Results 4,221-4,240 of 16,537 for speaker:Brian Lenihan Jnr

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

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am informed by the Garda authorities that as a result of information received five persons have been identified as suspects in the world-wide operation into possession of child pornography titled Operation Koala. I am further informed that the addresses of all five suspects have been searched by Gardaí pursuant to section 7 of the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act 1998. A number of...

Written Answers — Data Protection: Data Protection (13 Dec 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Data Protection Code of Practice for All Employees of An Garda Síochána was launched on Monday, 12 November 2007 by the Garda Commissioner and the Data Protection Commissioner and has been issued to all employees of the Garda Síochána. I am informed by the Garda authorities that the Garda Síochána is the first public authority to have issued such a Code of Practice and this reflects...

Written Answers — Pre-Nuptial Agreements: Pre-Nuptial Agreements (13 Dec 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Questions No. 64 and 131 on 7 November 2007. I have nothing further to add to the details of that response.

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (13 Dec 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the table shows the numbers of cases of murder recorded in which firearms were used, proceedings commenced and convictions secured in each year from 1998 to 2006 and in 2007 up to 9 December. Figures provided for 2007 are provisional, operational and liable to change. It should be noted that for specific cases proceedings commence and convictions...

Written Answers — Garda Discipline Regulations: Garda Discipline Regulations (13 Dec 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Garda Síochána Discipline Regulations were introduced by Statutory instrument in May 2007. Included in the "Acts or Conduct Constituting Breaches of Discipline" is the following: "Prohibited spare-time activity, that is to say— (a) identifying himself or herself actively or publicly with a political party, (b) behaving in relation to political matters in such a manner and in such...

Written Answers — Departmental Estimates: Departmental Estimates (13 Dec 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I wish to refer the Deputy to the press release which my Department issued on 5 December, 2007 in relation to the 2008 Estimates, which sets out key features of interest. The press release is available on my Department's website (www.justice.ie). I would also refer the Deputy to my remarks in this House on Thursday 6 December, 2007 during the course of the Budget debate, in which I...

Written Answers — Immigration Policy: Immigration Policy (13 Dec 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I have no proposals to introduce any general regularisation programme for undocumented migrant workers in the State. Each case must be considered on its individual merits and this approach is being followed in respect of those brought to the attention of the immigration authorities where the migrant has become undocumented after previously holding a work permit. Depending on the...

Written Answers — Crime Prevention: Crime Prevention (13 Dec 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Last October, I announced the establishment of an additional 7 Garda Youth Diversion Projects, fulfilling the commitment to increase the total number of projects operating throughout Ireland to 100 by the end of this year. There are 31 projects operating in Dublin, 11 in Cork, and 6 each in Kerry and Limerick. There are 5 projects in Waterford and 4 each in Galway, Louth and Tipperary....

Written Answers — Immigration Policy: Immigration Policy (13 Dec 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: As Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform I have overall responsibility for immigration policy. Broadly, that means setting policy, in relation to foreign nationals, for entry to the State, residence within it, removal if necessary and citizenship together with all aspects of Ireland's protection regime. This responsibility is given effect to by, inter alia, bringing forward...

Written Answers — Probation and Welfare Service: Probation and Welfare Service (13 Dec 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Probation Service is an integral part of my Department and through its work in the community and in the prisons, contributes in a significant way to the rehabilitation of offenders. Therefore, I am very pleased to advise the Deputy that the total budget allocated to the Probation Service for 2008 is €64.039 m which is an overall increase of 8% on the 2007 allocation of €59.323m. ...

Written Answers — Irish Prison Service: Irish Prison Service (13 Dec 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: While the Report contains strongly worded criticism of the prison system, in fairness it also rightly recognises the progress that we are making in improving the system and highlights some of the major developments which have take place in the period covered by the Report. In particular, the Report welcomed the significant progress we are making in enhancing the range of rehabilitative...

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

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Law Reform Commission published on 29 November 2007, a Consultation Paper on Civil Liability of Good Samaritans and Volunteers. The Commission have asked for submissions on the provisional recommendations contained in the Consultation Paper. At the end of the consultation period, the Commission will issue a final Report. In that context, it would be premature for me to bring forward...

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

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The total personnel strength of the Garda Reserve including trainees as at 10th December 2007 was 292, of whom 171 were fully attested. At a graduation ceremony taking place in the Garda College today, it is expected that a further 46 trainees will be attested. The 171 attested members are attached to the following Stations: DMR (Dublin Metropolitan Region) Stations: DMR South Central...

Written Answers — Sentencing Policy: Sentencing Policy (13 Dec 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Certain categories of prisoner are excluded from standard remission of sentence under the Prison Rules and these are as follows: Life sentence prisoners; Persons convicted of debtor offences; Persons convicted of contempt of court; Persons being held on remand warrants; Persons serving a sentence of less than one month. Other prisoners are eligible to earn remission of 25% of their sentence...

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

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am advised by the Director General of the Irish Prison Service that the number of prisoners serving life sentences who were given extended temporary release in each of the past ten years are as follows: Year Number Released 1996 5 1997 3 1998 8 1999 8 2000 6 2001 5 2002 4 2003 2 2004 0 2005 1 2006 1 In the period in question, a total of 43 life sentence prisoners were given...

Written Answers — Data Protection: Data Protection (13 Dec 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I assume the Deputy is referring to the matter which was the subject of a newspaper article on 5 December last and again on 6 December. The Legal Aid Board has advised me that it is extremely concerned at these events and that it quickly moved to appoint a retired senior public servant to conduct an independent investigation once the incident came to its attention last July. The Board...

Written Answers — Garda Ombudsman Commission: Garda Ombudsman Commission (13 Dec 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission opened its doors to complaints from members of the public seven months ago. It received 1,869 complaints from members of the public in the period 9th May to 30th November 2007. Of these, 455 were deemed inadmissible and a further 560 are pending. 854 complaints were deemed admissible. A further 231 cases were referred to it by the Garda Commissioner...

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

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Following a complete review, conducted by An Garda Síochána, of all aspects of the burial of the remains of an unidentified woman in County Wexford in 1995, and at their request, I authorised the exhumation of the remains. The exhumation took place on 28 November, 2007 and a post-mortem examination was conducted by the State Pathologist. I am informed that samples of bone were forwarded...

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

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 it is open to me to set policing priorities for An Garda Síochána. I recently announced these priorities for 2008. One of the priorities I have set is to combat, particularly in co-operation with other agencies and the community generally, the problems of public disorder with particular emphasis on alcohol related behaviour (including under age drinking)...

Written Answers — Sentencing Policy: Sentencing Policy (13 Dec 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The following categories of prisoner are not eligible to earn remission of sentence: Life sentence prisoners; Persons convicted of debtor offences; Persons convicted of contempt of court; Persons being held on remand warrants; Persons serving a sentence of less than one month An analysis of the prisoner population for 10 December, 2007, shows that of the overall figure for those in custody of...