Results 4,601-4,620 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (4 Feb 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The total number of members who retired, either voluntarily or on age grounds, from An Garda Síochána in 2009 was 723. During 2009 over 900 students were attested as sworn members of An Garda Síochána and as of the 31st December 2009 the total strength of the force was 14,547 with an additional 232 students in training. The Deputy will also be aware that I recently concluded negotiations...

Written Answers — Prison Building Programme: Prison Building Programme (4 Feb 2010)

Dermot Ahern: As the Deputy will be aware, the Government re-affirmed its commitment to developing a new prison campus at Thornton Hall, Kilsallaghan, County Dublin and also approved the launch of a new tendering process for the construction of a more affordable and better value prison campus at Thornton. The aim is to provide good quality, regime focussed prison accommodation with appropriate support and...

Written Answers — Commissions of Investigation: Commissions of Investigation (4 Feb 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 37, 45 and 50 together. When I received the report of the Commission of Investigation on the Catholic Archdiocese of Dublin last July, I immediately sent it to the Garda Commissioner and the Director of Public Prosecutions. Since then, I have discussed the matter with the Commissioner. A number of the perpetrators discussed in the report have already been...

Written Answers — Prison Committals: Prison Committals (4 Feb 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I am advised that on 3 February 2010, there were 4,160 prisoners in custody and that the first time the number of prisoners in custody exceeded 4,000 was in October 2009. The Irish Prison Service has been proactively engaged in an ongoing extensive programme of investment in prisons infrastructure which has involved both the modernisation of the existing estate and the provision of extra...

Written Answers — Sexual Offences: Sexual Offences (4 Feb 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I am aware of the report on the study commissioned by the Rape Crisis Network Ireland entitled Rape and Justice in Ireland. The study relates to the attrition of rape cases, that is, the lack of progress on to completion of criminal cases, and more specifically, to the stages at which cases drop out from the criminal justice system, that is, from the initial report stage to the final stage...

Written Answers — Crime Prevention: Crime Prevention (4 Feb 2010)

Dermot Ahern: Regular meetings are held between An Garda Siochana and Financial Institutions to discuss bank security issues, including the systems and the processes in place for the conveyance, storage and dispersal of cash. For obvious reasons it would not be appropriate for me to comment on specific security systems being utilised by the financial or other sectors.

Written Answers — Criminal Legal Aid: Criminal Legal Aid (4 Feb 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The Legal Aid Board is charged with the provision of a professional, efficient, cost effective and accessible legal aid and advice service and the Board is obliged to provide such legal services within the resources available to it. The Board's services are provided to clients through a network of thirty three law centres, including the Refugee Legal service (RSL), located throughout the...

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (4 Feb 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I informed your colleague Deputy Costello further to a similar question from him in November 2009 that, according to the Garda authorities, a number of investigations in relation to breaches of section 62, Garda Síochána Act, 2005 were being conducted by the An Garda Síochána which, on completion, would be referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions for directions as to whether any...

Written Answers — Sexual Offences: Sexual Offences (4 Feb 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The Sex Offenders Act 2001 contains a comprehensive series of provisions aimed at protecting children and other persons. The Act makes persons convicted of a range of sexual offences subject to notification requirements under its Part 2. The provisions of the Act also extend to any offenders convicted abroad of the same range of sexual offences who enter the State, including from Northern...

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (4 Feb 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I wish to advise the Deputy that Operation Samhna which was carried out in Greenore, Co. Louth in October 2009 resulted in the seizure of contraband cigarettes with an estimated value of €46.7 million. This operation was led by the Customs Service and was fully supported by An Garda Síochána, the Criminal Assets Bureau, the Irish Naval Service and the Air Corps. In addition, officers...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (4 Feb 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I am not in a position to provide the Deputy with the information requested at this time. The information will be provided in due course.

Written Answers — Garda Transport: Garda Transport (4 Feb 2010)

Dermot Ahern: Garda Fleet Management policy is designed to ensure that Garda vehicles are maintained in accordance with manufacturers' guidelines so as to afford the greatest possible safety to Garda personnel. Over the last number of years there has been a sustained programme of investment in Garda vehicles in terms of maintenance, running expenses and new purchases amounting to some €72 million in the...

Written Answers — Joint Policing Committees: Joint Policing Committees (4 Feb 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I am informed by the Garda authorities that up to last December joint policing committees have been established in 98 local authority areas. I am not in a position to provide the other information sought by the Deputy at this time, but will do so as soon as the information is available.

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (4 Feb 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 Promotions: Garda Promotions (4 Feb 2010)

Dermot Ahern: Promotions within An Garda Síochána are covered by the Garda Síochána Promotions Regulations 2006 (SI No 485 of 2006). The Commissioner is in the process of organising competitions from which successful candidates will be promoted to fill the vacancies in question and it is expected that this will be completed as soon as is practicable.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (4 Feb 2010)

Dermot Ahern: Similar to all Government Departments the Estimates for the Justice Sector were published on Budget Day 9th December, 2009. I refer the Deputy to my press release on Budget Day in relation to the Estimates and response to Parliamentary Question (Ref 46162/09) on 10th December, 2009 in relation to this matter. The Revised Estimates Volume is scheduled for publication later this month.

Written Answers — Witness Protection Programme: Witness Protection Programme (4 Feb 2010)

Dermot Ahern: Witness intimidation is an offence pursuant to Section 41 of the Criminal Justice Act 1999, which specifies the offence as harming, threatening or menacing or in any other way intimidating or putting in fear another person who is assisting in the investigation of an offence by the Garda Síochána, with the intention of causing the investigation or course of justice to be obstructed,...

Written Answers — Prisoner Releases: Prisoner Releases (4 Feb 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I have been advised that on 3 February 2010 there were 610 prisoners serving sentences of definite duration on temporary release. The numbers of such prisoners on temporary release fluctuates on a daily basis and to date in the year 2010, the numbers have fluctuated between slightly above 500 to slightly above 600. The Criminal Justice Act, 1960 as amended by the Criminal Justice (Temporary...

Written Answers — Joint Policing Committees: Joint Policing Committees (4 Feb 2010)

Dermot Ahern: Joint Policing Committees are provided for in the Garda Síochána Act 2005. Their purpose is to provide a forum where An Garda Síochána and the local authority - the two organisations which make the most significant contribution to preventing and tackling crime in a specific area - can come together, with the participation of members of the Oireachtas and community and voluntary...

Written Answers — Garda Reserve: Garda Reserve (4 Feb 2010)

Dermot Ahern: At the end of 2009 there were approximately 484 attested members of the Garda Reserve. The Government is strongly committed to the development of the Reserve. It has been a singularly successful initiative and reflects the strong sense of voluntary commitment from the individuals concerned. I am confident that it will continue to flourish into the future. To date approximately 40 Reserve...