Results 441-460 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — Public Procurement: Public Procurement (24 Nov 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I can inform the Deputy that invitations to tender for language analysis services will be advertised in the near future. In the period 1st January to 31st October this year, a total of €15,822.15 has been expended with Skandinavisk Sprakabanalys AB, Sweden (known as Sprakab) and €1,213.50 with the Netherlands Immigration and Naturalisation Service.

Written Answers — Common Travel Area: Common Travel Area (24 Nov 2010)

Dermot Ahern: Ireland and the United Kingdom operate a common travel area (CTA) which facilitates unrestricted travel within that zone for citizens of both jurisdictions. The maintenance of this arrangement requires co-operation on immigration matters between Ireland and the United Kingdom, especially as the Irish courts have held that it is a fundamental public policy of the State to safeguard the...

Written Answers — Civil Partnership: Civil Partnership (24 Nov 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I am in consultation with the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Social Protection with a view to commencing the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010 as soon as possible, consistent with the need to make provision in the tax and social welfare codes for civil partners. While I am not in a position to provide legal advice in response to...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (24 Nov 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The cost of Visa Offices attached to Irish Embassies abroad in 2009, excluding staff costs, ranged from €65,958 to €195,260. The amount of visa fee income generated in these offices far exceed these costs. The overall staffing of these functions comprised 6 Higher Executive Officers, 12 Executive Officers and 3 Clerical Officers, distributed across Visa Office locations in Abuja,...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (24 Nov 2010)

Dermot Ahern: As I have already outlined to the Deputy, in my response to Question No. 891 of 29 September 2010, neither Ireland nor the United Kingdom exercised their option to participate in Directive 2009/52/EC providing for sanctions against employers of illegally staying third country nationals within the three month period provided for in Article 3 of the Protocol on the Position of the United...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (24 Nov 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The European Commission has not commenced proceedings against Ireland in relation to Council Directive 2004/83/EC. Council Directive 2004/83/EC on minimum standards for the qualification and status of third country nationals or stateless persons as refugees or as persons who otherwise need international protection and the content of the protection granted was enacted on 29 April 2004....

Seanad: Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill 2008: Second Stage (23 Nov 2010)

Dermot Ahern: This Bill represents a significant strengthening of the law tackling corruption. It introduces a comprehensive system of protection for whistleblowers reporting corruption. It broadens the scope of the 2001 Act to ensure that the bribery of foreign officials is comprehensively addressed. In doing so it ensures compliance with the OECD Convention on Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in...

Seanad: Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill 2008: Second Stage (23 Nov 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The Senator has a short memory.

Seanad: Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill 2008: Second Stage (23 Nov 2010)

Dermot Ahern: We had the Moriarty tribunal.

Seanad: Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill 2008: Second Stage (23 Nov 2010)

Dermot Ahern: Senator Regan has a short memory.

Seanad: Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill 2008: Second Stage (23 Nov 2010)

Dermot Ahern: Senator Regan has a selective memory.

Seanad: Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill 2008: Second Stage (23 Nov 2010)

Dermot Ahern: Mobile phones.

Seanad: Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill 2008: Second Stage (23 Nov 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I thank Senators for their comments on this legislation which has passed through the Dáil. Obviously we would like to see its quick passage through the Seanad. I have indicated that we wish to proceed with the consolidation of all such legislation which dates back as far as 1889. During the drafting phase in my Department I was insistent that the Bill be such that it would refer not only...

Written Answers — Residence Permits: Residence Permits (23 Nov 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I am informed by the Immigration Division of my Department that the person concerned made an application for a residence card as the non-EU family member of an EU citizen on 30 April, 2010. The person referred to by the Deputy was informed of the decision to refuse his application and the basis for this decision by letter dated 1 November, 2010. The person concerned was advised that, if...

Written Answers — Court Procedures: Court Procedures (23 Nov 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The matters raised by the Deputy were the subject of a High Court civil action. The Deputy will appreciate that the Courts are, subject only to the Constitution and the law, independent in the exercise of their judicial functions and, therefore, it is not open to me as Minister to comment or intervene in any way in relation to how a particular case was conducted or the outcome of any such...

Written Answers — Firearms Licences: Firearms Licences (23 Nov 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The licensing of firearms is an operational matter for An Garda Síochána. Each application is judged on its own merits and the decision on whether, or not, to grant a firearm certificate rests solely with the issuing person. The decision of the issuing person cannot be fettered in any way and I have no role in the matter.

Written Answers — Television Licence: Television Licence (23 Nov 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The Fines Act 2010 provides for an innovative, balanced and more humane approach to the determination and collection of fines. The Act will be commenced on a phased basis and the capacity to pay provisions will be among the first features of the legislation to be commenced in January, 2011. Section 14 places an obligation on the court to take account of the defendant's financial...

Written Answers — Protection from Defamation: Protection from Defamation (23 Nov 2010)

Dermot Ahern: Policy in the law on defamation is contained in the Defamation Act 2009 as recently approved by both Houses of the Oireachtas. Under the Act, the tort of defamation consists of the publication, by any means, of a defamatory statement concerning a person to one or more than one person; and a statement includes electronic communication that is in the form of data, text or images.

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (23 Nov 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I can inform the Deputy that my Department is not funding the youth centre in question.

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (23 Nov 2010)

Dermot Ahern: In the absence of details relating to a specific case, the Deputy will appreciate that I am unable to provide a definitive response. However, I can advise of the position generally. At the outset, I should point out that the legislation governing naturalisation does not provide an inherent right to any applicant to a grant of naturalisation on foot of their application. Citizenship in this...