Results 13,561-13,580 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Seanad: Property Services (Regulation) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (21 Apr 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I will go down in history as being the only Minister on whom the Data Protection Commissioner served a 20-day notice because I was giving too much information under freedom of information legislation in my Department. The media and the Labour Party never highlight that. When I was Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources I provided too much information on freedom of...

Seanad: Property Services (Regulation) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (21 Apr 2010)

Dermot Ahern: We are more than willing and it is an element of the programme for Government. Returning to my digression into this area, I subsequently found that the Data Protection Commissioner's office was not subject to freedom of information requests. When it came to the extension of freedom of information to other agencies, I and the then Minister for Finance, Charlie McCreevy, who is sometimes...

Seanad: Property Services (Regulation) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (21 Apr 2010)

Dermot Ahern: Section 60 requires the authority to make regulations on the contents of advertisements, booking deposits and the terms of building contracts. Under this section, the regulations also apply to persons other than licensees. For example, the regulations can apply to builders or surveyors and contravention of a regulation under this section by a licensee will amount to improper conduct. For a...

Seanad: Property Services (Regulation) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (21 Apr 2010)

Dermot Ahern: This amendment inserts three new subsections into section 63 to provide that where the authority receives a complaint about an employee or a principal officer it can also investigate the property services employer and vice versa. This amendment also provides that the same powers will be available to the authority where it carries out an investigation on its own initiative. Amendment agreed...

Seanad: Property Services (Regulation) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (21 Apr 2010)

Dermot Ahern: This amendment reduces the amount, from €5 million to €2 million, that should be to the credit of the property services compensation fund after four years. This amendment responds to concerns raised on Second Stage and in submissions by representatives of the property services industry to the effect that the figure of €5 million is too high. Amendment agreed to. Section 75, as amended,...

Seanad: Property Services (Regulation) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (21 Apr 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The purpose of this amendment is to give the authority discretion as to whether to make a grant out of the compensation fund to clients of the property service provider where the provider did not have a licence to provide the particular service at the time the loss occurred. Amendment agreed to. Section 76, as amended, agreed to. Sections 77 to 83, inclusive, agreed to. SECTION 84. Government...

Seanad: Property Services (Regulation) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (21 Apr 2010)

Dermot Ahern: This is a drafting amendment. Amendment agreed to. Section 84, as amended, agreed to. Sections 85 to 88, inclusive, agreed to. SECTION 89.

Seanad: Property Services (Regulation) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (21 Apr 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The purpose of these amendments is to ensure the authority has sufficient power to make regulations where necessary under the Bill. The first amendment extends the authority's regulation making powers to enable it to attach conditions to particular classes of licences. The second amendment empowers the authority to make regulations which set out the extent to which the employer's...

Seanad: Property Services (Regulation) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (21 Apr 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The purpose of these amendments is to set out in greater detail the transitional arrangements in respect of persons who are already providing property services when the new legislation comes into force. New section 93 sets out definitions for the purpose of the transitional arrangements, most of which are already contained in the Bill. Subsections (1) to (4) of the new section 94 reflect...

Seanad: Property Services (Regulation) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (21 Apr 2010)

Dermot Ahern: Not very long. This is to cater for those people who are currently applying for a licence and who, following the passage of the legislation, will come in under the new arrangements. Amendment agreed to. Government amendment No. 69: In page 87, before section 93, to insert the following new section: 94.-(1) Subject to subsection (3) and section 95#, sections 28(1) and 84 and the provisions of...

Seanad: Property Services (Regulation) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (21 Apr 2010)

Dermot Ahern: Amendment No. 71 gives the authority discretion to hold a hearing or part of hearing in public if it receives a request from a licensee or complainant. A request for a public hearing must be in writing and must state the reasons for the request. This amendment responds to a suggestion made on Second Stage by Senator O'Toole. Amendment No. 72 is a consequential amendment to ensure...

Seanad: Property Services (Regulation) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (21 Apr 2010)

Dermot Ahern: With the exception of amendment No. 82, these are drafting amendments which do not seek to change the policy as set out in the existing provisions but seek to improve the wording of the Bill or make consequential amendments in response to earlier amendments. In accordance with section 43, as amended by paragraph 12 of Schedule 7, in so far as it applies to relevant persons, such relevant...

Seanad: Property Services (Regulation) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (21 Apr 2010)

Dermot Ahern: These are drafting amendments. I propose to bring forward on Report Stage a number of mainly technical amendments to this Schedule in so far as it relates to the Building Society Act 1998. Amendment agreed to. Government amendment No. 84: In page 114, line 23, after "that" to insert "first-mentioned". Amendment agreed to. Government amendment No. 85: In page 114, line 31, after"that" to...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (22 Apr 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 107 and 108 together. The allocation of policing resources throughout the Country, including personnel, together with overall policing arrangements and operational strategy, is a matter for the Garda Commissioner and senior Garda Officers. Such allocations are continually monitored and reviewed and this ensures that optimum use is made of Garda resources and...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (22 Apr 2010)

Dermot Ahern: A valid application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to in the Deputy's Question was received in the Citizenship Division of my Department in October 2008. 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 26 months. More complicated...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (22 Apr 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the visa application referred to has been approved.

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (22 Apr 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The programme of replacement and refurbishment of Garda accommodation is based on agreed priorities established by An Garda Síochána and progressed by the Office of Public Works, which has responsibility for the provision and maintenance of Garda accommodation. I am advised that the development of plans for the provision of a new Garda station in Wexford is being advanced by the Office of...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (22 Apr 2010)

Dermot Ahern: All incidents of the kind referred to by the Deputy are, of course, rigorously pursued by An Garda Síochána with a view to bringing the perpetrators to justice. One person has been charged in connection with the incident referred to by the Deputy. All members of An Garda Síochána proactively target public disorder and anti-social behaviour, including knife related crime. Areas...

Written Answers — Legal Aid Service: Legal Aid Service (22 Apr 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I have no responsibility in this matter. Under section 7(3) of the Civil Legal Aid Act, 1995, I am precluded from exercising any power or control in relation to any particular case with which the Legal Aid Board is or may be concerned. Furthermore, in respect of any queries regarding the provision of legal services to any person, please note that the solicitor/client relationship is...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (22 Apr 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I am informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) that a letter was issued to the person referred to by the Deputy on the 6th April 2010. I am further informed by INIS that on receipt of a response from the person referred to by the Deputy, any further documentation or evidence submitted will be considered.