Results 8,641-8,660 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

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

Dermot Ahern: The Deputy will be aware that the constitutional rights of individuals must be balanced against any procedures which seek to restrict movement or access. As a consequence, the power to impose such restrictions is the preserve of the courts. In general the courts will consider the necessity of imposing such restrictions following an application by the Gardaí. There are several provisions on...

Written Answers — Closed Circuit Television Systems: Closed Circuit Television Systems (22 Apr 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The Community-based CCTV Scheme was launched in 2005 to provide financial assistance to qualifying local organisations towards meeting the capital costs associated with establishing a community CCTV system. Pobal has been engaged to administer the Scheme on behalf of my Department. Two types of grant have been made available under the scheme. Substantive grants of up to €100,000 have...

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

Dermot Ahern: As the Deputy will no doubt be aware, the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997, already provides for a variety of offences in relation to assault, including assault causing harm, causing serious harm, threats to kill or cause serious injury, as well as a range of other offences. The question of introducing additional legislative measures in this area specifically in respect of...

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

Dermot Ahern: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the strength of management ranks in An Garda Síochána as of 29 February 2008 and 28 February 2009, the latest date for which figures are readily available was as set out hereunder: RANK 29 Feb 2008 28 Feb 2009 Commissioner 1 1 Deputy Commissioner 2 2 Assistant Commissioner 12 12 Chief Superintendent 52 51 Superintendent 183 186 Inspector...

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

Dermot Ahern: As I have indicated previously, the Garda Inspectorate have been requested to provide advice on the development of a Garda charter. The inspectorate has advised me that its work is nearing completion and I look forward to receiving its report shortly.

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (22 Apr 2009)

Dermot Ahern: Within the Garda Síochána there have been a number of developments designed to bring regard for human rights to the core of policing in Ireland. Section 7 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 sets out the functions of the Garda Síochána to include (a) the protection of life and property and (b) vindicating the human rights of each individual. Section 16 of the Act of 2005 provides a revised...

Written Answers — Drug Treatment Programme: Drug Treatment Programme (22 Apr 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I wish to advise the Deputy that the gathering of all the detailed information requested would require a disproportionate and inordinate amount of staff time and effort and could not be justified in current circumstances where there are other significant demands on resources. The Irish Prison Service continues to work to implement its Drugs Policy & Strategy, entitled Keeping Drugs Out of...

Written Answers — Sentencing Guidelines: Sentencing Guidelines (22 Apr 2009)

Dermot Ahern: As the Deputy will be aware, a report of the Law Reform Commission on prosecution appeals and pre-trial hearings cited the lack of sentencing information and a shared sentencing framework in the District Court as difficulties with regard to providing the DPP with a power to seek a review of unduly lenient sentences handed down in that court. Work is progressing on addressing this deficit...

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

Dermot Ahern: The Deputy will appreciate that is for the Judicial Studies Institute itself to plan, organise and manage its business. My function as Minister under the Courts and Court Officers Act 1995 is, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, to provide funds for the training and education of judges. The aim of the Institute is to facilitate the continuing education of judges in relation to...

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

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 430 and 433 together. The Deputy will be aware that the issues relating to admissibility and advance disclosure by the defence were examined by the Balance in the Criminal Law Review Group, chaired by Dr. Gerard Hogan SC, which reported in March 2007 to the then Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. The question of the admissibility of certain...

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

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 431 and 432 together. In general, courts have discretion, subject to the requirements of the administration of justice, as to the directions they may give in a particular case to enable a trial to be conducted expeditiously, including directions for exchange of documents. Moreover, case management regimes, for example, have been in operation in the High Court...

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

Dermot Ahern: I assume the Deputy is referring to the Legal Costs Bill that is a commitment in the Government Legislation Programme. The details of my proposals for the Bill continue to be developed in my Department with a view to being completed as soon as possible.

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

Dermot Ahern: I refer the deputy to my reply to PQ No 400 of 11th November last which set out the position regarding the conduct of ID parades and indicated that the Garda authorities were researching alternative ways of conducting such parades without the need for the identifying witness to be present or visible to the suspect. This process is ongoing and includes an examination of the technical,...

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

Dermot Ahern: The Strengthening Families Programme (SFP) is an internationally recognized parenting and family strengthening programme for high risk families first developed in the US in the 1980s. It is an evidence based family skills training programme which was found to significantly reduce problem behaviour, delinquency, and alcohol and drug abuse in children and to improve social competencies and...

Written Answers — Sentencing Policy: Sentencing Policy (22 Apr 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The information sought by the Deputy is set out in the published annual reports of the Courts Service and is reproduced in the table below: Year Number of Orders 1/8/1999 to 31/7/2000* 4508 2001 4839 2002 3914 2003 2,883 2004 2,026 2005 2,010 2006 2,492 2007 2,500 *Note: Please note that the Annual Reports from 2001 onwards cover the calendar year. As the Deputy will be aware the...

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

Dermot Ahern: I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda Commissioner. I will write to the Deputy directly when this information is to hand.

Written Answers — Sentencing Policy: Sentencing Policy (22 Apr 2009)

Dermot Ahern: At the outset I would propose to set out the background to and the context for the introduction of Section 33 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007. In terms of the legislation introduced by the Government to tackle serious drug trafficking, Section 27 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977 (as amended by the Criminal Justice Acts 1999, 2006 and 2007), provides for mandatory minimum sentences of not...

Written Answers — Drugs in Prisons: Drugs in Prisons (22 Apr 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The Irish Prison Service Drugs Policy & Strategy, entitled Keeping Drugs Out of Prison, which was launched in May 2006, continues to be implemented. The aim of the Strategy is to reduce the demand for drugs within the prison system through education, treatment and rehabilitation services for drug addicted prisoners. Particular initiatives include, inter alia, the provision of...

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

Dermot Ahern: A wide range of services of a general and more specialist nature are provided within the prison system to assist in prisoner rehabilitation. Chief amongst these are healthcare, psychiatric, psychological, educational, vocational, counselling, welfare and spiritual services. As the Deputy will appreciate these services are important in helping to address offending behaviour, drug and alcohol...

Written Answers — Prison Drug Treatment Services: Prison Drug Treatment Services (22 Apr 2009)

Dermot Ahern: At present, any person entering prison giving a history of opiate use and testing positive for opioids on committal is offered a medically assisted symptomatic detoxification where clinically indicated. Patients can, as part of the assessment process, discuss with healthcare staff other treatment options. The Medical Unit in Mountjoy Prison has 9 spaces specifically allocated for a...