulnerable Adults) Act 2012
4. Criminal Law (Defence and the Dwelling) Act 2011
5. Criminal Justice (Community Service) (Amendment) Act 2011
6. Criminal Justice (Search Warrants) Act 2012
7. Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2011
8. Twenty-Ninth Amendment of the Constitution (Judges’ Remuneration) Act 2011
9. Defence (Amendment) Act 2011
10. Jurisdiction of Courts and Enforcement of Judgements (Amendment) Act 2012
11. European Arrest Warrant (Application to Third Countries and Amendment) and Extradition (Amendment) Act 2012
12. Personal Insolvency Bill 2012
13. Legal Services Regulation Bill 2011
14. National Vetting Bureau Bill 2012
15. Criminal Justice (Corruption) Bill 2012
16. Criminal Justice (Spent Convictions) Bill 2012
17. Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Bill 2012
18. Mediation Bill 2012
19. Criminal Records Information System Bill 2012
20. Gambling Bill
21. Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) (Amendment) Bill 2012
22. Civil Defence Board Bill
23. Landlord and Tenant Law Reform Bill
24. Ministerial Transport
25. State Visits
26. Capital Announcement
27. Progress on clearing of backlog of applications for citizenship and new Citizenship Ceremony
28. Referendum on Article 34 of Constitution
29. Cash for Gold
30. Surrogacy Guidelines
31. Civilian Staff Dublin Airport
32. Streamlined Immigration Procedures
33. Reduction in fees payable under the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme
34. Consolidation and Closure of Garda Stations
35. Graduation Ceremonies
36. Garda Retirements & Promotions
37. Investor and Entrepreneur (Jobs) Schemes
38. Visa Waiver Programme
39. Recognition of Foreign Civil Partnerships and Gay Marriages
40. 6th European Gay Police Association Conference
41. Garda Vetting
42. Criminal Assets Bureau
43. Victims of Crime
44. Zambrano Judgement
45. Visits to Prisons by the Minister
46. Cork Prison
47. Limerick Prison
48. Mountjoy Prison
49. Prison Governance Structures
50. Prison Deaths
51. Thornton Hall Prison Project Review Committee
52. Prison Reform
53. Data Protection
54. Future Direction of the Legislation on Prostitution
55. Magdalene Laundries
56. Cloyne Report
57. Upward Only Rent Reviews
58. Meeting with relatives of the disappeared
59. Omagh Support and Self-help Group
60. Private Paddy Kelly Posthumous Award
61. Defence Forces
62. Defence Forces Participation in Missions Abroad
63. Visit to Lebanon
64. Callanan Report 19th September 2011
65. Irish Red Cross
66. Signing of Memorandum of Understanding to support cooperation between forensic science agencies on the island of Ireland
67. The White Paper on Defence
68. Implementation of the Defence Forces Medical Services Review
69. Ombudsman for the Defence Forces
70. Visits to Military Facilities
71. Irish and Finnish Perspectives on European Security and Defence Policy
72. Memorandum of Understanding – Ireland’s Participation in the Austro/German Battlegroup 2012
73. European Defence Agency (EDA) Projects
74. Opportunities in the European Security and Defence Markets
75. Cavalry Corp Day 3rd September 2011
76. Ceremony to mark the 50th Anniversary of the death of Trooper Patrick Mullins in the Congo
77. World War II Deserters
78. Recruitment Age for Permanent Defence Forces
79. Appointments Advertised
80. Councils of Europe
81. Attended various meetings
82. Winter Ready Campaign 2011
9. The Defence (Amendment) Act 2011 provides for amendments to the Defence Acts to expand the potential candidature for appointment to the post of Military Judge and the Director of Military Prosecutions to persons other than members of the Defence Forces and for an amendment to the powers of the Selection Committee to determine a candidate’s qualification for appointment to these posts. In relation to the alternative judge, it also provides for the appointment of a Circuit Court Judge to perform the functions of the Military Judge where the Military Judge is not available for whatever reason. The Act was commenced in full on 9 November 2011. Following a public competition for the post of Military Judge, the Government at its meeting on 3 July 2012 approved the appointment of Mr. Michael Campion as military judge for the Defence Forces. Mr. Campion will be appointed as a Colonel in the Permanent Defence Force with effect from 4 September 2012 for the purpose of taking up the appointment as military judge.
22. The Civil Defence Board Bill 2012: On 12 July 2011 the Minister secured Government approval to dissolve the Civil Defence Board and transfer its functions, property, rights, liabilities and other responsibilities to the Department of Defence. At a subsequent meeting on 30 August 2011 the Government approved the drafting of the Civil Defence Repeal Bill. The Bill is currently being drafted and it is anticipated that it will be published in September 2012.
The proposed transfer of functions will result in verifiable savings and will allow management to develop the provision of training support, which is a key demand in a voluntary organisation like Civil Defence rather than duplicating the corporate governance of the Department.
24. Ministerial Transport: Changed arrangements for Ministerial transport resulting in estimated savings of €4 million per year.
25. State Visits: As Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence, Minister Shatter had political responsibility for the necessary security and protection arrangements put in place by An Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces and for their participation in civil ceremonies and events during the visits in 2011 to this State of HRH Queen Elizabeth II and President Barack Obama.
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