Results 9,521-9,540 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Bill 2009: Report and Finals Stages (Resumed) (25 Jun 2009)

Dermot Ahern: Yes.

Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Bill 2009: Report and Finals Stages (Resumed) (25 Jun 2009)

Dermot Ahern: Due to the serious nature of the matter and particularly given the fact that three Ministers are involved, it was felt that the designated judge should liaise with the Taoiseach as the overall person with responsibility for the Government and the State's security. This provision elevates the seriousness of what we are doing in this legislation, namely, invasive surveillance of persons and...

Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Bill 2009: Report and Finals Stages (Resumed) (25 Jun 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I move amendment No. 47: In page 15, between lines 17 and 18, to insert the following: "(8) Where the designated judge investigates a case under subsection (4) and is of the opinion that it is in the interests of justice to do so, he or she may refer that case to the Referee for an investigation under section 11(11).".

Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Bill 2009: Report and Finals Stages (Resumed) (25 Jun 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I move amendment No. 48: In page 15, line 21, after "8," to insert the following: "including any information or documents obtained as a result of such surveillance,". This is a technical amendment that makes clear that the word "information" includes information or documents obtained as a result of the surveillance.

Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Bill 2009: Report and Finals Stages (Resumed) (25 Jun 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I move amendment No. 50: In page 16, to delete lines 1 and 2 and substitute the following: ""authorised person" means-- (a) a person referred to in section 62(4)(a) of the Garda Síochána Act 2005, (b) the Minister for Defence, (c) the Minister for Finance, and (d) a person the disclosure to whom is— (i) authorised by the Commissioner of the Garda Síochána, the Chief of Staff of the...

Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Bill 2009: Report and Finals Stages (Resumed) (25 Jun 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I can supply a response. Is moving the amendment allowable?

Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Bill 2009: Report and Finals Stages (Resumed) (25 Jun 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I move amendment No. 52: In page 16, lines 26 and 27, to delete "are admissible" and substitute "may be admitted as evidence". In the interests of accuracy on amendment No. 51, we asked the Parliamentary Counsel to look at it but our view was that we should leave the reference. Amendment No. 52 is a technical amendment that is being made as a consequence of an amendment to section 14(1),...

Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Bill 2009: Report and Finals Stages (Resumed) (25 Jun 2009)

Dermot Ahern: We looked at it and I appreciate what the Deputy wants to achieve here. We must, however, take into account the constitutional rights of citizens, the European Convention on Human Rights and privacy issues. Deputy Noonan rightly stated last night that there is a balance between protecting the rights of the wider community while defending the rights related to the privacy of particular...

Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Bill 2009: Report and Finals Stages (Resumed) (25 Jun 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I move amendment No. 54: In page 17, lines 3 and 4, to delete "are admissible" and substitute "may be admitted as evidence".

Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Bill 2009: Report and Finals Stages (Resumed) (25 Jun 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I thank Deputies for their assistance in the passing of this legislation. I thank the Labour Party for giving us the benefit of its previous legislation. This is an important piece of the jigsaw in the fight against crime.

Written Answers — Closed Circuit Television Systems: Closed Circuit Television Systems (25 Jun 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I am informed by the Garda authorities that a Garda operated and maintained town centre CCTV system is operational in Ennis and is monitored on a 24-hour basis by An Garda Síochána. Under the Community Based CCTV Scheme administered by my Department, capital funding of almost €100,000 has been approved for the installation of a scheme in Ennis with matching funding being provided by the...

Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (25 Jun 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I am aware of the correspondence referred to by the Deputy. I have requested the Garda Commissioner to furnish a report on the matters raised and I will reply to the person when the report is to hand.

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (25 Jun 2009)

Dermot Ahern: Under the Non-Fatal Offences against the Person Act 1997, it is an offence to assault any person, adult or child. Also, it is an offence under the Children Act 2001 for a person who has custody of a child to assault, ill-treat, neglect or abandon or expose a child in a manner likely to cause unnecessary suffering or injury to the child's health or seriously affect the child's well-being. The...

Written Answers — Garda Remuneration: Garda Remuneration (25 Jun 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I am informed by the Garda authorities that overtime expenditure from the Garda Vote (including civilian overtime) for the years 2007, 2008 and 2009 (up to 24/6/09) is as set out in the table. Garda Overtime Expenditure 2007 2008 2009(up to 24.6.09) Total € 138,354,392 €115,280,101 €41,746,225 The increased level of resources and manpower now available to the Commissioner means that...

Written Answers — Garda Recruitment: Garda Recruitment (25 Jun 2009)

Dermot Ahern: As the Minister for Finance has made clear, the moratorium on recruitment and promotions in the Public Service applies to the Garda Síochána, both sworn members and civilian support staff. By its nature, it does not apply to the Garda Reserve, whose members are unpaid volunteers who do not occupy public service posts. The total intake of students in the first months of 2009 was 200 with...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (25 Jun 2009)

Dermot Ahern: Applications for certificates of naturalisation from the persons concerned were received in the Citizenship Division of my Department on 19 January 2005. Officials in that section inform me that processing of the applications are at an advanced staged and the files will be forwarded to me for a decision in the coming months.

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (25 Jun 2009)

Dermot Ahern: My Department processes visas for non-EEA nationals who are visa required. The procedure for the issuing of such visas to students wishing to choose Ireland as a base for studying the English language is reviewed on an ongoing basis including the consideration with regards to risk assessment and processing arrangements. Regarding processing times for visa applications, in our dedicated...

Written Answers — Registration of Title: Registration of Title (25 Jun 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I am informed by the Property Registration Authority (PRA) that a letter containing the information requested issued to the Deputy on 27 February, 2009 in response to Question No. 268 of 24 February, 2009. I also understand that the PRA has issued a copy of the above mentioned letter to the Deputy in recent days.

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (25 Jun 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Question 360 on 6 May, 2009. The position remains as stated.

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (25 Jun 2009)

Dermot Ahern: Since 2008 there have been eighteen legal challenges in the High Court to the decisions which the Minister has made to refuse applications for certificates of naturalisation. Seventeen of these challenges were unsuccessful. One case was successful in that the court ordered that the Minister reconsider his decision on the basis that certain information provided in the submission prepared for...