Results 15,001-15,020 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Criminal Justice (Psychoactive Substances) Bill 2010 [Seanad]: Second Stage (2 Jul 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I am grateful for the general welcome from all sides of the House for this legislation and thank Deputies for their comments on it. There was criticism in some of the comments regarding the alleged lack of action by the Government in this respect but I reject that criticism. As I said earlier, when we contacted the EU Commission on this issue it indicated that it was at the preparation...

Criminal Justice (Psychoactive Substances) Bill 2010 [Seanad]: Second Stage (2 Jul 2010)

Dermot Ahern: Next Tuesday, 6 July 2010.

Order of Business (6 Jul 2010)

Dermot Ahern: Only two of the Deputies opposite turned up last Friday.

Criminal Justice (Psychoactive Substances) Bill 2010 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Jul 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I fully understand that we are all singing from the same hymn sheet on this issue and I appreciate the work the Deputy has carried out on this particular amendment. However, there are two aspects to this, the first of which is the setting up of another regulatory authority. There has been criticism to the effect that there are too many regulatory authorities in this State. While the Deputy...

Criminal Justice (Psychoactive Substances) Bill 2010 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Jul 2010)

Dermot Ahern: It did not go AWOL; it just did not come to the Department.

Criminal Justice (Psychoactive Substances) Bill 2010 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Jul 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I only heard about it.

Criminal Justice (Psychoactive Substances) Bill 2010 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Jul 2010)

Dermot Ahern: While the Attorney General would agree with the necessity to ensure that offences specified in the criminal aspect are not vague, and having seen the submission from the group lobbying on this, he is still happy with the procedures teased out between our officials. While it is a relatively simple Bill, there are complexities in ensuring it does not have unintended consequences. As I said on...

Criminal Justice (Psychoactive Substances) Bill 2010 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Jul 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I do not want to denigrate the work of the National Advisory Committee on Drugs, which I understand is currently conducting research on head shop products. Obviously its expertise is and will continue to be used by the Department of Health and Children in banning substances under the Misuse of Drugs Act. However, with regard to criminal prosecution, as the Deputy can see from section 3,...

Criminal Justice (Psychoactive Substances) Bill 2010 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Jul 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I do not believe we are very far from each other in this regard because section 3 contains a definition of consumption which already explicitly includes orally, injecting and inhaling. I am unsure how an addition elsewhere would add to what we have in place already. My advice is that the amendment is unnecessary. I refer to the issue raised by Deputy Shatter concerning the closure order. I...

Criminal Justice (Psychoactive Substances) Bill 2010 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Jul 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I refer again to amendments Nos. 2a and 2b. I do not believe the proposed measures are necessary and I respectfully suggest the measures already in the Bill cover all methods involving consumption.

Criminal Justice (Psychoactive Substances) Bill 2010 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Jul 2010)

Dermot Ahern: It is in section 1.

Criminal Justice (Psychoactive Substances) Bill 2010 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Jul 2010)

Dermot Ahern: It is on page 3. I understood that was what I said.

Criminal Justice (Psychoactive Substances) Bill 2010 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Jul 2010)

Dermot Ahern: Deputy Shatter raised the issue about the definition of a psychoactive substance in section 1. He maintains the reference to the capacity to produce stimulation or depression or to cause a state of dependence could include alcohol. However, alcohol is specifically excluded in section 2(1)(c) which refers to intoxicating liquor within the meaning of section 77 of the Licensing Act 1872. I...

Criminal Justice (Psychoactive Substances) Bill 2010 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Jul 2010)

Dermot Ahern: We are trying to deal with the civil procedure, which involves the lesser burden of proof. It involves serving a notice, proving that notice has not been complied with and the failure to comply with that notice then becomes a criminal offence.

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (6 Jul 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The Garda Síochána Act 2005 makes provision for the compilation and publication of crime statistics by the Central Statistics Office, as the national statistical agency, and the CSO has established a dedicated unit for this purpose. I have requested the CSO to provide statistics directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (6 Jul 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the personnel strength, including Community Gardaí, of Blanchardstown Garda Station for the past three years and for the latest date for which figures are readily available, is as set out in the table hereunder: Blanchardstown Garda Station Station Strength Community Gardaí 31 December 2007 180 20 31 December 2008 193 24 31 December...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (6 Jul 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I wish to inform the deputy that the person concerned made a visa application in May of this year and was granted a multiple-entry visa until 19 June, 2010 in line with the permission to remain in the State which he then had. I should add that the father of the person to whom the Deputy refers was granted permission to remain in the State in October of 1997 under the arrangements then in...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (6 Jul 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I refer the Deputy to his recent Parliamentary Question, No. 33 of Thursday 10 June, 2010 and the written reply to that question. The position is as set out in detail in that reply. It is open to the applicant to make a fresh visa application at any time and I would strongly urge that the refusal reasons outlined in that reply be comprehensively addressed in any fresh visa application.

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (6 Jul 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The Deputy will be aware that in cases involving applications for asylum it is not the practice to comment on asylum applications that remain pending. However, in this case, the person concerned is the subject of a Deportation Order made following a comprehensive and thorough examination of his asylum claim, which included an examination of the representations he submitted for consideration...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (6 Jul 2010)

Dermot Ahern: From the information provided by the Deputy it would appear that the person concerned may have left the State without seeking the necessary re-entry visa. In such circumstances, it would be necessary for the person concerned to apply for a new visa to travel to Ireland. All persons who are visa required and who are not in possession of same may apply to their nearest Irish Embassy or...