Results 14,841-14,860 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — Courts Orders: Courts Orders (30 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: There are a number of provisions in the law for ensuring that payments continue to be made by spouses in support of their dependent spouses and children. They include enabling powers for the courts to order attachment of the earnings of a debtor spouse, to order the securing of payments to the maintenance creditor, to order the payment of lump sums and to order arrears of maintenance to be...

Written Answers — Drugs in Prisons: Drugs in Prisons (30 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I am aware of the comments made by the retiring Governor of Mountjoy Prison as referred to in your question. Mountjoy Prison is a Victorian prison which is now 160 years old. I accept that conditions in Mountjoy Prison are not ideal but I do not accept that conditions are inhumane. Deputies on all sides accept the need to replace the entire Mountjoy complex with a modern, regime focussed...

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

Dermot Ahern: In February 2010 the Dubai police confirmed that several suspects, believed to have been involved with the killing of a senior Hamas figure, had entered Dubai on the passports of a number of foreign countries, including a total of eight Irish passports. Subsequent investigations carried out by the Passport Service and by the Gardaí have confirmed that the eight Irish passports used were...

Written Answers — Prisoner Releases: Prisoner Releases (30 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I have been advised by the Director General of the Irish Prison Service that he has commissioned an internal investigation into the case of the person referred to in the question. It is too early in the process to give an indication of when the investigation will be finalised however I will consider what further appropriate action should be taken once the findings have been notified to me.

Written Answers — Tribunals of Inquiry: Tribunals of Inquiry (30 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The Smithwick Tribunal was established pursuant to the Tribunals of Inquiry (Evidence) Acts 1921-2002, to enquire into suggestions that members of the Garda Síochána or other employees of the State colluded in the fatal shootings of RUC Chief Superintendent Harry Breen and RUC Superintendent Bob Buchanan in 1989. The Tribunal was established by the Oireachtas in May 2005 arising from the...

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

Dermot Ahern: I refer the Deputy to the reply to Parliamentary Question No. 159 of 24 June 2010. The position is unchanged.

Written Answers — Prisoner Releases: Prisoner Releases (30 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I wish to advise the Deputy that the number of prisoners in custody on 24 June 2010 was 4,311 in custody. On the same date there were 933 prisoners on temporary release. The information for previous years is set out in the following table for the same date or a similar date in the past as requested by the Deputy. Year Numbers in custody Number of prisoners ontemporary release 2002 3,211...

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (30 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: My Department and the Garda Síochána, in consultation with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Office of the Attorney General, have been considering proposals for a new system which would allow the taking of contemporaneous written notes to cease where interviews are electronically recorded. There is, however, a complex range of training, technological and legal...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (30 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the number of times the Garda Síochána called on the assistance of the Army's Explosive Ordnance Disposal team for the years 2007 to 2010 (to 28 June) are as set out in the following table: 2007 2008 2009 2010 98 180 196 93 I am informed by the Garda authorities that in the period in question proceedings commenced in 18 cases. Garda strategies...

Written Answers — Recidivism Rate: Recidivism Rate (30 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I wish to advise the Deputy that the Irish Prison Service facilitated the major study of prisoner re-offending by the UCD Institute of Criminology which is the basis for the recidivism rates presented by the Irish Penal Reform Trust in its recent report. This research analysed dated relating to over 19,000 prisoners in Ireland and found that 27.4% of released prisoners were serving a new...

Written Answers — Crime Prevention: Crime Prevention (30 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: As the Deputy is no doubt aware and as I have pointed out on previous occasions in this House, it is a matter for the Garda Síochána, under the Gaming and Lotteries Acts 1956 to 2003, to investigate breaches of the legislation and to take whatever action is deemed appropriate. I have been assured that such premises receive Garda attention and if breaches of the legislation are detected...

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

Dermot Ahern: The Deputy is incorrect in his assertion in this question. The construction phase of the new cell block at a cost of €29m at Wheatfield was completed earlier this year. As is normal practice after completion of the main construction phase the fit-out, installation of equipment including medical, CCTV and locking systems was then commenced. This was completed in April 2010. I am glad to...

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (30 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: To date in 2010 four so-called 'tiger' kidnappings have taken place and the following table shows the number of similar incidents recorded between 2005 - 2009. It is the policy of An Garda Síochána not to disclose the amount of money taken during such crimes. Year No. of incidents recorded 2009 6 2008 1 2007 3 2006 2 2005 1 Regular meetings are held between An Garda Síochána and...

Written Answers — Law Reform Commission Reports: Law Reform Commission Reports (30 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I understand that the Law Reform Commission intends to publish its Final Report on Personal Debt Management and Debt Enforcement by the end of 2010. On 17 May 2010, the Commission published an Interim Report on some early initiatives that it developed with the assistance of a Working Group. The recommendations are being actively considered by the relevant Departments, including my...

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

Dermot Ahern: Complaints by residents of direct provision centres are dealt with in accordance with the procedures outlined in the recently published revised house rules and procedures of the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) of my department, which are available on the RIA website at http://www.ria.gov.ie. A copy these rules and procedures is provided to all asylum seekers on arrival at their...

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (30 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The Garda accommodation programme is based on agreed priorities established by An Garda Síochána and it is brought forward in close cooperation with the Office of Public Works, which has responsibility for the provision and maintenance of Garda accommodation. I am informed by the Garda authorities that, due to its condition, it will be necessary to vacate the station referred to by the...

Written Answers — Court Procedures: Court Procedures (30 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: Under section 6A of the 1964 Act, as inserted by section 12 of the Status of Children Act 1987, a non-marital father may apply to the court to be appointed a guardian of his child. Alternatively, where there is agreement between the parents, they can make a statutory declaration under section 2(4) of the 1964 Act, as inserted by section 4 of the Children Act 1997, conferring on the father the...

Written Answers — Ministerial Appointments: Ministerial Appointments (30 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: There were 93 appointments to the Office of Peace Commissioner in 2007, 160 in 2008 and 96 in 2009. There have been 17 appointments made in 2010 to date. Peace Commissioners are appointed under section 88 of the Courts of Justice Act, 1924. The Office of Peace Commissioner is an honorary appointment and Peace Commissioners receive no remuneration or compensation by way of fees or expenses...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (30 Jun 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 January 2010. 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 — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (30 Jun 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 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...