Results 8,581-8,600 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (22 Apr 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 122 and 127 together. As the Deputy is aware, in January of this year I announced the establishment of a Project Board, led by the Probation Service, to examine specific possibilities as well as the implementation of electronic monitoring more generally, in this jurisdiction. The Project Board has commenced its examination which includes the cost and...

Written Answers — Official Engagements: Official Engagements (22 Apr 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The position with regard to the Minister of State's visit to Nigeria was set out in his reply to Question No. 289 on 31 March, 2009.

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (22 Apr 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I attach a high level of priority to ensuring that asylum applications are dealt with fairly and as quickly as possible, so as to minimise the cost to the State. The costs associated with the asylum system are multi-faceted but centre mainly on accommodation, application processing and operational costs and costs associated with judicial reviews. Inter-related factors include the numbers in...

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

Dermot Ahern: I understand from the Garda Authorities that the current Code of Practice for the management and use of intelligence sources became organisational policy effective from April, 2006. The Code of Practice brings together established best practice and the recommendations made by Mr Justice Frederick Morris in the report from the Tribunal of Inquiry into the activities of certain Gardaí in the...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (22 Apr 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The Privacy Bill 2006, is before the Seanad, having been restored to the Seanad Order Paper in late 2007 by the Leader of the Seanad. My Department continues to review the provisions in the Bill taking into account developments in the interpretation of the law of privacy in our courts and elsewhere, with a view to possible amendments to the Bill.

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

Dermot Ahern: I refer the Deputy to the response to Parliamentary Question number 711 of 27 January 2009 which outlines both the immediate and longer term plans for the station which includes the provision of a Divisional Headquarters. I am advised by the Garda authorities that the short term office accommodation facilities are planned to be ready for occupation later this year.

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

Dermot Ahern: The Accounting Officer and the Director General of the Irish Prison Service have briefed me in relation to all matters raised at the Public Accounts Committee hearing held in March. In relation to contracts awarded to a particular construction company as referred to by the Deputy, I understand that this issue is the subject of a review by the Public Accounts Committee so it would not be...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (22 Apr 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I have already made it clear that recent trends concerning gangland violence in particular are a matter of grave concern and that I am giving priority to a series of new legislative measures directed specifically at this problem in the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill. The most recent crime statistics released by the CSO, in respect of 2008, show a number of encouraging trends. There was a...

Written Answers — Drug Seizures: Drug Seizures (22 Apr 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I am setting out below a tabular statement giving the latest available information in relation to drug seizures for 2007, 2008 and this year to date. This statement shows seizures of a total value of over €168m being made in 2007 and just under €200m in 2008. Because of the covert nature of the activity, it is simply not possible to give a reliable estimate of the proportion of drugs...

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

Dermot Ahern: I am informed by the Commissioner that the introduction of the recent levy as a result of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act does not impact on any policing operations of An Garda Síochána and also that the maximum amount of policing resources have been allocated to front line policing and that overtime budgets are primarily focused on intelligence led, time limited...

Written Answers — Juvenile Offenders: Juvenile Offenders (22 Apr 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I wish to inform the Deputy that the Irish Youth Justice Service report on the baseline analysis of the Garda Youth Diversion Projects has been completed. The report is currently being examined by my officials. I expect it to be ready for publication shortly.

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

Dermot Ahern: The Report of the Family Law Reporting Pilot Project sums up the work of the one-year pilot project, undertaken by Dr Carol Coulter for the Courts Service. This initiative was permitted by a change in the law on the in camerarule in family law. Dr Coulter was engaged to carry out the reporting of family law on a pilot basis. Following the publication of the final report, the Courts Service...

Written Answers — Trafficking in Human Beings: Trafficking in Human Beings (22 Apr 2009)

Dermot Ahern: On 25 March, 2009 the European Commission published a Proposal for a Framework Decision on Preventing and Combating Trafficking in Human Beings and Protecting Victims repealing a Framework Decision agreed in 2002 on combating trafficking in human beings. The primary purpose of this Proposal is to repeal and re-enact the 2002 Framework Decision with additional criminal law provisions to bring...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (22 Apr 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 372 and 373 together. A general policy has been in place for a number of years to the effect that religious and volunteer workers in the State could remain for a maximum of 3 years. However, this policy, while remaining in force, has not been rigorously applied and such volunteer workers have on a case by case basis been facilitated with further renewals,...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (22 Apr 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The application for naturalisation from the first named person, a spouse of an Irish citizen, has been granted. Applications for certificates of naturalisation on behalf of the second and third persons referred to in the Deputy's Question were received in December 2008. Applications for naturalisation are generally dealt with in chronological order as this is deemed to be the fairest to all...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (22 Apr 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Question 320 on 17 December 2008. Officials in the Citizenship Section inform me that processing of this application is ongoing and the file will be forwarded to me for a decision in due course.

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (22 Apr 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I wish to inform the Deputy that the person to whom he refers entered the State and applied for asylum on 2 April 2003. This application was refused and the person in question subsequently undertook to leave the State voluntarily. Her departure from the State was confirmed on 14 December 2004. The person concerned did not make any application for permission to remain in the State under the...

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

Dermot Ahern: The Irish Prison Service is committed to providing general health care for the assessment, treatment and care of prisoners comparable to that which is available in the community and appropriate to a prison setting. The person referred to by the Deputy is currently on remand in Cloverhill and is on methadone maintenance. He has made a number of court appearances since his initial committal on...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (22 Apr 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The position in relation to granting long term residency is as follows: persons who have been legally resident in the State for over five years on the basis of work permit/work authorisation/work visa conditions may apply to the Immigration Division of my Department for a five year residency extension. In that context they may also apply to be exempt from employment permit requirements. The...

Written Answers — Court Procedures: Court Procedures (22 Apr 2009)

Dermot Ahern: Proceedings under the European Arrest Warrant Act 2003 in relation to the case raised by the Deputy are currently before the courts. As the Deputy will be aware, subject to the Constitution and the law, the courts are independent in the exercise of their functions. As Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, I have no function in relation to the determination of the proceedings.