Results 9,201-9,220 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — Gangland Crime: Gangland Crime (27 May 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 76 and 96 together. The following table contains the number of cases of murder recorded and detected in which firearms were used, the number of prosecutions initiated and the number of convictions secured in each year from 1998 to 2008 and in 2009 up to 21 May. Figures provided are provisional, operational and liable to change. The detection rate for murders...

Written Answers — Gaming Regulations: Gaming Regulations (27 May 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The position as regards Fixed Odds Betting Terminals in betting offices was outlined by a former Minister for Justice. Equality and Law Reform. On 14 December 2006 the then Tánaiste and Minister for Justice. Equality and Law Reform stated on the Order of Business that the placement of these machines in betting offices would not be lawful under current legislation, and that if placed in a...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (27 May 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The emphasis of Garda speed enforcement is on the use of mobile speed cameras, and their capacity in this area has been substantially enhanced recently. In September, 2008 the Garda Commissioner and I launched eight new Garda mobile speed detection vehicles. These state of the art vehicles represent a substantial upgrading of the resources available to An Garda Síochána to address the...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (27 May 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The context in which financial provisions have been made by the Government for the Equality Authority and the Human Rights Commission is with regard to the current exceptional circumstances in relation to public expenditure and the need for substantial savings. The EU has no competence in relation to national budgetary decisions. The Council of Ministers explicitly recognised that the...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (27 May 2009)

Dermot Ahern: A tender competition is currently being held to provide for interpretation services within An Garda Síochána. The completion of a declaration of bona fides, which identifies any criminal history relating to directors and partners of each company, was a mandatory requirement of the tendering process. Furthermore all companies were required to agree that the interpreters calling to An Garda...

Written Answers — Community Policing: Community Policing (27 May 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I refer the Deputy to Parliamentary Question No. 98 [14274/09] which was answered on 22 April 2009.

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (27 May 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I am informed by the Garda Authorities that the inquiries into this matter being carried out by an Assistant Commissioner are ongoing. I await a report from the Garda Commissioner once those inquiries have been completed.

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (27 May 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I welcome many of the positive trends revealed by the statistics on recorded crime for the first quarter. Of the 14 crime groups for which statistics are given, ten show reductions. They are evidence of the focused deployment by the Garda Commissioner of the resources available to him. As well as ensuring that the level of frontline resources remains high, I am determined to continue with...

Written Answers — Inquiry Report: Inquiry Report (27 May 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I would like to express my sympathy to the O'Brien and Dunne families on their loss in such tragic circumstances. I can inform the Deputy that the Garda Commissioner has received the Monageer Inquiry Report and has considered its findings. He has accepted the report's findings and is committed to ensuring that the safety and protection of children remain a key priority for An Garda...

Written Answers — Data Protection: Data Protection (27 May 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I refer the Deputy to my comprehensive answer to Parliamentary Question No. 100 on 22 April 2009 which dealt with this topic. I understand from the Garda Authorities that the audit system is to be expanded to cover an additional 11 PULSE inquiry categories as part of a new system release in June and that they continually examine system auditing to ensure that it meets all data protection...

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (27 May 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The incident to which the Deputy refers is the subject of an ongoing and active investigation by An Garda Síochána. There is also, as required by law in such circumstances, an investigation under way by the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission. As these investigations are ongoing at present it would not be appropriate for me to comment on the details at this stage. What I will say is...

Written Answers — Crime Prevention: Crime Prevention (27 May 2009)

Dermot Ahern: Work on the preparation of the National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence is well advanced and is expected to be completed as planned by the end of this year. A wide range of State and non-governmental organisations dealing with domestic and sexual violence are assisting with the drafting of the strategy. They responded to the call for submissions on the strategy and...

Written Answers — Public Private Partnerships: Public Private Partnerships (27 May 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I do not accept the Deputy's contention about the Public Private Partnership (PPP) mechanism as a means of delivering infrastructure. He may not be aware for example that the greatest investment in courts buildings and services since the construction of the Four Courts over 300 years ago is due to be completed in the next six months. I am referring of course to the new Criminal Courts...

Written Answers — Prison Building Programme: Prison Building Programme (27 May 2009)

Dermot Ahern: As I set out already to this House it is my intention to bring comprehensive new proposals for a prison development at Thornton Hall in North County Dublin to the Government in a matter of weeks setting out how we can proceed with building a new prison on the site in a cost effective manner. There are a number of procedural steps set out in the Department of Finance guidelines for procuring...

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (27 May 2009)

Dermot Ahern: My Department and the Garda Síochána, in consultation with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Office of the Attorney General, are developing proposals for a new system which would allow for the taking of contemporaneous written notes to cease where interviews are electronically recorded. There is a complex range of training, technological, financial and legal issues...

Written Answers — Anti-Social Behaviour Orders: Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (27 May 2009)

Dermot Ahern: Part 11 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006, which provides for civil proceedings in relation to anti-social behaviour by adults, was commenced on 1 January, 2007. Part 13 of the Act, relating to anti-social behaviour by children, was commenced on 1 March, 2007. These provisions set out an incremental procedure for addressing anti-social behaviour by adults and children. These provisions have...

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (27 May 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to takes Questions Nos. 94 and 103 together. I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that two persons have been charged in connection with the incident to which the Deputy refers and that a file has been submitted to the Law Officers in relation to these persons. A sum of money relating to these charges was also recovered. In the circumstances it would not be appropriate for me to...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (27 May 2009)

Dermot Ahern: Certificates of naturalisation are issued on payment of the prescribed fee at the time of certification as set out in the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. Certification fees for Citizenship were last changed in 1993. The regulations that came into force on 1st August 2008 were the result of a review of citizenship fees that began some time prior to that date and merely...

Written Answers — Gangland Crime: Gangland Crime (27 May 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I have requested the statistical information which the Deputy has sought from the Garda authorities who are currently compiling the data. I will communicate it to the Deputy when it is to hand.

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (27 May 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the personnel strength of attested members of An Garda Síochána, as at the latest date for which figures are readily available, was 14,478. The number of recruits in training at Phases 1 to 3 at that date was 774. The number of probationer Gardaí who have been attested but have not yet graduated (i.e. not yet completed Phases 4 and 5) at...