Results 2,961-2,980 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Recidivism Rate (13 May 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The issue of the time between arrest, charge and caution and bringing forward a trial, is a matter not only for the Courts Service, but for the Garda Síochána which is putting together files which must go to the DPP, etc. Of course, there is always an insistence when the Department would meet with the Courts Service and with the Garda, etc., that as little time as possible would be...

Commissions of Investigation (13 May 2010)

Dermot Ahern: As the Deputy will be aware, the commission's report on the Catholic Archdiocese of Dublin was published in November last. The commission is at present examining the Diocese of Cloyne, and the Government extended the commission's term to 30 June to allow this work to be completed. I am informed by the Garda authorities that the investigations of the assistant commissioner appointed by the...

Commissions of Investigation (13 May 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The Minister of State, Deputy Barry Andrews, is the line Minister with direct responsibility. The HSE has received details of complaints from all dioceses subject to the audit, the persons against whom the complaints have been made, the information on reporting. The HSE is in the process of cross-referencing this information with the Garda records. The Garda Síochána is fully committed...

Commissions of Investigation (13 May 2010)

Dermot Ahern: Any extension of the investigation would involve costs to the Exchequer. The cost to date of the commission on the Dublin archdiocese is in the region of €4.4 million. This does not include third party costs which will follow. The Cloyne investigation costs are in the region of €1 million to date. The question of extending it to 21 other dioceses or even the diocese of Raphoe would...

Temporary Release of Prisoners (13 May 2010)

Dermot Ahern: It is not possible to provide figures to the Deputy for all forms of temporary release as this would require the manual examination of records. Such an examination would require a disproportionate and inordinate amount of staff time and effort. It could not be justified in current circumstances when there are other significant demands on resources. However, I am advised by the director...

Temporary Release of Prisoners (13 May 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I do not deny there are problems in some of our prisons. I have said this many times in the House and that we are endeavouring to deal with them. I am not going to take political criticism, however, from Deputy Charles Flanagan. The last time his party was in government, it did not build one prison cell in its four years in office. It actually cancelled the building of the Dóchas and...

Temporary Release of Prisoners (13 May 2010)

Dermot Ahern: Yes it did because Deputy Quinn was the Minister for Finance at the time and I recall he cancelled those projects.

Temporary Release of Prisoners (13 May 2010)

Dermot Ahern: One cannot build a prison overnight. In my tenure as Minister, 1,750 prison spaces have been built. Deputy Charles Flanagan always claims I closed the Spike Island facility.

Temporary Release of Prisoners (13 May 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The Spike Island and Curragh facilities would have not lasted a day if they were tested for the infringement of human rights. These were not only uneconomic to run but their conditions would have infringed upon people's human rights. The moneys realised when the Shanganagh facility was sold have been used to buy the Thornton Hall site. It is ironic the Deputy is criticising the Government's...

Temporary Release of Prisoners (13 May 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The Deputy asked the number of prisoners on temporary release in April 2010. I gave him the figure, 836 persons.

Temporary Release of Prisoners (13 May 2010)

Dermot Ahern: Considering there are approximately 4,100 persons in prison, this averages out at 0.86%.

Temporary Release of Prisoners (13 May 2010)

Dermot Ahern: No. Up to 36 prisoners are granted temporary release per day which is 0.86% of the average number in custody in April. It is a bit ironic for Deputy Charles Flanagan to criticise these figures considering the figures when his party was last in office. It has been suggested Ireland's prison statistics are out of line with other countries. In 2008, the prison population was well below the...

Temporary Release of Prisoners (13 May 2010)

Dermot Ahern: Deputy Charles Flanagan is the very person who recently suggested that instead of cutting back on remission by 25%, more avenues should be given to encourage people to behave in prison. He is speaking with a forked tongue on this matter.

Temporary Release of Prisoners (13 May 2010)

Dermot Ahern: As Minister I have endeavoured to work with the temporary release system, provided the Garda and the Prison Service are satisfied the general public's safety is not at risk, to reintegrate people into society.

Temporary Release of Prisoners (13 May 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I make no apologies for that.

Intoxicating Liquor (National Conference Centre) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 May 2010)

Dermot Ahern: That will happen eventually. Deputy Ó Snodaigh asked about events. The event must be taking place in the centre and cannot be a football match or whatever outside. He also asked about concerts in the convention centre. The definition provided is that the convention event is a reception, dinner, banquet or stage event which is held as part of a conference. Therefore, it could conceivably...

Intoxicating Liquor (National Conference Centre) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 May 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I have some sympathy with the Deputy with regard to its designation in the Irish language. However, given the fact that we are trying to target international business, it is probably more relevant to that market in English. I note the Deputy's point.

Intoxicating Liquor (National Conference Centre) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 May 2010)

Dermot Ahern: We are following what is in the PPP agreement, which refers to a conference centre. It will be marketed as a convention-conference centre worldwide. I do not believe there is a big issue in this regard.

Intoxicating Liquor (National Conference Centre) Bill 2010: Second Stage (13 May 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I thank the Deputies opposite for their comments and for facilitating the speedy passage of the Bill. The legislation is not being rushed, as such. We started the discussions in regard to this in September within my Department and the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism. Under the agreement between the State and the PPP company there is provision which states that intoxicating liquor for...

Intoxicating Liquor (National Conference Centre) Bill 2010: Second Stage (13 May 2010)

Dermot Ahern: -------legal practitioners and members of the public would have one document to refer to. I believe that should be welcomed. Deputy Ó Snodaigh referred to all the other Bills. The Fines Bill, for instance, will I hope pass into law in the next week or so if we can get the amendments from the Seanad passed in the Dáil. The immigration Bill is another on which we have agreement at the...