Results 13,201-13,220 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern
- Referendum on Blasphemy. (25 Mar 2010)
Dermot Ahern: -----but the Government was absolutely adamant that we did not want a referendum to be tacked on to the Lisbon treaty referendum, and we were quite right. As I said, there may be an appropriate time at a later stage-----
- Referendum on Blasphemy. (25 Mar 2010)
Dermot Ahern: -----between now and the end of this Government's term to hold such a referendum. I am more than willing to present a proposal to Government to have a referendum on that article. I do not know whether it will be held along with the referendum on the rights of the child, the one on the court of civil appeal, some other referendum, or perhaps in conjunction with all of these. We will wait...
- Jury Intimidation. (25 Mar 2010)
Dermot Ahern: Jury intimidation is a serious matter which goes to the heart of our criminal justice system. The Government is committed to ensuring the integrity of the jury system, and it was because of my concern about this matter that I introduced specific legislative measures to counteract this problem. Section 41 of the Criminal Justice Act 1999 creates the offence of harming, threatening or menacing...
- Jury Intimidation. (25 Mar 2010)
Dermot Ahern: The idea of availability of panels of jurors is governed by section 16 of the Juries Act 1976, which provides that every person is entitled to inspect a panel of jurors and that a party to any proceedings, criminal or civil, to be tried with a jury is entitled to a copy of the panel. My view on the intimidation of witnesses is clearly-----
- Jury Intimidation. (25 Mar 2010)
Dermot Ahern: -----dictated to by the way in which I heralded the amending legislation to the Criminal Justice Act through this House.
- Jury Intimidation. (25 Mar 2010)
Dermot Ahern: The portent of this question is the intimidation of witnesses.
- Jury Intimidation. (25 Mar 2010)
Dermot Ahern: I have indicated with regard to the Law Reform Commission report-----
- Jury Intimidation. (25 Mar 2010)
Dermot Ahern: The consultation paper is coming out next week.
- Jury Intimidation. (25 Mar 2010)
Dermot Ahern: If actions are required relating to the list of panels of jurors and the names and addresses, it will be considered.
- Jury Intimidation. (25 Mar 2010)
Dermot Ahern: Telephone number details should not be given out. There could be circumstances where addresses could be given out. Deputy Rabbitte and others represent constituencies where there have been instances of intimidation of people going for jury service. Some of us in the House have been aware of instances where people have been intimidated. There may be circumstances where people defending a...
- Jury Intimidation. (25 Mar 2010)
Dermot Ahern: I was asked to produce evidence.
- Jury Intimidation. (25 Mar 2010)
Dermot Ahern: I was acting on the valid advice coming from An Garda SÃochána and the courts with regard to what was going on.
- Prison Accommodation. (25 Mar 2010)
Dermot Ahern: There has been a consistent increase in the total prisoner population over recent years. Thanks to the extra resources provided by this Government, the Garda SÃochána has been increasingly successful in prosecuting criminals and extra court sittings have resulted in higher committal rates. There are over 1,000 more criminals in prison today than there were in 2006. I am looking at...
- Prison Accommodation. (25 Mar 2010)
Dermot Ahern: It would be wrong to say that a riot in Mountjoy or any other prison occurred as a result of overcrowding. I have received strong information to the effect that as a result of the tightened security arrangements that apply in respect of those entering and leaving prisons, tensions have arisen among inmates because it is no longer possible to smuggle what used to be smuggled into prisons....
- Prison Accommodation. (25 Mar 2010)
Dermot Ahern: I cannot provide an exact date in that regard. As already stated, however, if we had received some co-operation from those on the opposite side of the House and if they had not engaged in offering snide comments with regard to all sorts of alleged shenanigans on our part, the prison might perhaps have been completed some time ago.
- Prison Accommodation. (25 Mar 2010)
Dermot Ahern: The Deputies and their parties opposed the project at every turn.
- Prison Accommodation. (25 Mar 2010)
Dermot Ahern: All sorts of allegations were made to the effect that the Government paid too much for the site, etc.
- Private Security Authority. (25 Mar 2010)
Dermot Ahern: The private security sector was generally unregulated prior to the introduction of the Private Security Services Act 2004 and lack of regulation was an understandable source of public concern. Since its establishment, the Private Security Authority has driven a considerable and welcome transformation of the private security industry. The 2004 Act provides that the authority shall be...
- Private Security Authority. (25 Mar 2010)
Dermot Ahern: There are people who have criminal records who apply to the authority. The latter was given independence to exercise its functions on the basis of the criteria laid down in the legislation. I understand that the authority exercises discretion when deciding whether to issue a licence to a person with a criminal record. In doing so, it takes into account: the nature and seriousness of the...
- Private Security Authority. (25 Mar 2010)
Dermot Ahern: I do not accept that the fees are high. It is an authority which has a significant body of work in the investigation and checking of applicants with regard to whether a licence should be granted. It is right and proper that the Oireachtas has given the body its authority independently of us to make decisions. It is ironic that in the House I am always asked and criticised about issues on...