Results 10,461-10,480 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Criminal Prosecutions. (22 Sep 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I can assure Members on my word of honour in this House that I was not briefing the newspapers.

Criminal Prosecutions. (22 Sep 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I am not privy to who was briefing in that fashion and no one was so doing on my behalf either.

Criminal Prosecutions. (22 Sep 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The Deputy is well aware of where it was coming from.

Criminal Prosecutions. (22 Sep 2009)

Dermot Ahern: Deputy Rabbitte was caught out in respect of this important and vital legislation. At no stage did I state that it would solve entirely the issue of gangs and crime in Ireland.

Criminal Prosecutions. (22 Sep 2009)

Dermot Ahern: However, I did state that it would be a better tool and an important tool, as was the legislation pertaining to surveillance. The Deputy need not try to-----

Criminal Prosecutions. (22 Sep 2009)

Dermot Ahern: ------put me under pressure regarding clocking up progress. I believe the Oireachtas did the State good service by passing this legislation-----

Criminal Prosecutions. (22 Sep 2009)

Dermot Ahern: -----and by taking action rather than analysing it.

Criminal Prosecutions. (22 Sep 2009)

Dermot Ahern: We will wait and see. This is not-----

Criminal Prosecutions. (22 Sep 2009)

Dermot Ahern: While the Deputy may regard this place to be theatre, I do not.

Criminal Prosecutions. (22 Sep 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I regard it as being serious business.

Criminal Prosecutions. (22 Sep 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I find it ironic that Deputy Rabbitte is criticising me. He is asking questions with his tongue firmly in his cheek.

Garda Deployment. (22 Sep 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that there currently is no evidence of vigilante activity in any of the Garda divisions on the Border with Northern Ireland. The Deputy may be referring to a newspaper report from earlier this year relating to local concern in a part of County Donegal about burglaries but local gardaí have worked with the community to ensure an effective and proper...

Garda Deployment. (22 Sep 2009)

Dermot Ahern: While we are dealing with two different issues, I do not underestimate the issue of dissident activity, either in Border areas or further afield. There is no doubt that this is the case. However, a general point regarding Border areas is there has been a 10% decrease in crime between 2008 and the first two quarters of 2009, from 14,774 to 13,430 occurrences. Moreover, there has been a...

Garda Deployment. (22 Sep 2009)

Dermot Ahern: Deployment is a matter for the Garda Commissioner and senior Garda management. However, I am assured by the Commissioner that there has been no diminution of activity by the Garda in Border areas, despite the relative peace that has obtained in the area. The Garda and the PSNI are conscious of the increased activity of the dissidents in those areas.

Garda Deployment. (22 Sep 2009)

Dermot Ahern: Both Governments have acknowledged there has been an increase and that there is an increased threat in respect of dissident activity.

Garda Deployment. (22 Sep 2009)

Dermot Ahern: This is the reason that in the North in particular, the threat level in respect of the potential to create damage has been raised to "severe". This is the reason the Garda Síochána is highly active in Border areas in particular to ensure such activities do not take place. This has been acknowledged by the former PSNI commissioner, Mr. Hugh Orde. At the end of this year the number of...

European Arrest Warrants. (22 Sep 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The three cases referred to by the Deputy were reported by Ireland in response to an EU questionnaire on the operation of the European arrest warrant. In two of the cases, the subjects were released in 2008 and the third subject was released in March 2009. The three subjects were released because the issuing authority in the country that sought the extradition failed, in each case, to...

European Arrest Warrants. (22 Sep 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I do not see difficulties in respect of Ireland. Everything is subject to the adjudication of the courts in respect of this and people are entitled to take cases. We may have a different system to some of the comparative countries in Europe. Unlike a number of member states, Ireland can provide required information more quickly. Regarding the portent of this question, it was a failure of...

European Arrest Warrants. (22 Sep 2009)

Dermot Ahern: We must accept that the Council of Europe produces reports but ultimately,-----

European Arrest Warrants. (22 Sep 2009)

Dermot Ahern: -----implementation of European arrest warrant is done by the central authority. It is subject to the imprimatur of the courts, independent of the Minister.