Results 341-360 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — Garda Complaints Procedures: Garda Complaints Procedures (7 Dec 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I have been informed by the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) that the death of a complainant does not act as a bar to the investigation of a complaint of misbehaviour by a Garda member. Provided the complaint fulfils the admissibility criteria set down in the Garda Síochána Act 2005, it will be admitted and sent for investigation. However, the fact that a complainant has died...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (2 Dec 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The Garda Síochána Act 2005 makes provision for the compilation and publication of crime statistics by the Central Statistics Office, as the national statistical agency, and the CSO has established a dedicated unit for this purpose. I have requested the CSO to provide statistics directly to the Deputy. I have requested a report from the Garda authorities in relation to the measures that...

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (2 Dec 2010)

Dermot Ahern: Further to my reply to question No. 14 tabled for answer by the Deputy on 7 October, I have examined the report completed by my Department following the Dignity Project visit to Sweden in September. As stated in my earlier reply, any proposal to amend the law to create an offence of purchasing sex would require very careful consideration. I have asked the Attorney General to examine the...

Written Answers — Registration of Title: Registration of Title (2 Dec 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I can inform the Deputy that the role of the Property Registration Authority (PRA) is to manage and control the Land Registry and the Registry of Deeds and to promote and extend the registration of ownership of land. The PRA also operates the Ground Rents Purchase Scheme under the Landlord and Tenant Acts. An application to the Land Registry may include multiple transactions, for example an...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (2 Dec 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 November 2009. The application is currently being processed in the normal way with a view to establishing whether the applicant meets the statutory conditions for the granting of naturalisation and will be submitted to me...

Written Answers — Travel Documents: Travel Documents (2 Dec 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I refer the Deputy to Parliamentary Question No. 244 of 30 September 2010 which outlines the current position surrounding the possible issue of an Irish Travel Document to the person concerned. The lack of recognition afforded by the French authorities to the Togolese travel document, held by the person in question, is a matter for the consular authorities of his own country to address and...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (2 Dec 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I wish to refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 217 of 11 November 2010. I am informed that the person concerned did present for registration at her local Immigration Office on 20 November. However, she was refused registration on foot of a PULSE check and a report in relation to same will be forwarded to the Irish Born Child unit of the Irish Naturalisation and...

Written Answers — Tribunals of Inquiry: Tribunals of Inquiry (2 Dec 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I wish to inform the Deputy that the Smithwick Tribunal is the only on-going Tribunal of Inquiry currently in operation in relation to an issue within the responsibility of my Department. The Smithwick Tribunal was established in 2005 to investigate allegations that members of An Garda Síochána or other State employees may have colluded in the fatal shootings of RUC Chief Superintendent...

Written Answers — Legal Services Ombudsman: Legal Services Ombudsman (2 Dec 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The position of Legal Services Ombudsman will be filled by an open competition conducted by the Public Appointments Service. The competition was advertised on 19 November, 2010 and the closing date for applications is 9 December, 2010. I expect that an appointment will be made early in the New Year.

Tributes to Head Usher of the Houses of the Oireachtas (2 Dec 2010)

Dermot Ahern: Thanks for reminding me.

Tributes to Head Usher of the Houses of the Oireachtas (2 Dec 2010)

Dermot Ahern: We had a genuine team.

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (1 Dec 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The Private Security Authority, established under the Private Security Services Act 2004, is the regulatory body with responsibility for regulating and licensing the private security industry in the State. The Authority is an independent body operating under the aegis of my Department. In accordance with the 2004 Act, the Authority receives a grant from the Oireachtas, via my Department. ...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (1 Dec 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the personnel strength of the Clare Garda Division on 31 December 2007, 2008 and 2009 was 314, 337 and 336 respectively. Responsibility for the allocation of resources, including personnel, within the Force rests with the Garda Commissioner in consultation with his senior management team. Resource levels are constantly monitored, in...

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (1 Dec 2010)

Dermot Ahern: There were a number of recommendations in the Special Group Report (McCarthy) which referred to the Justice Sector, across nine different programme areas. In all these recommendations identified €134.5m in potential savings; €84m of which related to staffing and payroll costs, €16.3m to operational efficiencies, €14.6m related to structural reform and rationalisation and a further...

Written Answers — Garda Remuneration: Garda Remuneration (1 Dec 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The pay scales and allowances of all public servants, including members of An Garda Síochána, were reduced with effect from 1 January 2010 in accordance with the provisions of Section 2 of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No.2) Act 2009.

Written Answers — Garda Remuneration: Garda Remuneration (1 Dec 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the annual leave allowance available to members of An Garda Síochána is based on a number of factors and considerations including statutory entitlements, the obligations to work at weekends and public holidays and the particular rosters being worked by members. Overtime is calculated and paid at predetermined rates depending on when the overtime...

Written Answers — Courts Service: Courts Service (1 Dec 2010)

Dermot Ahern: There are a number of options available to a person declared a ward of court. He or she can apply to have that decision reversed by an appeal to the Supreme Court. A Petition for Traverse (an application to rescind an order of wardship) may also be brought. A ward of court may also apply to be discharged from wardship on recovery and to be remitted to the management of his or her own...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (1 Dec 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I can inform the Deputy that, for the most part, the legal services sought by my Department are coordinated and paid for by the Office of the Attorney General and Office of the Chief State Solicitor. These services are typically sought in the context of the preparation of legislation, legal advice in respect of policy issues and in the management of litigation including judicial reviews. In...

Written Answers — Prison Committals: Prison Committals (1 Dec 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I can advise the Deputy that on 29 November, 2010 the number of foreign nationals from outside EU member States in custody was 211 of which 192 are male and 19 are females. This represents approximately 4% of the overall prison population for this day. Of the 211 prisoners in custody, 120 are serving sentences, 82 are held on remand/trial and 9 are held on immigration related issues....

Written Answers — Prisoner Releases: Prisoner Releases (1 Dec 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I can advise the Deputy that on 30 November, 2010, there were 4,440 prisoners in custody compared to a bed capacity of 4,430. This represents an occupancy level of 100%. On the same day the number of prisoners on temporary release was 656 which represents approximately 12.4% of the overall prison population for this day. As the Deputy is aware there has been a consistent increase in the...