Results 7,881-7,900 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — Garda Reserve: Garda Reserve (25 Feb 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The strength of the Garda Reserve as of 31 of January 2009 was 327, allocated to the following stations: Number Number Anglesea Street 11 Kilkenny 6 Arklow 1 Kilmainham 4 Ashbourne 1 Letterkenny 5 Athlone 1 Longford 1 Balbriggan 3 Lucan 7 Ballina 3 Macroom 1 Ballyfermot 3 Malahide 1 Baltinglass 1 Mayfield 3 Ballymun 6 Middleton 3 Bandon 1 Monaghan Town 4 Blackrock 5 Mullingar 6...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (25 Feb 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that resource levels at the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation are constantly monitored by Garda Management, taking into account crime trends and competing demands. These are kept under review to ensure that optimum use is made of Garda resources and the best possible service is provided to the public. In addition, there are currently one Detective...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (25 Feb 2009)

Dermot Ahern: In accordance with the Government Decisions on these matters, the related budgetary savings will fall to be achieved across the Justice Group of Votes, including on the Garda Vote in 2009. While the detail in relation to these and other budgetary matters is at an advanced stage, it would not be appropriate for me to comment further on their composition at this point, pending the finalisation...

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (25 Feb 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I have previously informed the House that I received an interim report from the Garda Commissioner on this particular case. I am informed by the Garda authorities that an internal Garda inquiry into the matter is ongoing. The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission has indicated that it has opened a public interest investigation in relation to the withdrawing of charges against an individual....

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (25 Feb 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The Criminal Justice (Forensic Sampling and Evidence) Bill is on the A list of the Government's Legislation Programme for this session. The main aim of the Bill is to provide for the establishment of a DNA database for the purposes of criminal investigations and the identification of missing and unknown persons. While the drafting of the Bill is at an advanced stage, its finalisation has...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Payments: Social Welfare Payments (25 Feb 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I am informed by the Garda Authorities that pursuant to the statutory remit of the Criminal Assets Bureau, personnel from the Department of Social and Family Affairs, who are Bureau Officers attached to the Criminal Assets Bureau, investigate and determine social welfare entitlements of persons who are suspected of acquiring assets which are believed to be the proceeds of crime.

Written Answers — Crime Prevention: Crime Prevention (25 Feb 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I determined the following matters as priorities for the Garda Síochána for 2009, in accordance with Section 20 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005. National and International Security — To protect the security of the State and the people against domestic and international terrorism. Crime — To target serious crime, in particular organised, gun and drug related crime. Traffic — To...

Written Answers — Fingerprints Records: Fingerprints Records (25 Feb 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I am advised by the Garda authorities that the transposition of fingerprints records onto the upgraded Garda Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) was achieved by back record conversion, an internationally accepted method for such a task. The process was carried out at a location in the United States of America as part of the contract for the delivery of the new system and...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (25 Feb 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The legislation which will give effect to the third EU Money Laundering Directive (and the related Implementing Directive) is being drafted at present. This legislation will also take into account relevant recommendations arising from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) third mutual evaluation report (2006) on Ireland's measures to combat money laundering and the financing of terrorism. ...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (25 Feb 2009)

Dermot Ahern: While the number of murders committed involving knives showed a welcome decrease last year from 32 in 2007 to 11, the overall number of crimes committed using knives is a matter of concern. Though legislation on the use of knives and similar weapons is already very strong and heavy penalties are already in place, I am moving to strengthen the law in this area. In that context, I sought and...

Written Answers — Ministerial Appointments: Ministerial Appointments (25 Feb 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The criteria for appointments to the Board of the Equality Authority are set out in Section 44(1) of the Employment Equality Act 1998, which state: "Of the ordinary members of the Authority— (a) two, one male and one female, shall be persons appointed on the nomination by such organisations representative of employees as the Minister considers appropriate, (b) two, one male and one female,...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (25 Feb 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 78 and 112 together. 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 2008 and to date in 2009. Figures provided for 2009 are provisional, operational and liable to change. The detection rate for murders by its...

Written Answers — Criminal Legal Aid: Criminal Legal Aid (25 Feb 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The matters which are of importance to note in relation to the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme and the Criminal Assets Bureau Ad-Hoc Legal Aid Scheme are the following:- (a) that the grant of legal aid, including the level of legal representation, is a matter for the court; (b) the court considering the application must be satisfied that the means of the applicant are insufficient to enable the...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (25 Feb 2009)

Dermot Ahern: Though legislation on the use of knives and similar weapons is already very strong and heavy penalties are already in place, I am moving to strengthen the law in this area. In that context, I sought and received proposals from the Garda Commissioner to assist his force in tackling knife-crime. These include: increasing the penalties for possessing a knife in a public place; creating an...

Written Answers — Garda Recruitment: Garda Recruitment (25 Feb 2009)

Dermot Ahern: Section 122(1)(d) of the Garda Síochána Acts, 2005-2007 provides for the making of regulations on the admission, appointment, and enrolment of members including members who have served with other Police Services and members with different ethnic or national origins or different religious beliefs or backgrounds. The Act also provides for the continuation in law of the Garda Síochána...

Written Answers — Organised Crime: Organised Crime (25 Feb 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I wish to inform the Deputy that tackling organised crime remains one of my highest priorities. The Commissioner's Policing Plan 2009 sets out strategic goals inter alia a commitment to reduce the impact of crime and criminal behaviour. An Garda Síochána, in accordance with the priorities determined by me pursuant to Section 20 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005/2007 is committed to...

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (25 Feb 2009)

Dermot Ahern: As indicated in my response to Parliamentary Question Number 62 of 18 December 2008, the findings of the Hartnett Report have been accepted. The Inquest into the death of the person in question has been concluded and civil proceedings instituted by the person's family have been settled. A Chief Superintendent was appointed under the Garda Síochána (Discipline) Regulations 2007 to deal...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (25 Feb 2009)

Dermot Ahern: In accordance with EU Directives, national public procurement procedures and relevant legislation, An Garda Síochána engaged in a procurement process for the provision and operation of safety cameras. As a result, a preferred supplier has been selected, and the contract discussion phase of the procurement process has commenced, with the aim of entering into a contract with the preferred...

Written Answers — Garda Complaints Procedures: Garda Complaints Procedures (25 Feb 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I refer the Deputy to my response to Parliamentary Question No. 64 of 18 December 2008. I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the recommendations are being actively pursued.

Written Answers — Garda Recruitment: Garda Recruitment (25 Feb 2009)

Dermot Ahern: Section 122(1)(d) of the Garda Síochána Acts, 2005-2007 provides for the making of regulations on the admission, appointment, and enrolment of members including members who have served with other Police Services and members with different ethnic or national origins or different religious beliefs or backgrounds. The Act also provides for the continuation in law of the Garda Síochána...