Results 14,781-14,800 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Prison Accommodation (30 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: At no stage did I say the situation is ideal. I accept as valid that there is a difficulty in our prisons. Clearly, if there is over 100% occupancy there is a difficulty. Since 1997 when my party came to Government we have built 1,800 spaces which stands in comparison to anything that came previously. We continue to do that. The situation in Mountjoy Prison is not as bad as people make...

Prison Accommodation (30 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The Deputies objected at every twist and turn. I say to Deputy Flanagan-----

Prison Accommodation (30 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The Deputy suggested we look at alternatives to custodial sentences. I agree we should - if it is possible. However, when more than 80% of the existing prison population is there for sentences of 12 months or longer, does the Deputy say we should let all those people out onto the streets?

Prison Accommodation (30 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: A significant number of those on temporary release are those who were in prison for not paying fines. These people are there for relatively small offences.

Prison Accommodation (30 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: A significant number of those on temporary release are coming to the end of their sentence. Is Deputy Flanagan suggesting, for one minute, we should keep those people in jail until the very last day, then open the door and say, "Out you go"?

Prison Accommodation (30 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: Temporary release is a time-honoured modus operandi that attempts to rehabilitate a prisoner back into society. Prisoners are given temporary release and allowed a few overnight stays with their families so that they are well acclimatised.

Prison Accommodation (30 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: Yes it is the principle and it worked when Deputy Flanagan's party was in government as well.

Prison Accommodation (30 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: Temporary release was used by every Government in order to rehabilitate people and re-acclimatise them for society.

Prison Accommodation (30 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: We do not want to just open the door and let them go.

Prison Accommodation (30 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: It is not being abused. I can assure the Deputy of that.

Prison Accommodation (30 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: It was 23 years, by the way.

Family Law Provisions (30 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The law already makes extensive provision for the use of mediation to resolve legal disputes. Family law in particular includes provisions to encourage spouses to resolve disagreements by way of mediation. The Judicial Separation and Family Law Reform Act 1989, as amended, provides in sections 5 and 6 that both spouses' legal advisers must discuss with them the possibilities of...

Family Law Provisions (30 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: As legislators, we do that all the time in different Bills. We have done it for the Multi-Unit Development Bill 2009 by insisting on mediation and alternative dispute resolution as a statutory concept, in order to obviate the necessity for people to go to court. Indeed, for disputes involving Government Departments, the State Claims Agency insists that mediation and alternative dispute...

Family Law Provisions (30 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I was the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs when we brought forward the Family Support Agency based on a report on the family. That has since been underpinned by statute. The Family Support Agency has premises in most of the major urban areas in the country and provides a free confidential mediation service to couples who are in dispute. That is used regularly and is a...

Written Answers — Prison Committals: Prison Committals (30 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The Irish Prison Service publishes the average cost of an available, staffed prison space under three headings - Open Prisons, Closed Prisons and High Security Prisons. St. Patrick's Institution is a Closed Prison. The average cost of an available, staffed prison space during the calendar year 2009 will be published in the Irish Prison Service Annual Report for 2009 which is due to be...

Written Answers — Sexual Offences: Sexual Offences (30 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I am informed by the Garda authorities that they monitor websites of the kind referred to by the Deputy, particularly as part of Operation Quest, which is aimed particularly at the involvement of organised crime in prostitution. I should mention also that section 23 of the Act created the offence of publishing or distributing an advertisement for a brothel or the services of a prostitute in...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (30 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The provisions of the Guardianship of Children Act 1964 in relation to guardianship, custody of and access to children have been the subject of significant updating, both in 1987 and 1997. Under section 6 of the 1964 Act both the mother and father of children born within marriage are the joint guardians of their children. In relation to children born outside marriage, the mother is the sole...

Written Answers — Probation and Welfare Service: Probation and Welfare Service (30 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The Probation Service of my Department is the lead agency in the assessment and management of offenders in our communities. In common with the rest of the Civil Service the Probation Service is subject to the Government's moratorium on recruitment and promotion and its staff also have access to the Incentivised Career Break Scheme and the Incentivised Scheme of Early Retirement. Where...

Written Answers — Interpretation Services: Interpretation Services (30 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The provision of interpretation for the Garda Síochána is primarily an operational matter for the Garda Commissioner. I have been informed by the Commissioner that a range of interpretation services is available to the Force in accordance with contracts that have been put in place. These services operate where persons have been detained and in other circumstances, as required, and the...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (30 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: What has become known colloquially as 'an application for leave to remain' is the submission of written representations to the Minister against the making of a Deportation Order. In all such cases, I, as Minister, must decide whether a Deportation Order should be made or leave to remain in the State should be granted. This process is founded on the provisions of Section 3 of the Immigration...