Results 13,221-13,240 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Private Security Authority. (25 Mar 2010)

Dermot Ahern: -----to which we ourselves gave independence and we resourced it-----

Private Security Authority. (25 Mar 2010)

Dermot Ahern: -----with regard to making decisions.

Private Security Authority. (25 Mar 2010)

Dermot Ahern: To a certain extent, the Deputy is asking me to change the legislation to make it even more difficult for people to get a licence, and the Deputy may be correct on that. However, he is speaking out of both sides of his mouth in that-----

Private Security Authority. (25 Mar 2010)

Dermot Ahern: Fine Gael supported the Spent Convictions Bill which, to his credit the Minister of State, Deputy Andrews, is bringing forward. Fine Gael proposed reducing the rehabilitation period, the period without further conviction, to be observed. It was prepared to support a proposal from the Law Society-----

Private Security Authority. (25 Mar 2010)

Dermot Ahern: Fine Gael was prepared to support a proposal from the Law Society and others to extend the scope to all offenders. At present, it is only with regard to minor offences. Fine Gael wanted to strike to record of all offenders-----

Private Security Authority. (25 Mar 2010)

Dermot Ahern: That is the opposite of what Deputy Flanagan is trying to suggest with regard to giving licences to people. I accept there is anecdotal evidence about people in the security sector and that is the reason we introduced legislation to regulate it.

Private Security Authority. (25 Mar 2010)

Dermot Ahern: There may very well be anecdotal evidence on people who have licences and who should not have them but unfortunately we cannot go on anecdotal evidence. There may very well be circumstances in which people have substantial criminal records but because of the criteria and the discretion of the authority it may decide to grant a licence because they were convicted 30 or 40 years ago and have...

Gangland Killings. (25 Mar 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I am informed by the Garda authorities that in 2007 there were 18 murders involving a firearm recorded, in respect of three of which proceedings commenced. In 2009 there were 23 such murders recorded, in respect of eight of which proceedings commenced. I might add that up to 21 March this year, nine such murders have been recorded, in respect of four of which persons have been charged. No...

Gangland Killings. (25 Mar 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The Deputy is incorrect regarding the legislation passed by the Oireachtas in July 2009. I understand from the Garda Síochána that both the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, which pertained to the issue of gun culture and the licensing of guns and which also effected an increase in the penalties for knife crime and the Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Act are being actively...

Gangland Killings. (25 Mar 2010)

Dermot Ahern: Had it been left over, we would be far further from the use of that legislation.

Gangland Killings. (25 Mar 2010)

Dermot Ahern: This was the reason I sought its passage.

Gangland Killings. (25 Mar 2010)

Dermot Ahern: Despite what Deputies Charles Flanagan or Rabbitte may have stated, at no stage did I or anyone on my behalf say anything of that same order.

Gangland Killings. (25 Mar 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I always say that Deputy Rabbitte is something of a court jester in this House. However, if he is supposed to be a spokesperson on justice, he must at least try to understand that when one passes legislation, one cannot simply round people up thereafter. Even the Labour Party, which opposed the legislation tooth and nail, would not wish to have people rounded up immediately after the...

Gangland Killings. (25 Mar 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I criticise Deputy Flanagan because he is familiar with the procedure and what is the reality regarding the independence of the Garda Síochána in the prosecution of cases and the putting together of files. Once Members of the Oireachtas decide on policy and on legislation, it is up to the Garda Síochána and the Director of Public Prosecutions to implement it. The Oireachtas has given...

Gangland Killings. (25 Mar 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The number of gardaí is at a record high-----

Gangland Killings. (25 Mar 2010)

Dermot Ahern: -----and stands at 14,000. Despite the retirement of a substantial number of gardaí, more gardaí are entering the force because of the Government's round of recruitment to the Garda Síochána.

Gangland Killings. (25 Mar 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The Deputy should give the Government at least some credit for increasing the level of gardaí to a record high. Similarly, the resources available to the Garda are at record high, despite the constrained financial circumstances in which the country finds itself.

Gangland Killings. (25 Mar 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The Garda does its absolute best to try to put a file together to convict people, but we live in a democracy. I speak for my party when I say that people are entitled to their innocence until they are proven guilty. It is often difficult to prove offences, particularly the commission of murder. People who might have been involved in those crimes have been convicted of other crimes and not...

Gangland Killings. (25 Mar 2010)

Dermot Ahern: As I stated originally, even the victims of these types of crime, particularly those emanating from gangland crime, are sometimes unprepared to co-operate. This makes the conviction of those involved in crime more difficult and is one of the reasons the Government acted swiftly. It became clear to us after a number of serious events that removing the possibility and, as we were aware, the...

Gangland Killings. (25 Mar 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I was working on the basis of the strong advice I received from every garda with whom I spoke around the country, from ordinary gardaí in stations to the highest garda in the land, to the effect that going down the road of a legalised hand gun culture would be a slippery slope.