Results 3,581-3,600 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (25 Mar 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I regret that the information requested by the Deputy is not readily to hand. I will write to the Deputy as soon as it is available.

Written Answers — Garda Vetting Unit: Garda Vetting Unit (25 Mar 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The Garda Central Vetting Unit (GCVU) provides employment vetting for a large number of organisations in Ireland registered with the Gardaí for this purpose and which employ persons in a full-time, part-time, voluntary or training capacity to positions where they would have substantial, unsupervised access to children and/or vulnerable adults. The GCVU has managed a substantial increase over...

Written Answers — Circumvention of Legislation: Circumvention of Legislation (25 Mar 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The Deputy will be aware that the effect of Section 132 of the Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Act 2009 is that future rent review clauses will be construed as providing that the rent can go up, down or remain the same by reference to the rent payable immediately prior to the review date. This provision apples even where the future lease has a provision which specifies upward only rent...

Written Answers — Departmental Property: Departmental Property (25 Mar 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I am not in a position to provide the information sought by the Deputy at this time, but will do so as soon as the information is available.

Prison Accommodation. (25 Mar 2010)

Dermot Ahern: It would be wrong to say that a riot in Mountjoy or any other prison occurred as a result of overcrowding. I have received strong information to the effect that as a result of the tightened security arrangements that apply in respect of those entering and leaving prisons, tensions have arisen among inmates because it is no longer possible to smuggle what used to be smuggled into prisons....

Prison Accommodation. (25 Mar 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I cannot provide an exact date in that regard. As already stated, however, if we had received some co-operation from those on the opposite side of the House and if they had not engaged in offering snide comments with regard to all sorts of alleged shenanigans on our part, the prison might perhaps have been completed some time ago.

Prison Accommodation. (25 Mar 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The Deputies and their parties opposed the project at every turn.

Prison Accommodation. (25 Mar 2010)

Dermot Ahern: All sorts of allegations were made to the effect that the Government paid too much for the site, etc.

Private Security Authority. (25 Mar 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The private security sector was generally unregulated prior to the introduction of the Private Security Services Act 2004 and lack of regulation was an understandable source of public concern. Since its establishment, the Private Security Authority has driven a considerable and welcome transformation of the private security industry. The 2004 Act provides that the authority shall be...

Private Security Authority. (25 Mar 2010)

Dermot Ahern: There are people who have criminal records who apply to the authority. The latter was given independence to exercise its functions on the basis of the criteria laid down in the legislation. I understand that the authority exercises discretion when deciding whether to issue a licence to a person with a criminal record. In doing so, it takes into account: the nature and seriousness of the...

Private Security Authority. (25 Mar 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I do not accept that the fees are high. It is an authority which has a significant body of work in the investigation and checking of applicants with regard to whether a licence should be granted. It is right and proper that the Oireachtas has given the body its authority independently of us to make decisions. It is ironic that in the House I am always asked and criticised about issues on...

Private Security Authority. (25 Mar 2010)

Dermot Ahern: -----to which we ourselves gave independence and we resourced it-----

Private Security Authority. (25 Mar 2010)

Dermot Ahern: -----with regard to making decisions.

Private Security Authority. (25 Mar 2010)

Dermot Ahern: To a certain extent, the Deputy is asking me to change the legislation to make it even more difficult for people to get a licence, and the Deputy may be correct on that. However, he is speaking out of both sides of his mouth in that-----

Private Security Authority. (25 Mar 2010)

Dermot Ahern: Fine Gael supported the Spent Convictions Bill which, to his credit the Minister of State, Deputy Andrews, is bringing forward. Fine Gael proposed reducing the rehabilitation period, the period without further conviction, to be observed. It was prepared to support a proposal from the Law Society-----

Private Security Authority. (25 Mar 2010)

Dermot Ahern: Fine Gael was prepared to support a proposal from the Law Society and others to extend the scope to all offenders. At present, it is only with regard to minor offences. Fine Gael wanted to strike to record of all offenders-----

Private Security Authority. (25 Mar 2010)

Dermot Ahern: That is the opposite of what Deputy Flanagan is trying to suggest with regard to giving licences to people. I accept there is anecdotal evidence about people in the security sector and that is the reason we introduced legislation to regulate it.

Private Security Authority. (25 Mar 2010)

Dermot Ahern: There may very well be anecdotal evidence on people who have licences and who should not have them but unfortunately we cannot go on anecdotal evidence. There may very well be circumstances in which people have substantial criminal records but because of the criteria and the discretion of the authority it may decide to grant a licence because they were convicted 30 or 40 years ago and have...

Gangland Killings. (25 Mar 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I am informed by the Garda authorities that in 2007 there were 18 murders involving a firearm recorded, in respect of three of which proceedings commenced. In 2009 there were 23 such murders recorded, in respect of eight of which proceedings commenced. I might add that up to 21 March this year, nine such murders have been recorded, in respect of four of which persons have been charged. No...

Gangland Killings. (25 Mar 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The Deputy is incorrect regarding the legislation passed by the Oireachtas in July 2009. I understand from the Garda Síochána that both the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, which pertained to the issue of gun culture and the licensing of guns and which also effected an increase in the penalties for knife crime and the Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Act are being actively...