Results 3,861-3,880 of 4,915 for speaker:Jim O'Keeffe

Paramilitary Activities. (20 Oct 2005)

Jim O'Keeffe: Question 1: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on the extent of criminal activity being engaged in by paramilitaries or former paramilitaries; his further views of the numbers involved; the activity involved and the measures proposed by him to deal with these activities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29915/05]

Paramilitary Activities. (20 Oct 2005)

Jim O'Keeffe: I thank the Minister for telling me about the IMC report but as he is probably aware, we have all read it. I remind him of my question. I asked for his views of the extent of criminal activity engaged in by paramilitary organisations. The Minister has not been slow in the past to indicate such views. I want to know his view now on the extent of IRA involvement in the areas of criminality in...

Paramilitary Activities. (20 Oct 2005)

Jim O'Keeffe: The Minister mentioned to me an estimate of 1,500 people who had been active in the IRA. Does he believe they are all now on the straight and narrow? Some of the proceeds of crime seem to have been "diverted"— if I may use that word — into political activity. Is the Minister concerned the diversion of such funds may continue into the coffers of the Sinn Féin party?

Paramilitary Activities. (20 Oct 2005)

Jim O'Keeffe: I also asked about Sinn Féin's funding.

Garda Equipment. (20 Oct 2005)

Jim O'Keeffe: Question 4: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason the Garda Síochána must continue to operate a radio communications system which is insecure and totally out of date; his views on whether this continues to place the Garda Síochána at a continual disadvantage in the fight against crime; and the further reason the pilot digital radio system successfully piloted...

Garda Equipment. (20 Oct 2005)

Jim O'Keeffe: Does the Minister accept the present walkie-talkie system is over 20 years old? Does he accept the pilot scheme to which he referred was completed over three years ago? Does he accept the Garda Commissioner submitted the business plan and the case almost two years ago? Does he accept that when I raised this issue as a matter of urgency a year ago, he told me a tender was to issue to the...

Garda Equipment. (20 Oct 2005)

Jim O'Keeffe: This Government has been in power for the past eight years.

Garda Equipment. (20 Oct 2005)

Jim O'Keeffe: It will be a job to be finished by the next Government.

Garda Equipment. (20 Oct 2005)

Jim O'Keeffe: As the GRA said, the Minister is strong on rhetoric but weak on delivery. It was very well put.

Communications Masts. (20 Oct 2005)

Jim O'Keeffe: Does the Minister have a problem with the agreement?

Child Care Services. (20 Oct 2005)

Jim O'Keeffe: This programme was one of the few successes.

Child Care Services. (20 Oct 2005)

Jim O'Keeffe: It seems incongruous for child care to be dealt with by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform but the assistant secretary in the Department ably outlined the background to it and the fact that the justice umbrella meant EU funding was available. I understand that will end in the next year or so. I gather there is no great queue of applicants to take over the child care brief. The...

Garda Operations. (20 Oct 2005)

Jim O'Keeffe: That is the 25th time it has been announced. The Minister should set it to music.

Garda Operations. (20 Oct 2005)

Jim O'Keeffe: The public cannot understand why if Operation Anvil was successful at a cost of €4 million, which is a tiny fraction of the Garda budget of approximately €1 billion——

Garda Operations. (20 Oct 2005)

Jim O'Keeffe: If a miserable €4 million can produce such a result, why is there not a contingency fund of €10 million or €15 million each year for the Commissioner to carry out three or four operations similar to Operation Anvil and to work such operations into his plans? We will not get into the mythical 2,000 gardaí that were promised three years ago and have not been produced. Until they are...

Garda Operations. (20 Oct 2005)

Jim O'Keeffe: Is it just a public relations exercise by the Minister?

Garda Operations. (20 Oct 2005)

Jim O'Keeffe: The Minister should put that to music. I have been looking for them for the past three years.

Crime Levels. (20 Oct 2005)

Jim O'Keeffe: I am concerned about legislation on the criminalisation of gang membership. The Minister indicated early in September that he would introduce amendments to the Criminal Justice Bill 2004 to deal with the issue. What is the Minister's position on that amendment and other amendments discussed at the time? Is he able to bring the process a stage further as we will probably shortly complete...

Crime Levels. (20 Oct 2005)

Jim O'Keeffe: I am interested in the criminalisation of gangs and amendments proposed to relevant legislation.

Order of Business. (20 Oct 2005)

Jim O'Keeffe: The ministerial disappearances Bill.