Results 9,221-9,240 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

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

Dermot Ahern: There are a number of major criminals who will attempt to use whatever means possible to continue criminal activity while in prison custody. This Government took a decision in 2007 to approve the significant resources necessary to introduce a wide ranging package of security measures which target the routes whereby contraband such as drugs, weapons and mobile phones are trafficked into our...

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

Dermot Ahern: I refer the Deputy to Parliamentary Question No. 131 of Wednesday 22 April, 2009 which outlines both the immediate and longer term plans for the station. The position remains unchanged.

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (27 May 2009)

Dermot Ahern: Legislation to give effect to the 3rd EU Money Laundering Directive and the related Implementing Directive is at an advanced stage of drafting. The legislation will also have regard to relevant recommendations arising from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) third mutual evaluation report (2006) on Ireland's measures to combat money laundering and the financing of terrorism. I am also...

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

Dermot Ahern: As stated previously, I am unaware of any proposal to shut rural Garda stations. I am aware of the issue raised by the organisation referred to by the Deputy and I have recently written to them in relation to the matter. I have set out the position in relation to rural Garda stations in my response to Parliamentary Question No. 262 of the 23rd of April 2009.

Written Answers — Drugs Seizures: Drugs Seizures (27 May 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I set 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 coming...

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

Dermot Ahern: I refer the Deputy to Parliamentary Question 15587/09 which he put down for answer on 22 April 2009.

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

Dermot Ahern: The Garda Training College continues to provide an excellent and essential service to An Garda Síochána and will do so into the future. There are currently a total of 774 Garda students in training. Approximately 275 of these will become attested in June 2009 with the remainder due to be attested over the next 12 months. The Public Service recruitment moratorium does not apply to the...

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

Dermot Ahern: An application for a certificate of naturalisation on behalf of the person in question, who is a minor, was submitted by his mother to the Citizenship Section of my Department on 24 October 2008. Due to the fact that applications on behalf of minors generally require less processing than standard adult applications, it is usually possible to finalise them more quickly. Based on current...

Written Answers — Prison Accommodation: Prison Accommodation (27 May 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I do not accept the contention that Thornton Hall has been put "on hold". Both the Taoiseach and I have set out in the clearest possible terms the Government's continued commitment to replacing the Mountjoy Prison complex with modern prison accommodation at Thornton. The clear case has been made for this course of action and this Government will deliver on that commitment in a manner that...

Written Answers — Removal Orders: Removal Orders (27 May 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The European Communities (Free Movement of Persons) Regulations 2006 were transposed into Irish Law under S.I. No 656 of 2006 and came into force on 1 January 2007. Requests for Removal Orders in accordance with Regulation 20 are made to my Department by An Garda Síochána and not directly by the Courts Service. Each application made to my Department for the issuance of a Removal Order in...

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

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 160 and 163 together. I am informed by the Garda Authorities that currently there are two categories of organised crime groups operating in this jurisdiction. The first category consists of individuals / groups that are well established and tightly structured involved in drug trafficking, armed robbery and firearms offences. The second category involves groups...

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

Dermot Ahern: According to the Garda authorities the number of robberies of cash or cash in transit recorded in the years 2004 to the present, and the number of detections, are as follows :

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

Dermot Ahern: The Garda Síochána Act 2005 makes provision for the compilation and publication of crime statistics by the Central Statistics Office, as the national statistical agency, and the CSO has established a dedicated unit for this purpose. I have requested the CSO to provide the statistics sought by the Deputy directly to him.

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

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 164 and 165 together. The opening hours of all Garda stations throughout the State are provided in the reply to Parliamentary Question 15302/09 which was put down for answer on 22 April 2009 and the position remains unchanged. The opening hours of non-24 hour stations are dependent on manpower availability. The extension of the current opening hours of these...

Written Answers — Witness Intimidation: Witness Intimidation (27 May 2009)

Dermot Ahern: There is a specific statutory offence of intimidation of witnesses or jurors. Section 41 of the Criminal Justice Act 1999 makes it an offence to harm or threaten or in any other way intimidate or put in fear another person who is assisting in the investigation by the Garda Síochána of an offence or is a witness or potential witness or a juror or potential juror in proceedings for an...

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

Dermot Ahern: The Garda Síochána Act 2005 makes provision for the compilation and publication of crime statistics by the Central Statistics Office, as the national statistical agency, and the CSO has established a dedicated unit for this purpose. I have requested the CSO to provide the statistics sought by the Deputy directly to him.

Written Answers — Prison Security: Prison Security (27 May 2009)

Dermot Ahern: This Government took a decision in 2007 to approve the resources necessary to introduce a package of security measures which target the routes whereby contraband such as drugs, weapons and mobile phones are trafficked into our prisons. As a result, a number of new security initiatives have been introduced in all closed prisons including: the introduction of enhanced security screening for...

Written Answers — Prison Accommodation: Prison Accommodation (27 May 2009)

Dermot Ahern: Since 1997 in excess of 1,300 prison spaces have come on stream in the prison system. These include the new prisons in Castlerea, the Midlands, Cloverhill, the Dóchas Centre and new accommodation in Limerick Prison. A further 400 extra paces are coming on stream this year in Castlerea, Wheatfield and Portlaoise Prisons. These significant developments increased our overall capacity as...

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

Dermot Ahern: The Garda Policing Plan for 2009, which reflects the priorities set for the Force by me as Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, contains a series of measures aimed at reducing the impact of crime and criminal behaviour. One of the strategic goals identified in the Plan is to reduce significantly the incidence of public disorder and anti-social behaviour in communities. I am...

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (28 May 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The information requested by the Deputy is outlined as follows. Number of members serving in each rank:- Rank Number Commissioner 1 Dep. Commissioner 2 Asst. Commissioner 12 Chief Superintendent 50 Superintendent 180 Inspector 348 Sergeant 2,220 Garda 11,668 Age profile by rank:- less than 30 years old 30 to 40 years old 40 to 50 years old 50 years + Commissioner 1 Dep....