Results 16,681-16,700 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Criminal Justice (Public Order) Bill 2010: Report and Final Stages (12 Jan 2011)

Dermot Ahern: I move amendment No. 2: In page 4, lines 39 and 40, to delete "a fine not exceeding €300" and substitute "a class E fine".

Criminal Justice (Public Order) Bill 2010: Report and Final Stages (12 Jan 2011)

Dermot Ahern: I move amendment No. 3: In page 6, lines 1 and 2, to delete "a fine not exceeding €200" and substitute "a class E fine".

Criminal Justice (Public Order) Bill 2010: Report and Final Stages (12 Jan 2011)

Dermot Ahern: I move amendment No. 4: In page 6, to delete lines 19 to 21 and substitute the following: "(a) on summary conviction to a class A fine or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or both, or". These amendments increase the penalties for offences under section 5, which creates an offence of organised begging. Persons being prosecuted under the section may be proceeded against summarily...

Criminal Justice (Public Order) Bill 2010: Report and Final Stages (12 Jan 2011)

Dermot Ahern: In principle, I am in favour of changing the law regarding prostitution and of moving in the direction recently indicated. I have stated this in reply to parliamentary questions. I was encouraging of the visit by the Dignity Project. Some officials from our human trafficking unit also visited Sweden to review its experience since changing the law more than one decade ago. However, there...

Criminal Justice (Public Order) Bill 2010: Report and Final Stages (12 Jan 2011)

Dermot Ahern: I accept there is anger and there are none more angry than members of the Cabinet who have had to deal with this issue over the past two and a half years. I do not accept that the laws are inadequate. The problem, as always, is to obtain proof on the offences on the Statute Book. Last May I requested the Garda Commissioner, in light of the investigations into Anglo Irish Bank and...

Criminal Justice (Public Order) Bill 2010: Report and Final Stages (12 Jan 2011)

Dermot Ahern: I move amendment No. 5: In page 6, line 23, to delete "€50,000" and substitute "€200,000".

Criminal Justice (Public Order) Bill 2010: Report and Final Stages (12 Jan 2011)

Dermot Ahern: I move amendment No. 6: In page 6, line 29, to delete "a fine not exceeding €5,000" and substitute "a class A fine".

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (12 Jan 2011)

Dermot Ahern: The person in question retired from my Department on 31 March 2009 under the Cost Neutral Early Retirement Scheme. Under the terms of this Scheme, there is no condition preventing an individual returning to work. Any re-employment in the public service must be through normal recruitment/selection procedures and would be subject to the relevant superannuation scheme and pension abatement rules.

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (12 Jan 2011)

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 March 2008 and I decided in my absolute discretion not to grant a certificate of naturalisation, based on all of the information available to me. The person concerned was informed of this decision in a letter issued to her...

Written Answers — Crime Prevention: Crime Prevention (12 Jan 2011)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 497, 502, 514 and 572 together. The Deputy will be aware that there has been a significant increase in the number of outlets offering to buy gold for cash in towns and cities in the State. The prevalence of this trade would appear to be linked to the high price that gold now commands on international markets, and the 'cash for gold' concept would appear to be...

Written Answers — Garda Recruitment: Garda Recruitment (12 Jan 2011)

Dermot Ahern: I am reviewing the current entry requirements into An Garda Síochána in consultation with the Commissioner. This review will of course take into account the recommendations of the Report referred to by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Firearms Licences: Firearms Licences (12 Jan 2011)

Dermot Ahern: I can inform the Deputy that in the region of 175 judicial reviews have been lodged arising from refusals to grant firearms licences by designated persons within An Garda Síochána. As the matter is currently before the Courts, I cannot comment in any substantive way but I understand that a small number of representative test cases will be heard. As the Deputy will appreciate firearms...

Written Answers — Garda Remuneration: Garda Remuneration (12 Jan 2011)

Dermot Ahern: The information sought by the Deputy is currently being collated by the Garda authorities and I will write to the Deputy directly when this information is to hand.

Written Answers — Garda Training: Garda Training (12 Jan 2011)

Dermot Ahern: The new B.A. Programme (Applied Policing) currently being developed is a 104 week (2 year) degree level programme which will be accredited by H.E.T.A.C. The 104 week training and education programme will be followed by a 12 month probationary period. The programme is consistent with the recommendations set out in the Training and Development Review Group Report which is available on the...

Written Answers — Asylum Support Services: Asylum Support Services (12 Jan 2011)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 503 and 504 together. My Department has established a comprehensive system for the provision of the broad range of immigration services. The Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) was established in 2005 and together with the Garda National Immigration Bureau administers the immigration service on behalf of the State. Other offices within my...

Written Answers — Garda Recruitment: Garda Recruitment (12 Jan 2011)

Dermot Ahern: I am informed by the Garda authorities that there are currently 410 Garda applicants who have successfully completed stages 1 and 2 of the application process. Of these there are a total of 164 applicants who have completed all stages of the application process for entry to the Garda College. The remaining candidates are being processed through background screening, medical examination and...

Written Answers — Prison Staff: Prison Staff (12 Jan 2011)

Dermot Ahern: The Deputy will be aware that in accordance with Government Decision of 3 February and 24 March 2009 on the implementation of savings measures on public service numbers, more generally referred to as the moratorium on public sector recruitment, filling of vacancies in the Irish Prison Service is subject to the approval of the Minister for Finance. I am pleased to advise the Deputy that...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (12 Jan 2011)

Dermot Ahern: All Ministers are provided with the standard Departmental suite of ICT equipment. In addition some Ministers have been provided with PCs and associated IT equipment for their constituency offices. This is long established practice and is covered by Oireachtas guidelines. My Department's records indicate that the cost of providing all computer hardware and software in the offices were Nil in...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (12 Jan 2011)

Dermot Ahern: The person concerned has had his leave to remain in the State renewed for a further three year period, to 22nd November, 2013. This decision was conveyed in writing to the person concerned by letter dated 7th December, 2010.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (12 Jan 2011)

Dermot Ahern: I can inform the Deputy, that following a review of the Department's centralised payment system, there does not appear to have been any payment made to the company in question over the last 5 year period from Vote 19, Office of the Minister for Justice and Law Reform.