Results 4,361-4,380 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (28 May 2008)

Dermot Ahern: One of the strategic goals set out in the Garda Síochána Corporate Strategy 2007-2009 is to significantly reduce the incidence of fatal and serious injuries and improve road safety. One of the actions identified in the Garda Policing Plan 2008 in support of this goal is targeted intelligence-led operations against offending young drivers. I am informed by the Garda authorities that specific...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (28 May 2008)

Dermot Ahern: In accordance with the provisions of the Garda Síochána Acts 2005 to 2007 proposals, inter alia, to alter the boundaries of a divisional geographical area are a matter in the first instance for the Garda Commissioner in the context of the Annual Policing Plan. The 2008 Policing Plan contains the Commissioner's proposals to realign Garda boundaries in a number of areas around the country to...

Written Answers — Deportation Orders: Deportation Orders (28 May 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I have noted the judgment of the Supreme Court in the case to which the Deputy refers. The Court has set out useful guidelines on how the position of an Irish citizen child, whose parents are being considered for deportation, should be considered. As it happens, my Department's current practices in this area are broadly in line with the guidelines set out by the Court. Accordingly, the...

Written Answers — Equal Opportunities Employment: Equal Opportunities Employment (28 May 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The Employment Equality Acts 1998 to 2007 and the Equal Status Acts 2000 to 2004 provide a legislative and administrative framework for equality in Ireland. There is no legal obligation on local authorities under these Acts to have equality policies in place. The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform has no statutory powers or obligation to check whether such policies exist. Such...

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (28 May 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The formulation of proposals in relation to the opening and closing of Garda stations is a matter, in the first instance, for the Garda Commissioner in the context of the annual policing plan, as provided for in section 22 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005. The 2008 Annual Policing Plan includes the Commissioner's proposal to merge Watercourse Road and the Mallow Road Garda Stations as a new...

Written Answers — Sentencing Policy: Sentencing Policy (28 May 2008)

Dermot Ahern: Sentence management processes have operated in the prison system for many years to the benefit of prisoners and the community. I am advised that as a result of new regulatory, organisational and working arrangements, together with the ongoing programme of modernisation of the prison estate and the addition of new programmes and services, the Irish Prison Service will be in a position to...

Written Answers — Garda Equipment: Garda Equipment (28 May 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I have been informed by the Garda authorities that a Working Group has been established to examine the use of incapacitant sprays. The Group is chaired by the Assistant Commissioner in charge of Crime & Security and is researching: the effectiveness of incapacitant sprays; the medical implications involved; the development of a policy for the use of such devices and its implications; and...

Written Answers — Liquor Licensing Laws: Liquor Licensing Laws (28 May 2008)

Dermot Ahern: Under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform has the power to set policing priorities for An Garda Síochána. One of the priorities set for 2008 is to combat, in cooperation with other agencies and the community generally, the problems of public disorder with particular emphasis on alcohol related behaviour (including under age drinking) and socially...

Written Answers — Prison Searches: Prison Searches (28 May 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I am informed by the Director General of the Irish Prison Service that a number of flat-screen televisions were removed from cells during a planned search operation at Portlaoise Prison in May, 2007. At that time, an incident at the prison was under investigation at the request of the then Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform and a review of security at the jail had been initiated....

Written Answers — Prison Building Programme: Prison Building Programme (28 May 2008)

Dermot Ahern: Negotiations are currently underway with a commercial consortium, which was selected following an E.U. tender procedure as the preferred tender for the design, construction, finance and maintenance of the proposed prison facilities at Thornton Hall, North County Dublin. The project includes the construction of the prison facilities along with the ancillary infrastructure including services....

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (28 May 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The proposals for a Judicial Council, in the Judicial Council Bill at present being developed in my Department, are based on the recommendations contained in the Report of the Committee on Judicial Ethics, chaired by the then Chief Justice, the Honourable Mr Justice Ronan Keane. That Report included the following recommendation, at p. 54: "To ensure that the public would have confidence in...

Written Answers — Garda Vetting Procedures: Garda Vetting Procedures (28 May 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the Garda Central Vetting Unit (GCVU) provides employment vetting for a number of organisations in Ireland which are registered with the GCVU and which employ people to work with children and/or vulnerable adults. In respect of vetting applications which contain addresses in Northern Ireland a reciprocal arrangement is in place with the Police...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (28 May 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the following table contains the number of cases of murder recorded in which firearms were used, the number of prosecutions initiated and the number of convictions secured in each year from 1998 to 2007 and in 2008 up to 27 May. Figures provided for 2008 are provisional, operational and liable to change. The detection rate for murders by its nature...

Written Answers — Drug Seizures: Drug Seizures (28 May 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the quantity and monetary value of the seizures made of the main categories of illegal drugs for 2007 and to date in 2008 is set out in the following tables: Drug Seizures 2007 Year Drug Type Quantity Estimated Value € 2007* Cannabis 757 Kg 1,514,000 Cannabis Resin 1,228 Kg 8,596,000 Cocaine 1,749 Kg 122,430,000 Diamorphine...

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (28 May 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The current intake of 1,100 Garda recruits per annum is on course to meet the Government's recruitment target. On 31 May 2007, the personnel strength of An Garda Síochána was 13,140. As of 30 April 2008, the latest date for which figures are readily available, there were 13,874 attested members of An Garda Síochána with more than 1,000 recruits in training.

Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (28 May 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2008, which will be presented in the Dail in the very near future, will contain proposals for increasing certain fines in the Licensing Acts, including those relating to the sale and supply of alcohol to persons under 18 years, and in the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994.

Written Answers — Closed Circuit Television Systems: Closed Circuit Television Systems (28 May 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I am advised by the Garda authorities that the installation of the CCTV system in Athlone is at the planning consultation stage. Installation of the system is expected to be completed later this year.

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (28 May 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I am informed by the Garda authorities that it is not possible to provide the information requested by the Deputy without a disproportionate expenditure of Garda time and resources. I am also informed that all members of An Garda Síochána are tasked with the enforcement of relevant legislation. As part of this enforcement policy, members of An Garda Síochána carry out planned and...

Written Answers — Garda Compensation Claims: Garda Compensation Claims (28 May 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The member's application is currently receiving attention, and it is anticipated that his solicitors will be notified of the outcome in the near future.

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (28 May 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I would refer the Deputy to the reply to Parliamentary Question No. 307 put down for answer of 20 February 2008. The position in relation to granting long-term residency is as follows: Persons who have been legally resident in the State for over five years on the basis of work permit/work authorisation/work visa conditions may apply to the Immigration Division of my Department for a five-year...