Results 5,021-5,040 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (8 Jul 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I refer the Deputy to the replies to Question Nos. 9121/08, 14079/08, 19315/08, 21109/08 of 4 March, 17 April, 20 May and 28 May 2008 respectively. The position is unchanged.

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (8 Jul 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The Refugee Appeals Tribunal was established under the Refugee Act 1996 to consider and decide appeals against recommendations of the Refugee Applications Commissioner refusing refugee status. Under the Act, the Refugee Appeals Tribunal is independent in the performance of its functions. I am informed by the Refugee Appeals Tribunal that the members of the Tribunal have received training in...

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (8 Jul 2008)

Dermot Ahern: Over the last number of years the Government has of course been aware of and concerned by the increasing prevalence of cocaine use in Ireland. We are not alone in this as this development reflects increasing use of the drug across all of Europe in recent times. As the Deputy points out, the drug prevalence study recently produced by the National Advisory Committee on Drugs (NACD) which...

Written Answers — Identification Cards: Identification Cards (8 Jul 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I have no immediate plans to introduce a national, mandatory identity card scheme.

Written Answers — Garda Ombudsman: Garda Ombudsman (8 Jul 2008)

Dermot Ahern: Discussions have been taking place for some time now between the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission and my Department regarding the Commission's proposals for amendments to be made to the Garda Síochána Act 2005, which, in the light of the Commission's operational experience to date, will contribute to greater effectiveness and efficiency in the Commission's operations. The areas where...

Written Answers — Garda Training: Garda Training (8 Jul 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I am advised by the Garda authorities that there are sufficient resources and infrastructures in place to provide training for members of the Garda Síochána who are authorised to carry Firearms Authorisation Cards. Cardholders are required to attend for refresher training three times per year which is significantly more than the average international policing standards. There has been...

Written Answers — Firearms Licences: Firearms Licences (8 Jul 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that the number of licensed firearms has increased by approx 5% over the last five years. On the other hand, figures from the Central Statistics Office indicate that the population grew by over 8% between 2002 and 2006 so, while there has been a small increase in the number of licensed firearms in recent years, in real terms the number of firearms per...

Written Answers — Drug Seizures: Drug Seizures (8 Jul 2008)

Dermot Ahern: Consideration of the issue of heroin misuse in Ireland needs to take place in the global context within which such misuse takes place. I am advised that the United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime estimates that approximately 90% of the heroin which is consumed in the European Union originates from Afghanistan. The sharp increase both in cultivation and production of illicit opium poppy in...

Written Answers — Crime Prevention: Crime Prevention (8 Jul 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The recent increase in the use of pipe bombs and other improvised explosive devices (IEDs) is a matter of concern to me. That concern is shared by the Garda Commissioner. I am informed by the Garda authorities that all available intelligence is fully analysed and used in the strategic deployment of both local and specialised operational Garda units in pursuing persons and groups who use pipe...

Written Answers — Juvenile Liaison Service: Juvenile Liaison Service (8 Jul 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 117 and 127 together. It is the responsibility of the Garda Commissioner to decide on the prioritisation and allocation of resources within the force. The Commissioner has informed me that, as of 31 May 2008, the number of Gardaí assigned to the Juvenile Liaison Service was 101. The Garda Commissioner has given a commitment to appoint an additional 21...

Written Answers — Drug Seizures: Drug Seizures (8 Jul 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the following tables provide details of the seizures made of the main categories of illegal drugs for 2007 and to date for 2008 (up to and including 4 July ). Drug Seizures 2007* Drug Type Quantity Estimated Value € Cannabis 725 Kg 1,450,000 Cannabis Resin 1,167 Kg 8,169,000 Cocaine 1,718 Kg 120,260,000 Diamorphine (Heroin) 117 Kg...

Written Answers — Garda Charter: Garda Charter (8 Jul 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The Garda Commissioner has committed in his Policing Plan 2008 to commence the development of a Garda Charter during the third and fourth quarters of 2008. The aim of a Garda Charter is to improve customer service and responsiveness. The Charter will set out targeted response times and levels of service the public can expect, including the frequency of high visibility patrols in urban and...

Written Answers — Money Laundering: Money Laundering (8 Jul 2008)

Dermot Ahern: As the Deputy will know, effective anti-money laundering legislation has been in place in this jurisdiction since the enactment of the Criminal Justice Act 1994. Later amendments to this Act are contained in the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001 and the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Act 2005. These statutes ensure our full compliance with the 1st and 2nd EU Money...

Written Answers — Domestic Violence: Domestic Violence (8 Jul 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The Domestic Violence Act 1996 makes substantial provision for victims of domestic violence who are not married to their abuser. A person may apply for a safety order if he or she has been living with a person as husband and wife for six months in aggregate of the previous twelve, and may apply for a barring order if he or she has been living with a person for six months in aggregate of the...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (8 Jul 2008)

Dermot Ahern: Lawful interception in this jurisdiction is governed by the Interception of Postal Packets and Telecommunications Messages (Regulation) Act 1993. That Act sets out clearly the conditions justifying interception for the purposes of criminal investigation or in the interests of the security of the State. It also sets out clearly the procedures required to authorise an interception. In...

Written Answers — Organised Criminal Gangs: Organised Criminal Gangs (8 Jul 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I am informed that there are two categories of organised crime groups operating in this jurisdiction. The first category consists of individuals / groups that are well established and tightly structured and are involved in drug trafficking, armed robbery and firearms offences. The second category involves groups whose activities are characterised by less cohesive group structures and...

Written Answers — Commissions of Investigation: Commissions of Investigation (8 Jul 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I refer the Deputy to my response to Parliamentary Question No. 116 of 28 May 2008. The position remains unchanged.

Written Answers — Crime Statistics: Crime Statistics (8 Jul 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 the end of May. Figures provided for 2008 are provisional, operational and liable to change. The detection rate for murders by...

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (8 Jul 2008)

Dermot Ahern: My predecessor has already accepted the findings of the Hartnett Report as has the Garda Commissioner. Nonetheless I am constrained in what I can say due to the fact that civil proceedings have been instituted by the Rossiter family and those proceedings are ongoing. In addition an inquest into Brian Rossiter's death is also ongoing. However, I can say that the Garda Commissioner has...

Written Answers — Ministerial Travel: Ministerial Travel (8 Jul 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The requirements for the Ministerial fleet are subject to regular review and assessment in order to ensure that the most suitable vehicles are purchased having regard to a range of criteria including overall cost, emissions and fuel efficiency bearing in mind the function of the vehicles and their suitability for the specific transport requirements involved. The current contract in place for...