Results 11,261-11,280 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Order of Business (19 Nov 2009)

Dermot Ahern: Deputy Gilmore will not be here. He will not be able to pass the picket.

Order of Business (19 Nov 2009)

Dermot Ahern: This is not a strike.

Order of Business (19 Nov 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The Deputy is clutching at straws.

Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Bill 2009: Order for Second Stage (19 Nov 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I move: "That Second Stage be taken now."

Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Bill 2009: Second Stage (19 Nov 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." The main purpose of the Bill before the House today is to transpose the third EU money laundering and terrorist financing directive into Irish law and to comply with the recommendations of the financial action task force, FATF, third round mutual evaluation report on Ireland. The Bill will also give effect to certain provisions of the United...

Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Bill 2009: Second Stage (19 Nov 2009)

Dermot Ahern: It sounds a little like he was giving his own a soundbite. One would wonder what he was doing for those five years.

Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Bill 2009: Second Stage (19 Nov 2009)

Dermot Ahern: One cannot bring people to court based on what the people on the street believe.

Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Bill 2009: Second Stage (19 Nov 2009)

Dermot Ahern: Of course there is, but one cannot bring people to court because of it. The Deputy knows that.

Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Bill 2009: Second Stage (19 Nov 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I thank the Deputies for their remarks and for their positive contributions. Some were not so positive, in that people were complaining about the delay in introducing the legislation, with the implicit suggestion that we did not have this type of legislation on the Statute Book already. We have very robust legislation. This Bill is attempting to transpose the latest and most modern...

Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Bill 2009: Second Stage (19 Nov 2009)

Dermot Ahern: When I was coming to finally publish it, within the Department we were also looking at the issue of gaming and gambling, and obviously that legislation will be somewhat longer, particularly because of the lack of co-operation, with Fine Gael Members speaking out of both sides of their mouth, and because of the lack of co-operation by the Labour Party. I decided I had to introduce legislation...

Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Bill 2009: Second Stage (19 Nov 2009)

Dermot Ahern: That is what I inherited, but unfortunately when the Labour Party tried to suggest I was in favour of fixed odds betting terminals, Deputy Charles Flanagan decided to jump ship as well, much to the annoyance of some of his own members, one of whom was even going to be the chairperson.

Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Bill 2009: Second Stage (19 Nov 2009)

Dermot Ahern: Ask the Deputy who came to me and encouraged me to get on with it.

Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Bill 2009: Second Stage (19 Nov 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The Garda has been constantly investigating the issue of money laundering and I am told that approximately 14,000 suspicious transactions were looked at last year. Some people have raised the issue of the politically exposed person. It does not apply to anyone residing in Ireland, but in any event the directive mandates us to implement this. The concept comes from the directive and will...

Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Bill 2009: Referral to Select Committee (19 Nov 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I move: That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Justice, Equality and Women's Rights, in accordance with Standing Order 122(1) and paragraph 1(a)(i) of the Orders of Reference of that committee.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (19 Nov 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I refer the Deputy to my response to his Parliamentary Question No. 201 of 18 November 2009.

Written Answers — Crime Prevention: Crime Prevention (19 Nov 2009)

Dermot Ahern: An Garda Síochána enforce the provisions of the criminal law in respect of theft and robbery, including theft and robbery of jewellery and precious metals. If members of the public have suspicions that goods being sold or traded may have been stolen, the correct action is for these suspicions to be referred to An Garda Síochána for investigation. My Department has no function in relation...

Written Answers — Deportation Orders: Deportation Orders (19 Nov 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I wish to inform the Deputy that no deportation order has been made in respect of the person in question. In fact, the person to whom he refers was recently granted permission to remain to remain in the State, under Stamp 4 conditions, until 9 November, 2010, following representations received under section 3 of the Immigration Act, 1999. By way of background, I should add that a proposal to...

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (19 Nov 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The general retirement age in An Garda Síochána was increased by three years to 60 years of age in 2006 and this retirement age is compatible with national and EU legislation. The retirement age for Assistant Commissioner rank was recently challenged in the High Court which found that the setting of that retirement age was objectively and reasonably justified and was compatible with the...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (19 Nov 2009)

Dermot Ahern: A valid application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to in the Deputy's Question were received in the Citizenship Division of my Department in June 2007. All valid applications are dealt with in chronological order as this is deemed to be the fairest to all applicants.The average processing time from application to decision is now at 24 months. More complicated...

Written Answers — Control of Firearms: Control of Firearms (19 Nov 2009)

Dermot Ahern: Following consideration of the matter within my Department, including discussions at the Firearms Consultative Panel, it was agreed that the fee for a firearms certificate should be the same irrespective of the type of firearm, to reflect the cost of processing the application and to simplify the system. The new firearms certificate will last for three years and the fee was calculated with...