Results 4,181-4,200 of 16,537 for speaker:Brian Lenihan Jnr

Written Answers — Juvenile Offenders: Juvenile Offenders (13 Dec 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: It is only fair to point out that the Chaplains' Report commends the recent efforts by the prison management at St. Patrick's Institution to improve conditions there, including the improved educational facilities and the provision of separate accommodation and education units there for those under 18 years and those over 18 years. Literacy work has been a strong element of the Prison...

Written Answers — Prisoner Rehabilitation: Prisoner Rehabilitation (13 Dec 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I can inform the Deputy that my Department, through the Probation Service, provides funding to 63 voluntary bodies which provide a range of services to offenders in local communities, e.g. pre-industrial training and education, offender management programmes, residential accommodation, drug and alcohol abuse treatment / intervention / awareness programmes and sex offender programmes. These...

Written Answers — Liquor Licensing Laws: Liquor Licensing Laws (13 Dec 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Licensing Acts contain a comprehensive set of legislative provisions designed to tackle the problem of underage drinking. The main provisions dealing with this matter are set out in Part IV of the Intoxicating Liquor Act 1988 (as amended by the Intoxicating Liquor Acts of 2000, 2003 and 2004). Section 31 of the 1988 Act (as amended by the 2003 Act) provides that it is an offence for a...

Written Answers — Drug Seizures: Drug Seizures (13 Dec 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Under the National Drugs Strategy, the Customs Service of the Revenue Commissioners has primary responsibility for the prevention, detection, interception and seizure of controlled drugs intended to be smuggled into the State. I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that as part of its enforcement resources, the Customs Service currently deploys 13 detector dog teams. These teams are...

Written Answers — Garda Equipment: Garda Equipment (13 Dec 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am aware of the call by the Garda Representative Association for pepper spray to be issued to Gardaí. This call follows the recommendation of the Garda Síochána Inspectorate in its report on practices and procedures for barricade incidents that pepper spray should be issued to all Gardaí on operational duty. This is an operational matter which is for decision by the Garda...

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (13 Dec 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Since the publication of the Government's National Drugs Strategy 2001-2008, Garda resources generally in the fight against illicit drugs have increased. This is particularly evident with the creation of additional Divisional Drug Units in areas of particular need. These Drugs Units operate in Divisions throughout the country with a primary focus on local drugs activities. In terms of...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (13 Dec 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Treaty of Amsterdam, which came into force on 1 May, 1999, added to the EC Treaty a new Title IV which deals with measures in the area of visas, immigration and other policies related to free movement of persons. The proposal in question is subject to Title IV of the Treaty, the application of which to Ireland is subject to the provisions of the Protocol on the position of the United...

Written Answers — Victims Commission: Victims Commission (13 Dec 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am committed to providing enhanced arrangements for the support of victims of crime consistent with the commitment in the Programme for Government. The Commission for the Support of Victims of Crime was established by my predecessor in March, 2005 with a three year remit. Part of its remit was to devise an appropriate support framework for victims of crime into the future. The members of...

Written Answers — Public Order Offences: Public Order Offences (13 Dec 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I refer the Deputy to my answer to Question No. 18 of today's date.

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (13 Dec 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Report of the Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT), on its visit to Ireland was published on the 10 October 2007, together with the response of the Government of Ireland to the issues raised by the CPT in that report. During the 2006 visit the delegation from the CPT visited a number of Garda stations, prisons and places of...

Written Answers — Execution of Warrants: Execution of Warrants (13 Dec 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I refer the Deputy to my answer to Question No. 6 of today's date.

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (13 Dec 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The most recent report of the Garda Síochána Inspectorate noted the amount of time potentially spent by gardaí in court proceedings. It also noted that within the Dublin Metropolitan Region a Court Presenter system is in place in the Dublin Metropolitan Court District and that outside the DMR the local District Officer is the Prosecuting Officer, representing the Director of Public...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (13 Dec 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Far from being a drain on the Exchequer, as suggested by the Deputy, the Monitoring Committee has rendered signal service to the Irish people and continues to do so. There are therefore, no immediate plans to introduce legislation repealing the Independent Monitoring Commission Act 2003. The Deputy will be aware that the Commission is an independent body which was jointly established by the...

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (13 Dec 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am informed by the Garda authorities that a policing plan has been prepared in respect of the obligations on An Garda Síochána to prevent any breaches of the criminal law during the construction of the M3 motorway. The policing measures in place are deemed necessary by local Garda management who are satisfied that sufficient Garda resources are available to prevent any such breaches. The...

Written Answers — Prison Accommodation: Prison Accommodation (13 Dec 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I wish to advise the Deputy that the Interdepartmental Group set up to examine the future of Spike Island is still continuing its deliberations. I await its findings which will inform future plans for the Island.

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (13 Dec 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: As the Deputy will appreciate, the applications that the Immigration Division of my Department receives are diverse in nature and the processing time frames vary considerably according to the nature and circumstances of the scheme in question. In all instances, processing arrangements are kept under ongoing review and steps are taken to reduce waiting times where this is feasible having...

Written Answers — Juvenile Offenders: Juvenile Offenders (13 Dec 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the Irish Youth Justice Service has been allocated total funding of €49.849m for 2008, a 19% increase on 2007. Of this, €40.89m is provided for current and €9m for capital expenditure. I am not in a position to provide a more detailed breakdown pending the publication of the Revised Estimates in early 2008. However, I can say that this resource...

Written Answers — Enforcement of Court Orders: Enforcement of Court Orders (13 Dec 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Fines Bill currently before the House has three main purposes: to index all District Court Fines, to provide for equality of impact for all fines imposed by the courts and to provide for payment by instalment. These measures should significantly reduce the incidence of default in the payment of fines. The proposals are in line with the recommendations of the Law Reform Commission in...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (13 Dec 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: As I announced in the House on 31 October 2007, I expect to publish the Heads of a Civil Partnership Bill by the end of March 2008.

Written Answers — Court Procedures: Court Procedures (13 Dec 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The recently published Report of the Family Law Reporting Pilot Project undertaken by Dr. Carol Coulter at the request of the Courts Service makes a range of recommendations to enhance the role of mediation. I fully agree that enhanced mediation procedures are a key element in relation to family law and dispute resolution generally and I understand that this approach will be addressed in new...