Results 2,941-2,960 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

State Laboratories (13 May 2010)

Dermot Ahern: In 2006 Professor Ingvar Kopp, the former head of the Swedish Forensic Science Laboratory, was engaged by my Department to review the resource needs of the Forensic Science Laboratory and his report was published in January 2008. His review has been of immense value to the laboratory's modernisation process. It has contributed greatly to the mapping out of the future development of the...

State Laboratories (13 May 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I have allocated €4.1 million. Work is under way to provide as a priority a new purpose-built facility for the Forensic Science Laboratory. Deputies will be aware that the site is located at the Backweston Complex in Kildare adjacent to the State Laboratory and to the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food's Agrilabs. This world-class state-of-the-art facility is a major public...

State Laboratories (13 May 2010)

Dermot Ahern: It was 30.

State Laboratories (13 May 2010)

Dermot Ahern: No - Professor Kopp said 30.

State Laboratories (13 May 2010)

Dermot Ahern: My understanding is that he recommended 30 posts, and we have more than 30 extra people, which is a 50% increase in the staffing complement in a short time. This is a good story, because the resources were put in place, and so many staff were employed that they had to move out into an extended location. It is a good thing that so many people are working in the laboratory, albeit in two...

Controlled Drug Sales (13 May 2010)

Dermot Ahern: Head shops have been exploiting the availability of potentially dangerous products and undermining the existing legal framework by the sale of substances which are not regulated but have the same effects as controlled drugs such as cannabis or cocaine. As part of a multi-pronged approach targeting the activities of head shops, the Government made two important decisions earlier this week....

Controlled Drug Sales (13 May 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I assure the Deputy that the Government has taken the matter very seriously for the past few months. We have been working as fast as we can. It is a complex area. We considered the experience in the UK, particularly regarding the way in which the matter was dealt with there, as the UK has grappled with the problem. We are intending to chase a moving target, which is why we need a...

Controlled Drug Sales (13 May 2010)

Dermot Ahern: It is definitely our wish. Drafting has been prioritised and the Office of the Attorney General is aware that the Bill must be passed before the summer recess. I hope we can publish the Bill in the next week or so. The definition of "psychoactive substance" is the one that is causing the most difficulty. One must ensure substances for normal use are not banned. It is intended to refer the...

Controlled Drug Sales (13 May 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The Deputy does not give the young people of our State enough credit. They comprise a discerning group and the vast majority know that the substances on sale in the head shops are not substances that any normal, right-thinking person would want to take. However, of course there are youngsters who have entered head shops and who have become hooked on the substances on sale. That is a source...

Controlled Drug Sales (13 May 2010)

Dermot Ahern: Absolutely. The Garda carried out raids on head shops previously and was in some instances successful in seizing some products. In other instances, it entered head shops and found there was nothing illegal under the current legislation. It was able to visit up to 106 head shops nationally within 24 hours of the Government obtaining consent from the Commission. That was no coincidence and...

Garda Strength (13 May 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The numbers of applications received from 2002 to 2009 for retirement from the Garda Síochána are set out in the following table. The figures show that there was a significant increase in retirements in 2009. One factor in this may have been the three-year increase in the retirement age for members at the rank of garda in 2006, which had the effect of deferring some retirements until...

Garda Strength (13 May 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I have given the figures for retirements. There have been 80 retirements so far this year. If that rate continues, the annual rate for this year will be below the normal rate. We have prepared for approximately 400 retirements over the course of this year. That would be the normal level. There were approximately 700 retirements last year, when particular circumstances prevailed. The...

Garda Strength (13 May 2010)

Dermot Ahern: Hold on.

Garda Strength (13 May 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The very people who are charged with investigating corruption in our society-----

Garda Strength (13 May 2010)

Dermot Ahern: They are saying the Government has been corrupted by years of power.

Garda Strength (13 May 2010)

Dermot Ahern: My door is always open.

Recidivism Rate (13 May 2010)

Dermot Ahern: For some time I have been concerned at the number of offences being committed by persons on bail. Therefore, I requested and obtained Government approval late last year to commence work on a new bail Bill. The options that will be considered for inclusion in the new bail Bill include the following - providing that the courts must have regard to the nature and seriousness of any danger to...

Recidivism Rate (13 May 2010)

Dermot Ahern: No. The figures speak for themselves. As I stated, 27,000 offences amount to a reduction of 8% on the previous year. One offender could have committed ten offences. That is how they are compiled and it does not represent the overall figure for number of offenders. Of course, we all are worried about people who are out on bail. As I stated earlier, as Deputy Flanagan knows well, the...

Recidivism Rate (13 May 2010)

Dermot Ahern: As I stated earlier, one of the issues I am asking my officials to look at in the context of this new bail Bill is providing that the courts must have regard to the nature and seriousness of any danger to any person or the public posed by the release of the accused person on bail. We are asking that such be one of the criteria, subject to confirmation by the Attorney General that we can do...

Recidivism Rate (13 May 2010)

Dermot Ahern: It does not matter whether it is me, Deputy Flanagan or anyone else who is on this side of the House, we must take cognisance of the constitutional requirements on personal freedom and, indeed, all the various international agreements to which we are party.