Results 2,081-2,100 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Prison Accommodation (30 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I have no doubt. I disagree with Deputy Rabbitte.

Prison Accommodation (30 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The Deputy said that Thornton Hall is on the border of County Meath. It is on the periphery of Dublin.

Prison Accommodation (30 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I know Deputy Rabbitte does not get out of the capital very often but he should do so.

Prison Accommodation (30 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: At no stage did I say the situation is ideal. I accept as valid that there is a difficulty in our prisons. Clearly, if there is over 100% occupancy there is a difficulty. Since 1997 when my party came to Government we have built 1,800 spaces which stands in comparison to anything that came previously. We continue to do that. The situation in Mountjoy Prison is not as bad as people make...

Prison Accommodation (30 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The Deputies objected at every twist and turn. I say to Deputy Flanagan-----

Prison Accommodation (30 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The Deputy suggested we look at alternatives to custodial sentences. I agree we should - if it is possible. However, when more than 80% of the existing prison population is there for sentences of 12 months or longer, does the Deputy say we should let all those people out onto the streets?

Prison Accommodation (30 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: A significant number of those on temporary release are those who were in prison for not paying fines. These people are there for relatively small offences.

Prison Accommodation (30 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: A significant number of those on temporary release are coming to the end of their sentence. Is Deputy Flanagan suggesting, for one minute, we should keep those people in jail until the very last day, then open the door and say, "Out you go"?

Prison Accommodation (30 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: Temporary release is a time-honoured modus operandi that attempts to rehabilitate a prisoner back into society. Prisoners are given temporary release and allowed a few overnight stays with their families so that they are well acclimatised.

Prison Accommodation (30 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: Yes it is the principle and it worked when Deputy Flanagan's party was in government as well.

Prison Accommodation (30 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: Temporary release was used by every Government in order to rehabilitate people and re-acclimatise them for society.

Prison Accommodation (30 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: We do not want to just open the door and let them go.

Prison Accommodation (30 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: It is not being abused. I can assure the Deputy of that.

Prison Accommodation (30 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: It was 23 years, by the way.

Family Law Provisions (30 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The law already makes extensive provision for the use of mediation to resolve legal disputes. Family law in particular includes provisions to encourage spouses to resolve disagreements by way of mediation. The Judicial Separation and Family Law Reform Act 1989, as amended, provides in sections 5 and 6 that both spouses' legal advisers must discuss with them the possibilities of...

Family Law Provisions (30 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: As legislators, we do that all the time in different Bills. We have done it for the Multi-Unit Development Bill 2009 by insisting on mediation and alternative dispute resolution as a statutory concept, in order to obviate the necessity for people to go to court. Indeed, for disputes involving Government Departments, the State Claims Agency insists that mediation and alternative dispute...

Family Law Provisions (30 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I was the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs when we brought forward the Family Support Agency based on a report on the family. That has since been underpinned by statute. The Family Support Agency has premises in most of the major urban areas in the country and provides a free confidential mediation service to couples who are in dispute. That is used regularly and is a...

Crime Prevention (30 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: These so-called "tiger" kidnappings are a particularly despicable crime. The abduction and false imprisonment of a person's family or friends to coerce him or her into assisting with a robbery is a particularly pernicious type of crime. I feel nothing but contempt for those responsible and I know this feeling is shared by Members of the House and the wider public. As the most recent...

Crime Prevention (30 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I appreciate the Deputy, as an Opposition spokesperson, must try to blame the Minister. My predecessors and I have provided resources and legislation in this area and in recent days the Garda Commissioner has indicated he has all the resources he requires. As I stated, these types of kidnappings are pernicious crimes. Where the protocols have been adhered to, however, they have been...

Crime Prevention (30 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: Following discussions I had with the banks and the Garda Síochána as a result of one or two high-profile so-called tiger kidnapping events, which were successful from the criminals' point view last year, there was a significant emphasis by the Garda Síochána and the banks on further training. These gangs have to a certain extent moved down the employment ladder in the banks in that...