Results 7,981-8,000 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Garda Operations. (3 Mar 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The Deputy is not correct in this regard. The Government is devoting enormous resources to the fight against crime. I have made it clear that it has absolute priority in the allocation of resources within my Department. That will remain the case, even though I am criticised by Deputies opposite for the consequences of that approach. The Government has also approved my proposals to...

Garda Operations. (3 Mar 2009)

Dermot Ahern: Perhaps I will be allowed to continue, with the consent of the House.

Garda Operations. (3 Mar 2009)

Dermot Ahern: However, Members should not forget that the banks and other institutions have their part to play in this regard. If tried and trusted protocols are put in place to defeat criminal attempts to rob cash, it is imperative that these are followed to the letter. That is the important lesson from last Friday. I echo the words of the chief executive officer of Bank of Ireland that the objective...

Garda Operations. (3 Mar 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The protocols are there, first and foremost, to protect employees. It is only by rendering these so-called tiger kidnappings unsuccessful that we will stop them happening, thereby protecting innocent employees in future.

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (3 Mar 2009)

Dermot Ahern: A budget of €7.521m has been provided for the maintenance of Garda premises in 2009. It is a matter for the Garda authorities to determine priorities including the type of refurbishments indicated by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (3 Mar 2009)

Dermot Ahern: An application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to in the Deputy's Question was received in the Citizenship Division of my Department in August 2006. Officials in that Section inform me that processing of the application has commenced and the file will be submitted to me for a decision in due course. The average processing time from application to decision is now...

Written Answers — Refugee Appeals Tribunal: Refugee Appeals Tribunal (3 Mar 2009)

Dermot Ahern: A competition was conducted in 2008 to select suitable candidates for placement on a panel of legally qualified persons to represent the Refugee Applications Commissioner at appeal hearings before the Refugee Appeals Tribunal. The competition was advertised in The Irish Independent on 2 October, 2008 and in The Irish Times and The Irish Examiner on 3 October, 2008. In addition, details of the...

Written Answers — Garda Transport: Garda Transport (3 Mar 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I am advised by the Garda authorities that no significant age-related problems have been experienced with the fixed wing aircraft since it entered service and it is assessed to be in good condition. Accordingly, the Garda authorities are not considering replacing the aircraft at this time.

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (3 Mar 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The person concerned applied for asylum on 5 November 1999. 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 1 March 2002, that the Minister...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (3 Mar 2009)

Dermot Ahern: It is assumed that the Deputy is inquiring into the immigration status of the non-Irish national husband of the person referred to in his Question. The person in question applied for asylum on 5 November 1999. 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...

Written Answers — Prisoner Releases: Prisoner Releases (3 Mar 2009)

Dermot Ahern: In 2007, following the recommendation of the Parole Board, the person in question, having served 15 years in custody, was approved for ongoing temporary release and is now serving his sentence in the community subject to certain conditions and under the supervision of the Probation Service. As the person is not held in custody, his case no longer falls within the remit of the Parole Board.

Written Answers — Garda Vetting: Garda Vetting (3 Mar 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I am informed by the Garda Authorities that the Garda Central Vetting Unit (GCVU) provides employment vetting for a number of organisations in Ireland which are registered with the GCVU and which employ people to work with children and/or vulnerable adults. Details of foreign convictions received from EU States, within the framework of the European Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal...

Written Answers — International Co-operation: International Co-operation (3 Mar 2009)

Dermot Ahern: Eurojust is a high-level team of prosecutors — seconded from each EU Member State — based in The Hague. Eurojust can give immediate legal advice and assistance in cross-border cases to investigators, prosecutors and judges in Member States. Each Member State has one national member based in Eurojust; the Irish national member is assigned by the Director of Public Prosecutions. Ireland is...

Written Answers — International Co-operation: International Co-operation (3 Mar 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The Office for Internet Safety (OIS) has been established as an executive office within my Department and has taken over the formal role of the Internet Advisory Board in terms of monitoring industry self-regulation in relation to illegal content on the internet. This is an important step in building the best possible protection for the community at large, and in particular for children,...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (3 Mar 2009)

Dermot Ahern: Proposals for a Legal Costs Bill continue to be developed in my Department in line with a commitment in the Government's legislative programme.

Written Answers — Human Trafficking: Human Trafficking (3 Mar 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The G6 Initiative, which was launched in October 2007 for a one year period, is a co-ordinated international campaign of activity to tackle trafficking in human beings. It involves six European countries — namely the UK, Spain, Italy, Poland, the Netherlands and Ireland and is supported by Europol, Eurojust and Interpol. The initiative is a multi-strand operation marrying policy...

Written Answers — Human Trafficking: Human Trafficking (3 Mar 2009)

Dermot Ahern: Drafting of the National Action Plan is at an advanced stage and I hope to publish it as soon as possible in the coming months. The National Action Plan to Prevent and Combat Trafficking in Human Beings in Ireland will set out a whole of Government response to this issue. It is being developed under the headings of prevention, prosecution of traffickers, protection of victims and child...

Written Answers — Human Trafficking: Human Trafficking (3 Mar 2009)

Dermot Ahern: Operation 'Pentameter 2' was a UK initiative which concluded in 2008.The primary aim of the initiative was to ensure a coordinated approach to the phenomenon of human trafficking across all police forces and other Crown agencies, such as the UK Border and Immigration Service, in the UK. An Garda Síochána participated in the initiative as a result of the need to have a coordinated approach...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (3 Mar 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The Government Legislation Programme published on 26 January 2009 indicates that publication of the Civil Partnership Bill is expected this session. The General Scheme of the Bill was published on 24 June 2008 and is available on my Department's website.

Written Answers — Deportation Orders: Deportation Orders (3 Mar 2009)

Dermot Ahern: A total of twelve US citizens were removed from the State on foot of Deportation Orders during the period in question. Of those deported, nine were failed asylum applicants while the remaining three had been residing illegally in the State.