Results 8,081-8,100 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (10 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 February 2008. Officials in that Section inform me that processing of the application has been completed and the file will be submitted to me for a decision in due course.

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (10 Mar 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I am taking the term "senior officials" to refer to the Secretary General and officers in my Department at Assistant Secretary and equivalent level. The Department's headquarters will remain in Dublin, therefore the Secretary General will remain there. In relation to the rest of the Department and agencies staffed by it, there are currently two officers at Assistant Secretary level in...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (10 Mar 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The details of proposals for the Civil Partnership Bill, published in June 2008, are available on the Department's website at www.justice.ie. The scope of the Bill extends to provision for a system of registration of same-sex partnerships and to establish a redress scheme for cohabitants at the end of the relationship on death or break-up.

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (10 Mar 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the areas referred to are in the Raheny Garda Sub-District. Local Garda management is aware of difficulties being experienced by residents in these areas as a result of anti-social behaviour. One of the areas has been designated a public order hot-spot. There is one dedicated community Garda assigned to each of the areas referred to by the...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (10 Mar 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 276 and 277 together. The amount of pension contributions paid by staff in the Justice sector was €43,235,010 in 2007 and €49,414,821 in 2008. I am awaiting figures for the Irish Human Rights Commission which I will forward to the Deputy as soon as they are available.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (10 Mar 2009)

Dermot Ahern: There are thirteen fully qualified accountants employed in accountancy-related roles in my Department. These comprise nine chartered accountants, two management accountants and two certified public accountants. This does not include other officers of my Department who are in general administrative roles who are also qualified accountants. I should also mention that my Department provides...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (10 Mar 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I would refer the Deputy to my reply to the same question put down by him on 11 February 2009.

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (10 Mar 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I am advised by the Garda authorities that Operation 'Gem' is an initiative which was established to specifically target a number of people engaged in organised criminal activities particularly in the Dublin Area. To date this operation has resulted in proceedings being commenced against eighteen people for organised crime-related offences, has led to the recovery of a number of firearms and...

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (10 Mar 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that Lifford Garda Station forms part of the Letterkenny Garda District. The personnel strength of the Letterkenny Garda District as at 31 January 2009, the latest date for which figures are readily available was 194. The personnel strength of Lifford Garda Station as at the same date was 13. Local Garda management, through ongoing monitoring and...

Written Answers — Departmental Advertising: Departmental Advertising (10 Mar 2009)

Dermot Ahern: My Department, like all other Departments in the discharge of its remit, is required from time to time to engage in public information campaigns. Public policy areas which have been subject to campaigns of this nature include trafficking in human beings, domestic violence and anti-racism, to name just a few. The precise expenditure on these items in my Department for 2008 is not readily...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (10 Mar 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The position is that the Government Alcohol Advisory Group considered the possibility of increasing the age for purchasing alcohol, at least for certain categories of alcohol, beyond the current threshold of 18 years. However the Advisory Group decided not to make such a recommendation because 18 is the age of majority and the point in time at which young people acquire many rights and take...

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (10 Mar 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I refer the Deputy to my response to Parliamentary Question Number 152 of 19 February last. The position remains the same.

Order of Business (11 Mar 2009)

Dermot Ahern: Good news.

Written Answers — Asylum Support Services: Asylum Support Services (11 Mar 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The Reception & Integration Agency (RIA) is responsible for the accommodation of asylum seekers while their application for asylum is being processed. The RIA does not rent or lease any properties for the purposes of carrying out its remit but rather contracts-in a suite of services, including accommodation and catering, for this purpose. The RIA has no unoccupied accommodation centres in...

Written Answers — Closed Circuit Television Systems: Closed Circuit Television Systems (11 Mar 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I refer the Deputy to my reply to parliamentary Question No. 216 of Wednesday 11 February, 2009 which sets out the latest position.

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (11 Mar 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The visa application referred to by the Deputy was received in the Visa Office, Dublin on 5 January 2009. Following consideration by a Visa Officer, it was refused on 2 February 2009, for a number of reasons: 1. The evidence of finances submitted was deemed insufficient in that the reference did not provide bank statements or a P60 for 2008; 2. The applicant was previously refused an Irish...

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (11 Mar 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I am informed by the Garda Authorities that, at the time, a comprehensive investigation was launched, which involved the arrest of persons in connection with the murders and other related offences. Following lengthy judicial proceedings, a person was brought before the Special Criminal Court last year on kidnapping charges. The person was acquitted on all charges before the Court. I am...

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (11 Mar 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the location referred to is in the Clontarf Garda Sub-District. Members of the local Community Policing Unit have spoken to the person referred to by the Deputy and were informed that, while property had gone missing from outside the person's house, it was located a short distance away within a short time. For that reason the matter had not been...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (11 Mar 2009)

Dermot Ahern: All visa required nationals must hold a valid visa to enter or re-enter the State regardless of their status. It is open to the individual to apply for a multi-entry visa which will facilitate several journeys to and from the State.

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (11 Mar 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act, 1956, as amended, provides that the Minister may, in his absolute discretion, grant an application for a certificate of naturalisation if he is satisfied that certain statutory conditions are fulfilled. One such condition is that the applicant must be of good character. There are no guidelines relating to the judgement of good character. My officials...