Results 16,561-16,580 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — Prison Accommodation: Prison Accommodation (8 Dec 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The information requested by the Deputy is not currently available. It will be provided as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Prison Accommodation: Prison Accommodation (8 Dec 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table. The information is as of 7 December 2010. Prison/Place of Detention Number in custody on 23 hour lock up Arbour Hill 0 Castlerea 29 Cloverhill 0 Cork 21 Dóchas Centre 0 Limerick 9 Loughan House 0 Midlands 14 Mountjoy 88 Portlaoise 0 Shelton Abbey 0 St. Patrick's Institution 45 Training Unit 0...

Written Answers — Prison Committals: Prison Committals (8 Dec 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I can advise the Deputy that the Irish Prison Service is currently in the process of enhancing its existing website and the provision of more detailed statistical information is being considered as part of this enhancement.

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (8 Dec 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The Final Report and Recommendations of the Interdepartmental Committee to oversee reform of the non-EEA student immigration regime was published on 22 September 2010. The Report entitled 'New Immigration Regime for Full Time non-EEA Students', which is available on the website of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (www.inis.gov.ie), contains more than 20 recommendations...

Written Answers — Prison Accommodation: Prison Accommodation (8 Dec 2010)

Dermot Ahern: In the original wings of our older prisons - Mountjoy Male Prison, St. Patrick's Institution, Limerick Prison and Cork Prison - a typical cell would have a floor area of approximately 8 square metres. Three new cell blocks have been commissioned in recent years at Portlaoise, Castlerea and Wheatfield prisons. All of the cells in these facilities contain an ensuite shower, toilet and wash...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (8 Dec 2010)

Dermot Ahern: In 2008, I asked the Irish Prison Service to review their methodology for calculating the average annual cost of keeping an offender and to bring it more in line with other jurisdictions. The new methodology, which I approved, was introduced in time for the publication of the 2008 Annual Report. It now excludes costs which are not under the direct control of the Irish Prison Service....

Written Answers — Drugs in Prisons: Drugs in Prisons (8 Dec 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I wish to advise the Deputy that the Canine Unit of the Irish Prison Service currently has 26 dog handlers with a complement of 37 trained dogs. The Irish Prison Service does not collate costs for the Canine Unit separately. To provide such figures to the Deputy would require the manual examination of records. Such an examination however would require a disproportionate and inordinate...

Written Answers — Prison Staff: Prison Staff (8 Dec 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I can inform the Deputy that there are currently 143 staff (142 posts, 2 job sharers) including the Governor assigned across all units of the Operational Support Group (OSG). Current vacancies in the OSG stand at 17, including management and officer grades. The direct cost figure associated with the OSG for the full year of 2009 is €10,627,700.12. This figure represents direct costs only...

Written Answers — Garda Recruitment: Garda Recruitment (8 Dec 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The moratorium on recruitment and appointments continues to apply to An Garda Síochána with provisions for exceptions following agreement with the Minister for Finance. The purpose of organising a recruitment campaign earlier this year was to begin the process of establishing a panel of potential applicants who could go on to be recruited as members of An Garda Síochána. This early...

Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill 2008: From the Seanad (9 Dec 2010)

Dermot Ahern: These two amendments were tabled by the Labour Party on Committee Stage in the Seanad and following some discussion I agreed to accept them. We believe the wording is more nuanced and will encourage whistleblowers to report corruption. It is clear from the wording elsewhere in section 4 of the Bill that whistleblowers must avoid knowingly or recklessly making a false, misleading, frivolous...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (9 Dec 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I have requested a report from the Garda authorities in relation to the matter referred to by the Deputy. I will contact the Deputy again when the report is to hand.

Written Answers — State Bodies: State Bodies (9 Dec 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The following statutory State bodies under the remit of my Department are comprehended by the Deputy's Question: the Courts Service the Legal Aid Board the Private Security Authority the Property Registration Authority I can further inform the Deputy that the pay of all the employees of the bodies concerned is fully in accordance with Government policy and as set out by the...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (9 Dec 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 64 to 69, inclusive, together. 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 Operations: Garda Operations (9 Dec 2010)

Dermot Ahern: In the time available it has not been possible to compile the statistics which the Deputy has requested. I will communicate further with him when the information sought is to hand.

Written Answers — Closed Circuit Television Systems: Closed Circuit Television Systems (9 Dec 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the location referred to is within Raheny Garda Sub-District. Local Garda management is aware of one incident of burglary in the location referred to by the Deputy, the investigation of which is ongoing. No further incidents have been recorded in the area during 2010. I am further informed that the Garda authorities are not aware of any commitment...

Written Answers — Garda Vetting of Personnel: Garda Vetting of Personnel (9 Dec 2010)

Dermot Ahern: A response has issued to the Deputy's representation on behalf of the organisation to which he refers. The Garda Central Vetting Unit (GCVU) provides employment vetting for a large number of organisations in Ireland registered with the Garda for this purpose and which employ persons in a full-time, part-time, voluntary or training capacity to positions where they would have substantial,...

Handling of Criminal Matter in Longford: Statements (10 Dec 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I wish to share time with Deputy Kelly.

Handling of Criminal Matter in Longford: Statements (10 Dec 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The circumstances of this case are extremely tragic and I have extended my deepest sympathy to Mrs. Marie Keegan and her family on the very sad death of Noel, their husband and father, who was a retired member of the Defence Forces and highly respected in his community. I can assure the House that from the moment this case came to light it has been treated with the utmost gravity by me, my...

Handling of Criminal Matter in Longford: Statements (10 Dec 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I thank the Deputies for their expressions of sympathy in regard to this appalling event. When I first became aware of it, I was appalled at the way in which the system failed the Keegan family. I thank the Deputies, particularly Deputy Ó Snodaigh, who acknowledged publicly and privately the way in which this was dealt with by me once I became aware of the facts at the time in question. I...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (14 Dec 2010)

Dermot Ahern: As a matter of general practice my office does not purchase refreshments specifically for meetings and functions I am involved in. Other costs may arise in my Department for the provision of these items for meetings held by Department officials. However, I am advised that any such expenditure is not likely to be significant.