Results 13,861-13,880 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Order of Business. (13 May 2010)

Dermot Ahern: A sexist remark.

Order of Business (Resumed) (13 May 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The Deputy is picking the worst example.

Intoxicating Liquor (National Conference Centre) Bill 2010: Order for Second Stage (13 May 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I move: "That Second Stage be taken now." Question put and agreed to.

Intoxicating Liquor (National Conference Centre) Bill 2010: Second Stage (13 May 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." The main purpose of this short Bill is to make provision for an intoxicating liquor licence for the new national convention centre at Spencer Dock in Dublin. Similar legislation was enacted in 1983 to provide a fit-for-purpose licence for the National Concert Hall at Earlsfort Terrace. Before moving on to the detail of the Bill, I want to...

Intoxicating Liquor (National Conference Centre) Bill 2010: Second Stage (13 May 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I thank the Deputies opposite for their comments and for facilitating the speedy passage of the Bill. The legislation is not being rushed, as such. We started the discussions in regard to this in September within my Department and the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism. Under the agreement between the State and the PPP company there is provision which states that intoxicating liquor for...

Intoxicating Liquor (National Conference Centre) Bill 2010: Second Stage (13 May 2010)

Dermot Ahern: -------legal practitioners and members of the public would have one document to refer to. I believe that should be welcomed. Deputy Ó Snodaigh referred to all the other Bills. The Fines Bill, for instance, will I hope pass into law in the next week or so if we can get the amendments from the Seanad passed in the Dáil. The immigration Bill is another on which we have agreement at the...

Intoxicating Liquor (National Conference Centre) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 May 2010)

Dermot Ahern: It is an annual licence.

Intoxicating Liquor (National Conference Centre) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 May 2010)

Dermot Ahern: Yes.

Intoxicating Liquor (National Conference Centre) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 May 2010)

Dermot Ahern: Deputy Flanagan asked in whose name the licence would be held. Section 1(2) provides the license shall be issued "on application to them being made in that behalf by the operator of the Convention Centre or a person nominated by such operator". This would, more than likely, be the nominee of the operator. It would be decided on an annual basis who would be the nominee to apply for the...

Intoxicating Liquor (National Conference Centre) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 May 2010)

Dermot Ahern: Such a provision was provided for in previous legislation. I had no problem with that, as long as the District or Circuit Court decided on it. With regard to the question of the duty, the sum is fixed in the legislation. However, it could be changed by the Finance Act. It is a standard provision to fix the sum in the legislation and then, subsequently, to reconsider it. Deputy Flanagan...

Intoxicating Liquor (National Conference Centre) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 May 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I am not aware how close the major hotels are to the centre, but it is facilitated by the Luas line. Therefore, it will be accessible, all the way out to Tallaght as Deputy Harney says. Perhaps they will fill some of the fine hotels in Tallaght town centre.

Intoxicating Liquor (National Conference Centre) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 May 2010)

Dermot Ahern: That will happen eventually. Deputy Ó Snodaigh asked about events. The event must be taking place in the centre and cannot be a football match or whatever outside. He also asked about concerts in the convention centre. The definition provided is that the convention event is a reception, dinner, banquet or stage event which is held as part of a conference. Therefore, it could conceivably...

Intoxicating Liquor (National Conference Centre) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 May 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I have some sympathy with the Deputy with regard to its designation in the Irish language. However, given the fact that we are trying to target international business, it is probably more relevant to that market in English. I note the Deputy's point.

Intoxicating Liquor (National Conference Centre) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 May 2010)

Dermot Ahern: We are following what is in the PPP agreement, which refers to a conference centre. It will be marketed as a convention-conference centre worldwide. I do not believe there is a big issue in this regard.

Recidivism Rate (13 May 2010)

Dermot Ahern: For some time I have been concerned at the number of offences being committed by persons on bail. Therefore, I requested and obtained Government approval late last year to commence work on a new bail Bill. The options that will be considered for inclusion in the new bail Bill include the following - providing that the courts must have regard to the nature and seriousness of any danger to...

Recidivism Rate (13 May 2010)

Dermot Ahern: No. The figures speak for themselves. As I stated, 27,000 offences amount to a reduction of 8% on the previous year. One offender could have committed ten offences. That is how they are compiled and it does not represent the overall figure for number of offenders. Of course, we all are worried about people who are out on bail. As I stated earlier, as Deputy Flanagan knows well, the...

Recidivism Rate (13 May 2010)

Dermot Ahern: As I stated earlier, one of the issues I am asking my officials to look at in the context of this new bail Bill is providing that the courts must have regard to the nature and seriousness of any danger to any person or the public posed by the release of the accused person on bail. We are asking that such be one of the criteria, subject to confirmation by the Attorney General that we can do...

Recidivism Rate (13 May 2010)

Dermot Ahern: It does not matter whether it is me, Deputy Flanagan or anyone else who is on this side of the House, we must take cognisance of the constitutional requirements on personal freedom and, indeed, all the various international agreements to which we are party.

Recidivism Rate (13 May 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The issue of the time between arrest, charge and caution and bringing forward a trial, is a matter not only for the Courts Service, but for the Garda Síochána which is putting together files which must go to the DPP, etc. Of course, there is always an insistence when the Department would meet with the Courts Service and with the Garda, etc., that as little time as possible would be...

Commissions of Investigation (13 May 2010)

Dermot Ahern: As the Deputy will be aware, the commission's report on the Catholic Archdiocese of Dublin was published in November last. The commission is at present examining the Diocese of Cloyne, and the Government extended the commission's term to 30 June to allow this work to be completed. I am informed by the Garda authorities that the investigations of the assistant commissioner appointed by the...