Results 2,201-2,220 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Psychoactive Substances) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (24 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I was going to accept it.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Psychoactive Substances) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (24 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I am intrigued. Why was the Senator going to withdraw it? I propose to accept it because there is a similar provision in Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Psychoactive Substances) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (24 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I am prepared to accept the amendment.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Psychoactive Substances) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (24 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: This amendment proposes to increase the penalty for the offence of the obstruction of gardaí and Customs officers in the exercise of powers under their functions under this legislation. We are prepared to accept the increase of the penalty from €3,000 to €5,000.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Psychoactive Substances) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (24 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: Yes.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Psychoactive Substances) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (24 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: We will discuss with the Parliamentary Counsel whether this proposed amendment is necessary and I will table an amendment in Dáil if it is considered that this matter needs to be dealt with. I wish to make a further point concerning amendment No. 5 which proposes to increase the term of imprisonment from six to 12 months. I wanted to use the example of this amendment earlier today at a...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Psychoactive Substances) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (24 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The principal offences under the Bill will attract an unlimited fine and up to five years imprisonment or both on conviction on indictment. This penalty level puts the offences into the category of arrestable offences which are automatically then subject to various powers under general criminal justice legislation. I mentioned on Second Stage yesterday my opinion that these offences should...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Psychoactive Substances) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (24 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I thank Senators for the expeditious way in which we passed the Bill. It is important that it is placed on the Statute Book as soon as possible. It will now be brought before the Dáil which I hope it will pass through before it rises on 8 July.

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (23 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The Property Services (Regulation) Bill 2009 has completed all stages in the Seanad. Second Stage commenced in the House on 10 June 2010. The scheduling of the Bill in the House with a view to its enactment is a matter for agreement between the whips.

Written Answers — Misuse of Drugs: Misuse of Drugs (23 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I am advised by An Garda Síochána that up to 26 April 2010, there were 102 Head shops operating in the State. Between 26th and 30th April, 2010, as part of Operation 'Kingfisher', these premises were visited by members of An Garda Síochána and 16 were found to have closed or ceased trading, with a remaining 86 outlets operating nationwide. On 11th May 2010 regulation of certain...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (23 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I have been informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service that if a person is a dependant of a holder of a work permit in the State and they wish to enter employment, it is open to that person to apply for a spousal dependent work permit. The details of this particular work permit are available from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation.

Written Answers — Vetting of Personnel: Vetting of Personnel (23 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I am informed by the Garda Authorities that a vetting application in respect of the person referred to has been received by the Garda Central Vetting Unit. The application is being processed at present and a response will issue in due course.

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (23 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The person concerned applied for asylum on 11 March 2009. In accordance with Section 9 of the Refugee Act 1996 (as amended), he was entitled to remain in the State until his application for asylum was decided. His asylum application was refused following consideration of his case by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner and, on appeal, the Refugee Appeals Tribunal. Arising...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (23 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: Valid applications for certificates of naturalisation from the persons referred to in the Deputy's Question were received in the Citizenship Division of my Department in August 2007 & April 2009. A certificate of naturalisation issued to the first named person referred to in the Deputy's Question via registered post on 11 February, 2009. Officials in the Citizenship Division inform me that...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Psychoactive Substances) Bill 2010: Second Stage (23 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I am pleased to initiate the Criminal Justice (Psychoactive Substances) Bill 2010 in the Upper House, to which I express my appreciation for agreeing to deal with the Bill at short notice. This is a robust, innovative and urgent Bill, in which I am providing that it will be an offence to sell, import or export unregulated psychoactive substances for human consumption. In addition and very...

Written Answers — Garda Recruitment: Garda Recruitment (22 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: Recruitment to An Garda Síochána is a matter in the first instance for the Public Appointments Service and then for the Commissioner of An Garda Síochána. I have no role or function in the process. The Public Appointments Service can be contacted by the applicant at Chapter House, 26-30 Abbey Street Upper, Dublin 1, by telephone at Lo-Call 1890 44 99 99 or by e-mail at info@publicjobs.ie.

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (22 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I can confirm to the Deputy that the person concerned created an on-line visit visa application on 7 June 2010 under the application reference number supplied. However, the necessary documentation in regard to this application has yet to be submitted to the Honorary Consul of Ireland in Karachi.

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (22 Jun 2010)

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 January 2008. All valid applications are dealt with in chronological order as this is deemed to be the fairest to all applicants. The average processing time from application to decision is now at 26 months. More complicated...

Written Answers — Judicial Appointments: Judicial Appointments (22 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: Permanent assignments of District Court judges are made by the Government following consultation with the judge concerned and the President of the District Court. Temporary assignment of judges to a District other than their permanent assignment may be made by the President of the District Court with the judge's consent. In addition, the President of the District Court may temporarily...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (22 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I am informed that the person to whom the Deputy refers was granted permission to remain in the State in February of 2003 under the arrangements then in place for the non-EEA parents of Irish citizen children. The most recent extension of that permission to remain expired on 15 April, 2010. I understand that, on foot of correspondence received, the case of the person concerned is being...