Results 6,981-7,000 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — Departmental Applications: Departmental Applications (9 Dec 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The applications which my Department receives are diverse in nature and the processing time frames vary considerably according to the nature and circumstances of the scheme in question. In all instances, however, processing arrangements are kept under ongoing review and steps are taken to reduce waiting times where this is feasible having regard to available resources and overall priorities....

Written Answers — Closed Circuit Television Systems: Closed Circuit Television Systems (9 Dec 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I am informed by the Garda Authorities that the installation of the Garda Town Centre CCTV system in Athlone is well under way. The civil engineering company employed to carry out on-street works is completing requirements set out by the Athlone Urban District Council as part of normal procedures prior to issue of a road opening licence. The Office of Public Works is currently addressing...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (9 Dec 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The person concerned applied for asylum on 21 October 2004. His application was refused following consideration of his case by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner and, on appeal, the Refugee Appeals Tribunal. Subsequently, in accordance with Section 3 of the Immigration Act, 1999 (as amended), the person concerned was informed, by letter dated 17 August 2007, that the...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (9 Dec 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The person concerned applied for asylum on 16 June 2006. His application was refused following consideration of his case by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner and, on appeal, the Refugee Appeals Tribunal. Subsequently, in accordance with Section 3 of the Immigration Act, 1999 (as amended), the person concerned was informed, by letter dated 15 February 2007, that the Minister...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (9 Dec 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I refer the Deputy to my Reply to Parliamentary Question No. 913 of 24th September 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 residency extension. In...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (9 Dec 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I wish to inform the Deputy that both persons concerned received permission to remain under the revised arrangements for the non-EEA parents of children born in Ireland prior to 1 January 2005, known as the IBC/05 Scheme. The permission to remain in respect of the first person concerned has been renewed until 8 December 2010. The person was informed of this decision by letter dated 13...

Written Answers — Human Trafficking: Human Trafficking (9 Dec 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Act 2008 brings Ireland into compliance with the criminal law / law enforcement elements of the second protocol to the United Nations Convention on Transnational Organised Crime — the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children. It is expected that the Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill, when...

Written Answers — Crime Statistics: Crime Statistics (9 Dec 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The Garda Síochána Act 2005 makes provision for the compilation and publication of crime statistics by the Central Statistics Office, as the national statistical agency, and the CSO has established a dedicated unit for this purpose. I have requested the CSO to provide the statistics sought by the Deputy directly to him.

Written Answers — Crime Statistics: Crime Statistics (9 Dec 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I am informed by the Garda authorities that due to the secretive and undercover nature of the sex industry it is not possible to estimate, with any degree of accuracy, the size or numbers involved or its value to those involved. I am further informed that this type of criminality is regularly targeted by An Garda Síochána. A number of joint and international initiatives have taken place,...

Written Answers — Criminal Assets Bureau: Criminal Assets Bureau (9 Dec 2008)

Dermot Ahern: As the Deputy will know the Criminal Assets Bureau is currently centrally organised with very strongly developed links to each Garda Division. As such all Bureau officers are based at the national bureau in Harcourt Square. I am informed by the Garda Authorities that under this structure there are two members of An Garda Síochána based in Limerick who have been trained as Divisional Assets...

Written Answers — Services for People with Disabilities: Services for People with Disabilities (9 Dec 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The Centre for Excellence in Universal Design, established under the Disability Act 2005 on 1 January 2007, operates under the budget allocated to the NDA. In its first year of operation (2007), as detailed in the Annual Report of the Authority, the Centre incurred set-up costs of €93,829. A further €36,766 was necessary to revise the 2002 publication 'Building for Everyone'. Staffing...

Leaders' Questions (10 Dec 2008)

Dermot Ahern: God help Ireland if they were in power.

Crime Levels. (10 Dec 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I thank the Deputies for tabling these questions. I begin by expressing my sympathy and that of the Government to the family and friends of the late Aidan O'Kane. The Deputies will appreciate that I am greatly constrained in what I can say about the specific tragic incident which gave rise to these questions. The Garda investigation has reached a stage where it would be inappropriate for...

Crime Levels. (10 Dec 2008)

Dermot Ahern: As I said earlier, the Government put Operation Anvil in place in 2005 and gave the Garda Commissioner substantial resources for it each year since then. Indeed, at a time when less money is available for next year, I increased the overall budget for Operation Anvil from €20 million to €21 million. I specifically told the Garda Commissioner that the money had to be earmarked for...

Crime Levels. (10 Dec 2008)

Dermot Ahern: While Garda overtime will be reduced next year, one must consider the sizeable number of gardaí recruited in recent years. Next year alone, Garda numbers will increase from 14,267 to almost 15,000. These figures do not take into account the substantial civilianisation programme under which 2,600 civilians do office work done previously by gardaí in Garda stations. The civilianisation...

Crime Levels. (10 Dec 2008)

Dermot Ahern: It has been suggested that the East Wall area has not had a Garda presence whereas there has been a substantial Garda presence in the area.

Crime Levels. (10 Dec 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I am not saying the Deputy voiced this criticism but it was made.

Crime Levels. (10 Dec 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I agree with Deputy Costello on the matter of parental responsibility. I was Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs for five years, from 1997 to 2002. During that time I was aware of and involved in the build-up of community development projects around the country, and tried to assist disadvantaged geographic areas in particular. Many issues revolved around responses by...

Crime Levels. (10 Dec 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The 2,200 firearms that have been seized since 2005 — 1,200 of them in Dublin and 1,000 in the rest of the country — are obviously illegally held. In recent times, it is clear that handguns have been used much more often by criminal gangs, due to the advantages of concealment. That is why we owe it to ourselves in this House not to allow for policy on the hoof, as per the decision made...

Crime Levels. (10 Dec 2008)

Dermot Ahern: Twenty seven of them have been reported stolen since 2005.