Results 7,901-7,920 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

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

Dermot Ahern: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the murder of the person concerned is under intensive Garda investigation. The Deputy will appreciate that as the investigation is ongoing, it would be inappropriate for me to comment further at this time.

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

Dermot Ahern: I am informed by the Garda authorities that to date in 2009 there have been 11 incidents involving grenade, pipe bomb or other improvised devices in the Dublin Metropolitan Region. A Defence Forces Explosives Ordnance Device (EOD) team attended nine of these. In 2008 there were 106 incidents and an EOD team attended 93. In 2007 there were 24 such incidents and an EOD team attended at 17....

Written Answers — Data Protection: Data Protection (25 Feb 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 97 and 99 together. Irish law on data retention is mainly at Part 7 of the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Act 2005. It obliges service providers to retain telephony data for three years and to disclose it to the gardaí on request for the purpose of the prevention, detection, investigation or prosecution of crime or for safeguarding the security of the...

Written Answers — Programme for Government: Programme for Government (25 Feb 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The information on the progress made to date with regard to the implementation of those sections of the Programme for Government referred to by the Deputy is published on the website of the Department of the Taoiseach. It can be accessed at www.taoiseach.gov.ie under Publications (archive 2008). The information will be updated later this year.

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

Dermot Ahern: I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the personnel strength of attested members of An Garda Síochána on 31 January 2009, the latest date for which figures are readily available, was 14,391. The number of recruits in training (Phases 1 to 3) at that date was 1,045. The number of probationer gardaí who have been attested but have not yet graduated (ie not yet completed...

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

Dermot Ahern: The Garda Inspectorate is currently examining resource deployment in the Garda Síochána. In this general context I have received a proposal from the Inspectorate to undertake a study in this regard. I envisage that the terms of reference for the study will be finalised shortly.

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

Dermot Ahern: As the Deputy is aware the monitoring of serious criminals is an operational matter for An Garda Síochána, independent of political interference or direction. Persons involved in organised criminal activities, including persons suspected of involvement in drug-trafficking, importation, sale and supply, including the illegal importation of firearms, are being targeted by An Garda Síochána...

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

Dermot Ahern: My Department has responsibility for eight EU Directives which have to be implemented. Four of these Directives are overdue. They are: Council Directive 2005/85/EC of 1 December 2005 on minimum standards on procedures in Member States for granting and withdrawing refugee status. Irish law and practice in this area is already substantially in compliance with the terms of this Directive....

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

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 104 and 105 together. My predecessor published a Fines Bill in 2007. The primary purpose of the Bill was to provide for the indexation of fines. It also introduced the concept of equality of impact and the payment of fines by instalments. Those provisions are currently being redrafted in a new Bill I am preparing, and I am also examining the possibility for...

Written Answers — Gun Control: Gun Control (25 Feb 2009)

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. The most recent figures on stolen firearms were received on 16 December 2008 and indicate that 31 handguns were recorded as stolen since 2004....

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

Dermot Ahern: The Government announced on 26 January, 2009 that the Covert Surveillance Bill would be among a number of Bills which would be published during the present session of the Dáil.

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

Dermot Ahern: The 2008 crime statistics published by the Central Statistics office show a number of encouraging trends. The number of homicide offences decreased by almost half (42.9%) during the year, with murder down 36.4% and manslaughter down 57.1%. The number of sexual offences was stable (up 1.1%), with rape down 2.8% and aggravated sexual assault down 33.3%. The number of cases of discharging a...

Written Answers — Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (25 Feb 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The appointment of members of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission is dealt with in section 65 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005, which provides they are to be appointed by the President on the nomination of the Government and the passage of resolutions by both Houses of the Oireachtas. In making the nomination of a person to be a member of the Ombudsman Commission, the Government is...

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

Dermot Ahern: I refer the Deputy to the response to Parliamentary Question number 132 of 23 October, 2008 which outlines both the immediate and longer term plans for the station. I am advised that communications are ongoing between the Garda authorities and the Office of Public Works on the feasibility report prepared by the Board for the longer term development of the station. The immediate measures to...

Written Answers — Prison Building Programme: Prison Building Programme (25 Feb 2009)

Dermot Ahern: It is the responsibility of the commercial consortium, under the PPP process, to arrange the funding and other resources to deliver the project. Part of the PPP process includes various checks to ensure that the bidder has the capacity to deliver the project before any contract is signed. It is not appropriate, for commercial and procurement reasons, for me to comment on the specific...

Written Answers — Registration of Title: Registration of Title (25 Feb 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I can inform the Deputy that under the Registration of Deeds and Title Act 2006, the Property Registration Authority (PRA) was established as and from 4 November, 2006. The PRA replaces the Registrar of Deeds and Titles as the registering authority in relation to property registration in Ireland and, subject to the above Act, is independent in the performance of its functions. The Deputy will...

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

Dermot Ahern: The companies in question were Bridgestock Ltd, Mosney Holidays PLC, East Coast Catering, IBM Ireland and Accenture. The first three companies provide accommodation and related facilities for asylum seekers and the value of these contracts ranged from €10.3 million to €14.1 million. In the case of the latter two companies who provided IT and risk management services respectively, the...

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

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 157 and 158 together. The Community Alert Programme is a community-based initiative in rural communities, set up in 1985 by Muintir na Tíre in association with the Garda authorities. The Programme is dedicated in particular to improving the quality of life of vulnerable people in rural communities, especially the elderly, by: crime prevention; neighbourliness...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (25 Feb 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The Community Graffiti Reduction Programme is managed for the Department by Pobal in such a way that it is divided into two distinct phases. In 2008 grants were made under Phase 1 of the scheme. It offered each RAPID area the opportunity to receive a ring-fenced budget allocation (of up to €30,000) for graffiti removal work, using a list of approved contractors. Under this phase of the...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (25 Feb 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The Community Graffiti Reduction Programme (CGRP) is sponsored by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the Department of Community Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. Its aims are to: support an immediate reduction in the extent and impact of graffiti within the communities who participate in the programme; develop...