Results 7,221-7,240 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Gaming and Lotteries Legislation. (18 Dec 2008)

Dermot Ahern: To the best of my knowledge, there was no nod from the Taoiseach to anyone. I have not been exhorted by anyone in the Government to consider the issue of FOBTs. To the best of my recollection, neither have I met anyone in the industry concerning these issues. While it is fine for Deputy Rabbitte to tell me to get on with it, we have not changed the gaming and lotteries legislation since...

Gaming and Lotteries Legislation. (18 Dec 2008)

Dermot Ahern: Deputy Rabbite was in government. To the best of my recollection, Deputy Quinn, the then Minister for Finance, balked at the opportunity to change the legislation because he could not get all-party agreement. We were trying to achieve a cross-party understanding of how to proceed.

Gaming and Lotteries Legislation. (18 Dec 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The FOBT issue is a tiny aspect of the overall matter. As someone who has hardly placed a bet in my life, I would like to have the knowledge of——

Gaming and Lotteries Legislation. (18 Dec 2008)

Dermot Ahern: ——experts like Deputy Rabbitte, who has more vices than any of us. Unlike him, I do not meet all of the vested interests.

Gaming and Lotteries Legislation. (18 Dec 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The Government noted the contents of the substantial report. We did not express an opinion at the time because the previous suggestion was for a cross-party committee chaired by one of the Deputies' own. When I took up this office, I understood that there was agreement until Deputy Rabbitte decided that he would pick out FOBTs, which no one wants, and not be a part of the committee. He is...

Gaming and Lotteries Legislation. (18 Dec 2008)

Dermot Ahern: He is trying to deny the existence of FOBTs. I want to know more about them, for which reason I would like to see them discussed in an all-party committee.

Gaming and Lotteries Legislation. (18 Dec 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I assure Deputies that, if Deputy Rabbitte wants to take his ball home and end the game, we will proceed with the legislation as quickly as possible.

Gaming and Lotteries Legislation. (18 Dec 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I will not introduce the law because it was my understanding upon entering this office that there was a cross-party agreement on a cross-party committee.

Gaming and Lotteries Legislation. (18 Dec 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The Fine Gael Party nominated three people, including a chairperson, Deputy Barrett, to be a part of it. Then Deputy Rabbitte acted like a child whose toy had been stolen and took his football home.

Gaming and Lotteries Legislation. (18 Dec 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I have no problem with moving the legislation forward.

Gaming and Lotteries Legislation. (18 Dec 2008)

Dermot Ahern: As I stated earlier, different political parties on this side of the House since 1956 have balked at the opportunity to change the legislation. I include the Labour Party in that statement.

Proposed Legislation. (18 Dec 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The Deputy will be aware that my proposals, in the form of heads of a civil partnership Bill, were published on 24 June 2008 following the approval of the Government. Formal drafting of the Bill by Parliamentary Counsel is now well advanced and I can confirm, in line with the indication in the Government legislation programme, as announced on 23 September 2008, that the Bill is expected to...

Proposed Legislation. (18 Dec 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The Bill will be published early in 2009. As regards priority, to the best of my knowledge one Parliamentary Counsel at the Office of the Attorney General has been specifically delegated to deal with the Bill. In addition, there is one official in my Department who is, in effect, the expert in this area. I met representatives of the Gay and Lesbian Network, GLEN, just after the publication...

Proposed Legislation. (18 Dec 2008)

Dermot Ahern: No decision has been made on that issue. However, we will keep the matter under review. I had not realised that Deputy Rabbitte was such a sensitive soul. Perhaps I might ameliorate some of the difficulties we experienced earlier by wishing him, the Leas-Cheann Comhairle — with whom I crossed swords during the year, something for which I apologise — and the other Members on the opposite...

Proposed Legislation. (18 Dec 2008)

Dermot Ahern: Good man.

Written Answers — Programme for Government: Programme for Government (18 Dec 2008)

Dermot Ahern: A community service order requires an offender to perform unpaid work for between 40 and 240 hours, usually to be completed within 12 months. The aim of a community service order is to rehabilitate the offender and bring about meaningful reparation to the community for his or her crime. The Probation Service of my Department has responsibility for the supervision and management of these...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (18 Dec 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 and 12 together. I have already dealt with many of the issues raised by the Deputies in my earlier reply to Question No. 2. As I said since it became fully operational in 1999 over 45 million euro has been provided by the State for the activities of the Equality Authority alone. In total, in the last five years my Department alone has spent €127 million...

Written Answers — Firearms Licences: Firearms Licences (18 Dec 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The Deputy will be aware that prior to 2004 there was a de facto ban on handguns in this jurisdiction. However, I understand from the Garda Authorities that records indicate approximately 1,800 handguns have been licensed since the beginning of 2004 and that 31 have been stolen in that period. I am further advised that stolen firearms are used in the course of the commission of other...

Written Answers — Garda Proceedings: Garda Proceedings (18 Dec 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The Garda Síochána Act 2005 sets out the duties and responsibilities of the Garda Commissioner in the direction and control of the Force and of the Garda Ombudsman Commission in the investigation of complaints. Where the Garda Ombudsman Commission investigates a complaint or any other matter, it must include in its report to the Garda Commissioner a statement of the facts established, a...

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (18 Dec 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The number of Community Gardaí has grown significantly in recent years. The total personnel strength attached to Community Policing at the 30th of November 2008 was 689, up from 452 at the end of 2005. That is an increase of 237, or 52%. While these dedicated Community Gardaí carry out valuable specific duties in the community, it is important to appreciate that this supplements rather...