Results 8,521-8,540 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Proposed Legislation. (22 Apr 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I would not be averse to having a look again at the composition of juries but certain occupations have been excluded because of the nature of their work. I am prepared to consider that issue in the context of any amendments but I would not like it to hold up the proposals in connection with gangland crime and some other issues to which I referred. One measure we will consider in the context...

Proposed Legislation. (22 Apr 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The change related only to the type of language used in the legislation. To the best of my knowledge, nobody has been refused. I do not have any information on file in that regard. The new wording makes no specific reference to a particular disability, rather it refers to non-specific permanent infirmity, which would render it impracticable for persons to perform jury duty. Such...

Proposed Legislation. (22 Apr 2009)

Dermot Ahern: We are considering the scheduling of new offences of directing a criminal gang and membership of a criminal gang. Under the 2006 legislation there is the existing offence of participation in a criminal gang. It is the intention – subject to legal advice – to link that in some way to the Special Criminal Court, given that there is strong anecdotal evidence on the intimidation of...

Departmental Bodies. (22 Apr 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 72, 76, 99 and 110 together. I am pleased to indicate that in launching its new strategic plan on 4 April 2009 for the period 2009 to 2011 entitled, Equality for All in a Time of Change, the Equality Authority fully reaffirmed its determination to continue its important work, while fully acknowledging the changed financial circumstances in which all public...

Departmental Bodies. (22 Apr 2009)

Dermot Ahern: This is not a shambles. It was originally agreed that the majority of the Equality Authority would decentralise to Roscrea and that a core staff would remain in Dublin. The Government made the decision in the context of the tightening budgetary situation last year that we would, in effect, suspend decentralisation for the majority of the projects, especially in those areas where no...

Departmental Bodies. (22 Apr 2009)

Dermot Ahern: -----that there are 16 people in Roscrea at present and approximately 19 in Dublin. A number of the latter bilocate. That was part of their contract long before there was any row about the Equality Authority.

Departmental Bodies. (22 Apr 2009)

Dermot Ahern: Quite a number of senior personnel - one or two have already purchased houses in Roscrea - are bilocating between the two locations.

Departmental Bodies. (22 Apr 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The issue of having two locations - Roscrea and Dublin - predated any row, any resignation of the-----

Departmental Bodies. (22 Apr 2009)

Dermot Ahern: -----predated any resignation of the CEO.

Departmental Bodies. (22 Apr 2009)

Dermot Ahern: What I state is absolutely the case; the decision predated the-----

Departmental Bodies. (22 Apr 2009)

Dermot Ahern: It was part of the employment contract of a number of people in senior management that they would bilocate between Roscrea and Dublin. That was part of the decision made by the Government when it suspended the decentralisation programme overall. There is absolutely no difference between the Greens and Fianna Fáil in respect of this matter.

Departmental Bodies. (22 Apr 2009)

Dermot Ahern: We have the one commitment in regard to equality and it speaks for itself. Since 1999, we have invested €45 million in the Equality Authority. Deputy Rabbitte spoke about an equality authority when in Government but did nothing about it.

Departmental Bodies. (22 Apr 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The budget for 2009 is the same as was indicated in the last set of Estimates and it amounts to €3.3 million. In the context of the expenditure review, we have asked those involved to examine again the issue of the Equality Authority from the starting point of 2008, which was before any cuts were made for 2009.

Departmental Bodies. (22 Apr 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The decision on whether the authority receives more or less money will be made by the Government in the aftermath of the review.

Departmental Bodies. (22 Apr 2009)

Dermot Ahern: When I entered office, I made a decision, particularly in the context of a contracting Exchequer position, that all the areas that were not crime-related had to take a significant hit in view of the fact that I wanted to increase the resources for Operation Anvil and for the Criminal Assets Bureau. I did so to retain the number of gardaí because that is my first priority. I regret other...

Freedom of Information. (22 Apr 2009)

Dermot Ahern: Deputy Bruton has been caught out.

Written Answers — Garda Reserve: Garda Reserve (22 Apr 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 73 and 136 together. At 31 March 2009, there were 322 attested Reserve Gardaí and 152 Reserve trainees. Details of the stations to which Reserve members are currently assigned are set out in the table below. The Agreed Programme for Government has set a target strength for the Reserve at 10% of the full-time strength of the force. As the Garda Reserve...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (22 Apr 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Questions No. 56 and 110 of 25 February, 2009. Since then and in advance of the publication of the Revised Estimates Volume, my Department has introduced a number of measures to achieve the general administrative cost reductions which are required. All expenditure in my Department's Vote Group is reviewed every month by the Department's Financial Management...

Written Answers — Prisoner Deaths: Prisoner Deaths (22 Apr 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I have been informed by the Irish Prison Service that there have been six deaths in custody in 2007, eleven deaths in 2008 and three deaths to date in 2009. All deaths in custody are the subject of a Garda investigation and an inquest held in a Coroner's Court. The cause of death is determined by a jury on the basis of the information presented to the Court. Of the twenty deaths in custody...

Written Answers — Guardianship Rights: Guardianship Rights (22 Apr 2009)

Dermot Ahern: Existing legislation makes extensive provision for unmarried fathers with respect to their children. Under the law as it stands - section 6A of the Guardianship of Infants Act 1964, as inserted by section 12 of the Status of Children Act 1987 - an unmarried father may apply to the court to be appointed a guardian of his child. Alternatively, where there is agreement between the parents,...