Results 16,261-16,280 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Missing Persons (17 Nov 2010)

Dermot Ahern: An Garda Síochána is responsible for the investigation of persons, including of course children, reported missing in circumstances which give rise to concern. The Garda emergency numbers, 112 and 999, are available for this purpose. In line with a commitment in the Programme for Government 2007, I asked the Garda Síochána Inspectorate to examine current Garda practice with regard to...

Missing Persons (17 Nov 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I welcome the inspectorate's recommendation on the amber alert and I gave the go-ahead for the establishment of an alert system.

Missing Persons (17 Nov 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The Garda is currently exploring options to achieve the most appropriate structure to give effect to the recommendation taking account of progress at international level in the development of alert systems for missing children that will explore cross-jurisdictional dimensions. With regard to the issue of the European number, ComReg has allocated that number and it has invited-----

Missing Persons (17 Nov 2010)

Dermot Ahern: Perhaps it is safer to say that ComReg has not been able to allocate it and this matter will be kept under review by the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and ComReg.

Missing Persons (17 Nov 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I have been informed by the Garda that between 2001 and 1 November 2010, the number recorded of missing persons who are under 18 years was 352.

Missing Persons (17 Nov 2010)

Dermot Ahern: A number of them were found in the meantime. With regard to the issue of missing children, there is a joint Garda-HSE protocol on the roles and responsibilities of both agencies in regard to children missing from care. It was agreed in April 2009 and it relates to the establishment of a Garda local liaison role with HSE placements and this is working extremely well. The role includes a...

Missing Persons (17 Nov 2010)

Dermot Ahern: Yes, there is a local liaison role, which is that of a designated officer. The HSE has commenced a process to change its model of care for separated minors such that they can avail of foster care and residential arrangements across a broader spectrum than previously available. A protocol which provides for a review of its implementation is currently ongoing between the Garda and the HSE.

Criminal Legal Aid (17 Nov 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I am glad to be able to inform the Deputy that my proposals are to include in the criminal justice (legal aid) Bill, referred to in the Government legislation programme, provisions to enable the transfer from my Department to the Legal Aid Board of responsibility for the administration and management of criminal legal aid. Drafting of the Bill is in the course of being finalised with a view...

Criminal Legal Aid (17 Nov 2010)

Dermot Ahern: We will not know until the Bill is implemented but criminal legal aid has risen exponentially over the past number of years. It is a demand-led scheme and the Bill will put in place checks and balances relating to the granting of it under the Constitution. There is case law relating to it showing clearly that if a person coming before the courts does not have proper means, he or she will be...

Criminal Legal Aid (17 Nov 2010)

Dermot Ahern: As Minister I am very conscious of the need to ensure that savings are made in this budget, which as I stated has increased exponentially despite the fact that the level of fees paid has reduced over the past two years by 8% and by a further 8%. The bill continues to rise. This comes back to the earlier point that there is more activity in the courts. Under the Constitution it is the case...

Criminal Legal Aid (17 Nov 2010)

Dermot Ahern: At least there will be better checks and balances in administration.

Criminal Legal Aid (17 Nov 2010)

Dermot Ahern: A number of staff in my Department will be seconded to the Legal Aid Board.

Criminal Legal Aid (17 Nov 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I was trying to reply to Deputy Shatter. It is anticipated that a number of existing staff in my Department will be moved to the Legal Aid Board. The board may have additional requirements contracted in but I do not anticipate a significant increase in staff because of the way in which we intend to administer the scheme through the Legal Aid Board. We are somewhat constrained by the...

Juvenile Offenders (17 Nov 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The Deputy may be aware that the ten community sanctions listed in section 115 of the Children Act 2001, as amended, include a range of measures which would normally involve a level of supervision of the young person by a probation officer. These may include, for example, involvement of the young person's parents or attendance by the young person at a specified training course, residential...

Juvenile Offenders (17 Nov 2010)

Dermot Ahern: Every piece of legislation is reviewed. If the Garda Síochána bring to my attention some unease with regard to any piece of legislation we will have a look at it with the Attorney General. In this regard, there are approximately ten community sanctions, including the community service order, day centre order, probation order, training or activity programme order, intensive supervision...

Juvenile Offenders (17 Nov 2010)

Dermot Ahern: To suggest that ASBO legislation is the only implement used by the Garda Síochána to prevent people being interfered with in their homes or in regard to anti-social behaviour is not correct as there are other means. The question put down by the Deputy in regard to the ten community sanctions clearly indicates that this is another modus operandi in regard to intervening with young people...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (17 Nov 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 46 and 50 together. While An Garda Síochána has made significant progress in the investigation of a number of killings, the reality is that there can be considerable difficulties in obtaining evidence in shootings which are the result of gangland activities from associates of a victim of a gangland killing, or indeed from gangland figures even when they...

Written Answers — Garda Reserve: Garda Reserve (17 Nov 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the personnel strength of the Garda Reserve, on the latest date for which figures are readily available, was 623 with a further 184 in training. The stations to which these Reserve members are set out in the table below. The Government has set a target strength for the Reserve at 10% of the full time strength of the Force. While recruitment...

Written Answers — Probation and Welfare Service: Probation and Welfare Service (17 Nov 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 and Early Retirement schemes. Where vacancies do arise, the...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (17 Nov 2010)

Dermot Ahern: As the Comptroller and Auditor General report acknowledges, increased civilian support for the Garda Síochána does not exclusively take the form of one-for-one replacement of individual Gardaí by civilian staff. Of course, in some instances, civilianisation does indeed enable the direct replacement of Gardaí who are engaged in exclusively clerical, administrative or technical duties by...