Results 7,001-7,020 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Crime Levels. (10 Dec 2008)

Dermot Ahern: One only has to look at some of the websites. The Deputy asked a valid question. Why do legitimate people need handguns? That is the question I have been asking myself——

Crime Levels. (10 Dec 2008)

Dermot Ahern: They are used in firing ranges with live ammunition. I discussed this with my Cabinet colleagues, and Members on that side of the House have come to me——

Crime Levels. (10 Dec 2008)

Dermot Ahern: No, there have been more than one. I tell them I would like to hear their views on this.

Crime Levels. (10 Dec 2008)

Dermot Ahern: This is not the issue we are discussing today.

Crime Levels. (10 Dec 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I was asked why legitimate people would want handguns. Judge Peter Charleton's decision was reiterated by Judge George Bermingham and by Judge Kevin Kilraine when he was deciding an issue in Donegal——

Crime Levels. (10 Dec 2008)

Dermot Ahern: We must look at this from a holistic point of view. The Garda has been very successful in seizing 2,200 firearms, a large proportion of which would be handguns. Will we allow the proliferation of licensed handguns to the other side? Not all illegal handguns are brought in with illegal drug consignments, although gardaí generally come across firearms in those hauls. It is possible that a...

Crime Levels. (10 Dec 2008)

Dermot Ahern: It was set up in 2005.

Crime Levels. (10 Dec 2008)

Dermot Ahern: 2005.

Crime Levels. (10 Dec 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I can undertake to get that information. However, issues like this have to be tackled on a multi-agency basis. I was a great supporter of community development projects when I was Minister for Social and Family Affairs. The youth diversion projects have been very successful, and I gave an example of the four that are in existence in the East Wall area alone. There are about 100 of these...

Crime Levels. (10 Dec 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The Deputy is being somewhat facetious when he suggests that I am concentrating on the issue of legal handguns. That is not the case.

Crime Levels. (10 Dec 2008)

Dermot Ahern: As I said earlier, significant resources have been provided to the Garda over recent years. As a result, the force has seized a substantial number of handguns. I mentioned earlier that approximately 65,000 searches for firearms and drugs have been undertaken by the Garda since 2005. While the main concentration is in this area, we have to deal with other situations as they arise. I...

Crime Levels. (10 Dec 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The Deputy is speaking out of both sides of his mouth on that issue. Juvenile liaison officers are working closely and successfully with local communities on youth diversion projects. The number of gardaí has increased over recent years. We hope the strength of the force will increase from 14,200 to 14,900 next year. If that happens, there will be scope to employ more juvenile liaison...

Crime Levels. (10 Dec 2008)

Dermot Ahern: He should listen to people like Deputy Flanagan on both sides of the House. I remind the House that 630 gardaí are involved in community policing throughout the country. The more gardaí are redeployed within the overall force to deal solely with specific issues, the greater the dilution of the ability of gardaí to deal with ordinary day-to-day policing issues. While we need specialised...

Written Answers — Liquor Licensing Laws: Liquor Licensing Laws (10 Dec 2008)

Dermot Ahern: Section 16 (1) (b) of the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2008 provides for the prohibition or restriction of a licensee from selling or supplying intoxicating liquor at a reduced price or free of charge on the purchase of a quantity of alcohol. Regulations are required in order to give effect to this provision. Under the terms of the EU Technical Standards Directives, any such regulations have to...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (10 Dec 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I refer the Deputy to my Reply to Parliamentary Question No. 353 on the 25th November 2008. The position remains as stated.

Written Answers — Traveller Community: Traveller Community (10 Dec 2008)

Dermot Ahern: Members of the Traveller community come within the scope of the Equality Acts that accord them special protection against discrimination. These Acts charge the Equality Authority with working towards the elimination of discrimination on the grounds, inter alia, of membership of the Traveller community. The provisions of the Prohibition of Incitement to Hatred Act 1989, under which criminal...

Written Answers — Traveller Community: Traveller Community (10 Dec 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The High Level Group on Traveller Issues is a working group under the Senior Officials' Group on Social Inclusion which, in turn, reports to the Cabinet Committee on Social Inclusion, Children and Integration, chaired by the Taoiseach. The High Level Group, as established in 2003, provided a forum for senior policy makers and service providers to discuss barriers to service delivery and...

Written Answers — Departmental Property: Departmental Property (10 Dec 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I can inform the Deputy that office accommodation is currently leased by the Legal Aid Board at the following addresses: Galway Law Centre, 9, St. Francis St., Galway. Refugee Legal Service, Seville House, New Dock St., Galway In addition, the Probation Service provides funding to a Community Based Project entitled Dóchas Don Óige, which has offices at Liosban Industrial Estate, Tuam Rd,...

Written Answers — Child Protection: Child Protection (10 Dec 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I have been advised by an Garda Síochána that Operation 'Snow' is an initiative undertaken by the Garda National Immigration Bureau which is designed to prevent the trafficking and smuggling of minors into, out of and within the State; to ensure the welfare of suspected victims of such criminal activity is adequately provided for; and to achieve prosecutions where criminal activity of the...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Admissibility of Evidence) Bill 2008: Second Stage (10 Dec 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I thank Senators Regan and Cummins for raising this issue. The aim of the Bill before us is to revise the law of evidence in criminal proceedings. Its particular target is the exclusionary rule of evidence as enunciated by the Supreme Court in its 1990 judgment in the People v. Kenny. There is no doubt but that the impact of the Kenny judgment on criminal trials has been profound. While...