Results 6,601-6,620 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — Tribunals of Inquiry: Tribunals of Inquiry (13 Nov 2008)

Dermot Ahern: As I indicated in my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 87 of 2 October, the disturbing events uncovered by the first five Morris Reports have been the subject matter of strong action on the part of the Government. This includes: the passage of the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the most significant piece of legislation relating to the Garda Síochána in the history of the State, the...

Written Answers — Bail Law: Bail Law (13 Nov 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 42 and 57 together. The law already takes a serious view of offences committed by persons on bail. The Criminal Justice Act, 1984 provides for mandatory consecutive sentences to apply where a person is convicted of an offence committed while on bail. In addition, the law provides that the fact that an offence was committed while on bail must be treated as an...

Written Answers — Court Awards: Court Awards (13 Nov 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The information requested by the Deputy concerning the amounts paid out in Court awards and out of court settlements in relation to actions taken against members of the Garda Síochána relating to assault, unlawful arrest or other breaches of citizens' rights is set out in the following table. Actions taken by Civilians against Gardaí The number of cases settled/or awards made by the...

Written Answers — Garda Complaints Procedures: Garda Complaints Procedures (13 Nov 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I have previously informed the House that I have received an interim report from the Garda Commissioner on a particular case involving a convicted drug dealer. I am awaiting a full report from the Commissioner as soon as certain inquiries he was having undertaken have been completed. The House will also be aware that I agreed to a request from the Garda Commissioner that the interim report...

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (13 Nov 2008)

Dermot Ahern: As indicated in my reply to Parliamentary Question Number 99 of 2 October, the findings of the Hartnett Report have been accepted. I am constrained in what I can say due to the fact that civil proceedings instituted by the Rossiter family are still ongoing and an inquest into Brian Rossiter's death has yet to be concluded. I understand, in fact, that the Inquest is due to resume again on...

Written Answers — Garda Vetting Services: Garda Vetting Services (13 Nov 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 47 and 62 together. The Garda Central Vetting Unit (GCVU) provides employment vetting for a number of organisations in Ireland, registered with the Unit, which employ personnel to work in a full-time, part-time or voluntary capacity with children and/or vulnerable adults. The procedure is also conducted for fostering and the Adoption Board. The service being...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (13 Nov 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the following table shows the number of drink-driving related incidents recorded on PULSE from 2003 to 2007, the number of proceedings commenced, convictions recorded and rate of conviction for those incidents. Year Drink-driving incident types recorded (total) Proceedings Commenced Convictions Proceedings concluded (Non-conviction**)...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (13 Nov 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the following table shows the number of drink-driving related incidents recorded on PULSE from 2003 to 2007, the number of proceedings commenced, convictions recorded and rate of conviction for those incidents. Year Drink-driving incident types recorded (total) Proceedings Commenced Convictions Proceedings concluded (Non-conviction**)...

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (13 Nov 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I am informed by the Garda authorities that to date in 2008 there have been 91 incidents involving grenade, pipe bomb or other improvised devices in the Dublin Metropolitan Region. A Defence Forces Explosives Ordnance Device (EOD) team attended 71 of these. In 2007 there were 24 such incidents and an EOD team attended at 17. Investigation by the Garda Síochána into recent incidents...

Written Answers — Garda Equipment: Garda Equipment (13 Nov 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The enabling provisions to allow for the use of Electronic Monitoring are provided for in the Criminal Justice Acts of 2006 and 2007. As the Deputy will appreciate any decision to introduce Electronic Monitoring here, as a component of penal policy development, must be informed by a detailed analysis of the costs, advances in technology, the offender cohort most suitable and the likely...

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (13 Nov 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The Government appointed Mrs. Justice Susan Denham to chair a high-level Working Group to consider the complex issue of the establishment of an intermediate appellate court. Its work commenced in March last year (2007). The Group completed an interim report in March 2008. The Group is now proceeding, under its terms of reference, to prepare a final report, incorporating the interim report,...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (13 Nov 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The Deputy will be aware that this is a complex issue which involves a number of Government Departments. The Government is determined that its Strategy for Multi-Unit Developments will be effective and comprehensive. To that end, work on the preparation of legislative proposals to respond to the Law Reform Commission's recommendations concerning multi-unit developments and the regulation...

Written Answers — Human Trafficking: Human Trafficking (13 Nov 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I am aware of the data referred to by the Deputy. I understand that the estimate figures arising from the research in question, while presented at a number of recent public fora, has not yet been published. The suggested figures relate to research conducted prior to the commencement of the Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Act 2008 on 7 June 2008. This Act criminalises the trafficking of...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (13 Nov 2008)

Dermot Ahern: In my Department work on progressing the preparation of the heads of a Bill to give effect to the legislative elements of the 'Justice for Victims Initiative' which I announced in June of this year is well advanced. While I am unable to give a precise date for submission of the heads to Government at this time, I remain committed to publishing the Bill in the Spring of 2009 and I am...

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (13 Nov 2008)

Dermot Ahern: This commitment in An Agreed Programme for Government 2007 — 2012 is under consideration in my Department. Having regard to the sensitivity and complexity of the issues involved in any significant extension of search powers, including issues of constitutional importance, I am unable to say at this stage when proposals will be available.

Written Answers — Criminal Prosecutions: Criminal Prosecutions (13 Nov 2008)

Dermot Ahern: 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 10 November, 2008. Figures provided for 2008 are provisional, operational and liable to change. One of the main priorities set for the Garda Síochána is to target gun...

Written Answers — Garda Equipment: Garda Equipment (13 Nov 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 60, 160 and 169 together. I can assure the Deputy that the areas of organised crime, gun crime and drugs continue to be a top policing priority for the Government and the Garda Commissioner and the resources available for tackling such crime will be kept under constant review. I have been informed by the Garda authorities that they are satisfied that they have...

Written Answers — Garda Transport: Garda Transport (13 Nov 2008)

Dermot Ahern: In my answer of 2 October to Parliamentary Questions No. 16, 35, 67 and 92 I provided a comprehensive response on this issue. The position remains unchanged.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (13 Nov 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I would refer the Deputy to my reply to his question in this regard on 2 October 2008. The position has not changed in the meantime.

Written Answers — Prison Building Programme: Prison Building Programme (13 Nov 2008)

Dermot Ahern: Negotiations are currently under way with a commercial consortium, which was selected following an EU tender procedure as the preferred bidder for the design, construction, finance and maintenance of the proposed prison facilities at Thornton Hall, North County Dublin. While these negotiations are at an advanced stage they have not yet been completed to the point that the Project Agreement...