Results 6,241-6,260 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — Refugee Legal Services: Refugee Legal Services (29 Oct 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The Refugee Legal Service (RLS) is a specialised office established by the Legal Aid Board to provide confidential and independent legal services to persons applying for asylum in Ireland. Legal aid and advice is provided in relation to: Information on completion of the initial Asylum questionnaire which is required to be lodged with the Office of Refugee Applications Commissioner (ORAC)....

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (29 Oct 2008)

Dermot Ahern: As the Deputy is aware the processing of asylum applications is done within the framework of the Refugee Act, 1996 (as amended) under which every asylum applicant is guaranteed an investigation and determination of his or her claim at first instance by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner (ORAC). I presume the Deputy is referring in his question to the language analysis...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (29 Oct 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I am advised by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner (ORAC) that the questionnaire referred to by the Deputy comprises of 13 pages containing some 48 questions relating to the applicant's personal details and the basic reasons for the making of a claim for asylum. In the circumstances it is not practicable to list out the full contents of the questionnaire in this reply. In...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (29 Oct 2008)

Dermot Ahern: As the Deputy is aware the processing of asylum applications is done within the framework of the Refugee Act, 1996 (as amended) under which every asylum applicant is guaranteed an investigation and determination of his or her claim at first instance by the Refugee Applications Commissioner (ORAC). There are a variety of reasons resulting in the need to cancel the scheduled interviews...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (29 Oct 2008)

Dermot Ahern: As the Deputy is aware the processing of asylum applications is done within the framework of the Refugee Act, 1996 (as amended) under which every asylum applicant is guaranteed an investigation and determination of his or her claim at first instance by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner (ORAC). The length of time taken to schedule applicants for interview differs depending...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (29 Oct 2008)

Dermot Ahern: Section 8(5)(a) of the Refugee Act 1996 (as amended) provides that, where it appears to an immigration officer or an authorised officer that a child under the age of 18 years who has arrived in the State and is not in the custody of any person, that child must, as soon as is practicable be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) and thereupon the provisions of the Child Care Act, 1991...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (29 Oct 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I refer the Deputy to my Reply to Question No. 135 given on Wednesday 22 October, 2008. The position is as stated.

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (29 Oct 2008)

Dermot Ahern: An application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to in the Deputy's Question was received in the Citizenship Section of my Department in November 2007. Officials in that Section are currently processing applications received in June 2006. All applications are dealt with in chronological order as this is deemed to be the fairest to all applicants. The current...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (29 Oct 2008)

Dermot Ahern: It is not the practice to comment in detail on individual asylum applications. As the Deputy will be aware, applications for refugee status in the State are determined by an independent process comprising the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner and the Refugee Appeals Tribunal which make recommendations to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform on whether such status...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (29 Oct 2008)

Dermot Ahern: Applications for certificates of naturalisation were received from the persons referred to in the Deputy's Question in April 2008 and I decided to refuse the applications. The reason for this decision was disclosed to the applicants in letters dated 9th October 2008. There is no appeals process under the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. It is open to the persons in...

Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (30 Oct 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I will respond to what the Deputy stated and to what I understand Deputy Rabbitte stated earlier. I apologise for not being here but I had another appointment. I do not in any way regret what I stated last week and as I said at the time, it would have been a dereliction of duty if I did not refer to a substantial part of the report on how this interacts with whistleblowing issues. I said...

Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (30 Oct 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I can criticise and make the point with regard to the Morris tribunal.

Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (30 Oct 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I challenge Deputy Flanagan to examine the conclusions of Mr. Justice Flood in his report on the issue. He clearly and totally vindicated any involvement I had with regard to any inquiry I made. I acknowledge this is amending legislation. It is intended primarily to comply with international commitments. It is peripheral to many of the matters which the Deputies raised. Its main purpose...

Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill 2008: Referral to Select Committee (30 Oct 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I move: That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights, in accordance with Standing Order 122(1) and paragraph 1(a)(i) of the Orders of Reference of that committee.

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (30 Oct 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act, 1956, as amended, provides that the Minister may, in his absolute discretion, grant an application for a certificate of naturalisation provided certain statutory conditions are fulfilled. In the case of a non national applicant who is the spouse of an Irish citizen, those conditions are that the applicant must: be of full age be of good character be...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (30 Oct 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The Government Legislation Programme published on 23 September 2008 indicates that publication of the Civil Partnership Bill is expected in early 2009. The General Scheme of the Bill was published on 24 June 2008 and is available on my Department's website.

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (30 Oct 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The visa application referred to by the Deputy was approved by the Embassy of Ireland, Kuala Lumpar on 2 September 2008. The visa granted was a 'C' type 'Visit' visa. There are two main categories of visa — a 'C' visa is for a stay of a maximum of 90 days, a 'D' visa is for a longer stay. It should be borne in mind that a visa is merely a pre-entry clearance to seek permission to enter...

Written Answers — Refugee Appeals Tribunal: Refugee Appeals Tribunal (30 Oct 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The information requested by the Deputy in relation to the number of applications for leave to judicially review the Refugee Appeals Tribunal (RAT) since its establishment (4 October 2000) is set out in the following table: Year Number of Cases 2001 100 2002 093 2003 161 2004 297 2005 383 2006 365 2007 350 2008 (to date) 247 Total 1,996 In considering the number of applications...

Written Answers — Garda Recruitment: Garda Recruitment (30 Oct 2008)

Dermot Ahern: Recruitment to An Garda Síochána is a matter in the first instance for the Public Appointments Service and then for the Commissioner of An Garda Síochána. I have no role or function in the process. The Public Appointments Service can be contacted by the applicant at Chapter House, 26-30 Abbey Street Upper, Dublin 1, by telephone at Lo-Call 1890 44 99 99 or by e-mail at: info@publicjobs.ie.

Written Answers — Garda Equipment: Garda Equipment (30 Oct 2008)

Dermot Ahern: Following consultation with my cabinet colleagues, I recently approved the Garda Commissioner's proposal to issue incapacitant spray to all operational members of An Garda Síochána. Prior to making his proposal to me, the Garda Commissioner established a Working Group to examine all aspects of the matter. The Working Group examined the impact that the introduction of such sprays has had...