Results 14,281-14,300 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (1 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: Valid applications for certificates of naturalisation from the persons referred to in the Deputy's Question were received in the Citizenship Division of my Department in April 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 — Road Traffic Accidents: Road Traffic Accidents (1 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I am informed by the Garda authorities that form C(T)68 provides for the recording of information regarding vehicle defects and the use of alcohol and drugs. I am further informed that data in respect of all traffic collisions is provided to the Road Safety Authority and there is ongoing contact between the two organisations regarding such data.

Written Answers — Child Protection: Child Protection (1 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: In her report based on an investigation into the implementation of the Children First national guidelines for the protection and welfare of children, the Ombudsman for Children states that her Office could see merit in the proposal for a dedicated child protection service in An Garda Síochána and recommended consideration of this proposal. While, as the report notes, the Office of the...

Written Answers — Vetting of Personnel: Vetting of Personnel (1 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The Garda Central Vetting Unit (GCVU) provides employment vetting for a large number of organisations in Ireland registered with the Gardaí for this purpose and which employ persons in a full-time, part-time, voluntary or training capacity to positions where they would have substantial, unsupervised access to children and/or vulnerable adults. The GCVU has managed a substantial increase...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (1 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I have been informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the person referred to by the Deputy applied for permission to remain in the State and this application is currently under consideration. A decision will issue in the near future.

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (1 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I wrote to the Deputy in April 2010 further to a previous Question on this matter. I have requested an update on the matter from the Garda authorities and I will be in contact with the Deputy when this is to hand.

Written Answers — Courts Service: Courts Service (1 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I should say at the outset that the Courts Service is responsible for the management and administration of the courts including the designation of court venues for the transaction of the business of the District Court. I am aware that the Service has undertaken a nationwide review of the numbers and location of venues where District Court business is transacted. In undertaking the review, the...

Seanad: Multi-Unit Developments Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (1 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I have looked at these amendments. I cannot accept them because, in the view of the Department, they would introduce a complex and unwieldy mechanism for determining completion of multi-unit developments. I do not believe amendment No. 1 is practical for a number of reasons. First, it seeks to impose a new statutory duty on local authorities which would be additional to their existing...

Seanad: Multi-Unit Developments Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (1 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I am inclined to agree with the principle of amendment No. 50 and we will come to that later. The completion not only of individual apartments but also of entire estates, including the communal areas, is a vexed issue. We also have the 5% retention issue. While, with the best will in the world, we would like to have a system to hold developers, that issue is fraught with difficulty....

Seanad: Multi-Unit Developments Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (1 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The purpose of amendments Nos. 2 and 3 is to amend the definition of "development stage". The current wording provides that development stage ends when certificates of compliance with the planning and building control codes have been issued. It has emerged from consultation with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and other stakeholders that definitive...

Seanad: Multi-Unit Developments Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (1 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The deletion of this definition would case grave difficulty regarding multi-unit developments that are completed in phases. If we were to delete this, it would leave the legislation deficient and I cannot accept the amendment.

Seanad: Multi-Unit Developments Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (1 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: This amendment replaces the text of section 2(4) and involves two changes in the existing text. The current text is restricted to mixed-use multi-unit developments in which there is more than one owners' management company. It has been drawn to our attention by the Law Society that some large mixed use developments have only one such company and it is therefore necessary to broaden the...

Seanad: Multi-Unit Developments Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (1 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: My Department received a number of queries following Committee Stage. It became apparent that there is still some confusion about whether the Bill's provisions apply to all existing multi-unit developments. This amendment makes it clear that except where otherwise stated, for example, in sections 3 and 13 which apply to future multi-unit developments, the provisions of the Act will apply to...

Seanad: Multi-Unit Developments Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (1 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: This was debated on Committee Stage. I believe section 3(2)(b) makes it clear that the section applies to any person who is the owner of common areas of a multi-unit development, which in most cases, although not all, would be the developer. It might very well be a builder or subcontractor. It is trying to encompass all the persons that would be involved in the laying out, ultimately, of...

Seanad: Multi-Unit Developments Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (1 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: This Bill seeks to address shortcomings in current arrangements concerning the transfer of control of owners' management companies to unit owners. One of the shortcomings that has come to light in recent discussions with stakeholders is the lack of any detailed contract between the developer and the owners' management company which would set out the developer's obligations to the company in...

Seanad: Multi-Unit Developments Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (1 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: It is in the introduction to amendment No. 10.

Seanad: Multi-Unit Developments Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (1 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: It is simply to allow for the addition of "(c)".

Seanad: Multi-Unit Developments Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (1 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: On the transferral of beneficial ownership, as is being opposed in this amendment, the idea is that the beneficial and legal ownership is split. The legal ownership transfers on the sale of the first apartment but the beneficial ownership ultimately merges on completion of the development. Transferring the beneficial ownership of the common areas in the manner suggested would therefore run...

Seanad: Multi-Unit Developments Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (1 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: We did take up the matter of amendment No. 42 with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, which said it had already issued guidelines on the design of new apartments, including minimum standards for floor areas, storage spaces, balconies and room dimensions. In addition, communal facilities for drying clothes may be provided in well ventilated areas and, where this...

Seanad: Multi-Unit Developments Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (1 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: This is a drafting amendment. Section 3 deals with new multi-unit developments in which no units have been sold at the date on which the Act comes into effect.