Results 461-480 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (23 Nov 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the personnel strength of each Garda station in the Kildare Garda Division as at 30 September 2009 and 30 September 2010 is set out in the table below. Station 30/09/09 30/09/10 Athy 28 28 Ballytore 2 2 Castledermot 3 3 Kildare 33 34 Monasterevin 4 4 Newbridge 45 45 Rathangan 4 4 Carbury 5 4 Celbridge 18 20 Kilcock 8 8 Leixlip...

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (23 Nov 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the investigation, which is being carried out jointly with the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement, referred to by the Deputy is ongoing, with a view to presenting cases to the Director of Public Prosecutions, and in the circumstances it would not be appropriate for me to comment on its operational aspects. However, I have been assured...

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

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 214 and 215 together. As the Deputy is aware, the report concerns a refusal of leave to land case which occurred in January, 2003. Since then there have been a number of developments in relation to the general immigration policy and practice which also have relevance to the findings set out in this report. Moreover, my Department along with other Departments...

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

Dermot Ahern: As the Deputy will be aware, the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner uses the services of the firm in question and I am advised that it has no plans to cease so using it.

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (23 Nov 2010)

Dermot Ahern: Dáil Éireann, on 19 October 2010, and Seanad Éireann, on 20 October 2010, approved, in accordance with Article 29.4.7 of Bunreacht na hÉireann, the exercise by the State of the option provided by Article 3.1 of Protocol 21 annexed to the Treaty of Lisbon to notify the President of the Council of the European Union that it wishes to take part in the adoption and application of the Proposal...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (23 Nov 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I sought and obtained the approval of both Houses of the Oireachtas earlier this year to opt into the measure referred to by the Deputy. This approval was sought on the basis that it is, in my view, important to address this issue, given its trans-border nature, with as coherent and common an approach as possible. A number of the provisions of this proposed Directive are already provided for...

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

Dermot Ahern: I wish to inform the Deputy that in accordance with the European Communities (Eligibility for Protection) Regulations, 2006 (S.I. No. 518 of 2006) a person must have been refused a declaration as a refugee in order to be eligible to apply for Subsidiary Protection. One application has been received from a person who is not a failed refugee. This application is currently the subject of...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (23 Nov 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I assume that the Deputy's question relates solely to institutional and religious abuse and on that basis I wish to inform the Deputy that funding was provided by my Department to enable One in Four to provide support to victims of abuse, including victims dealing with the Commission of Investigation into the Dublin Archdiocese and the Diocese of Cloyne. One in Four subsequently reported on...

Written Answers — Garda Vetting of Personnel: Garda Vetting of Personnel (18 Nov 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The Garda Central Vetting Unit (GCVU) provides employment vetting for a large number of organisations in Ireland which are registered with the Gardaí for this purpose. Since 2004 the vetting service has been, and continues to be, extended to organisations working with children and/or vulnerable adults. Over that period there has been a substantial increase in the numbers of vetting...

Written Answers — Joint Policing Committees: Joint Policing Committees (18 Nov 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 — Missing Persons: Missing Persons (18 Nov 2010)

Dermot Ahern: Following my request to the Garda Síochána Inspectorate to assess the need to establish a dedicated Missing Persons Unit within An Garda Síochána, including a response similar to AMBER alert, and to report their findings to me, the Inspectorate published its report last year. One of its main recommendations was that an emergency alert system for missing children, similar to the AMBER...

Written Answers — Garda Equipment: Garda Equipment (18 Nov 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I am advised by the Garda authorities that expenditure on the purchase of Garda vehicles amounted to €11.1 million in 2007 and €7.6 million in 2008.

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (18 Nov 2010)

Dermot Ahern: It is not possible to provide an accurate answer to the Deputy without further details as the position will vary depending on the facts of the case. If the Deputy has a particular case in mind he should write to my officials in the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) who will examine the circumstances and advise accordingly. Queries in relation to the status of individual...

Written Answers — Cash for Gold Schemes: Cash for Gold Schemes (18 Nov 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The Deputy will be aware that there has been a significant increase in the number of outlets offering to buy gold for cash in towns and cities in the State. I understand that some established jewellers also offer to buy gold and jewellery for cash. The prevalence of this trade would appear to be linked to the high price that gold now commands on international markets, and the 'cash for gold'...

Written Answers — Departmental Investigations: Departmental Investigations (18 Nov 2010)

Dermot Ahern: In addition to the information provided to the Deputy in Parliamentary Question No. 204 of 11 November 2010, details of the following external reports or reviews commissioned by State Agencies or Boards under the remit of my Department are set out below: Reports / reviews commissioned in 2008 - Report following technical evaluation of tenders for a new Local Area Network for the Property...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (17 Nov 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 46 and 50 together. While An Garda Síochána has made significant progress in the investigation of a number of killings, the reality is that there can be considerable difficulties in obtaining evidence in shootings which are the result of gangland activities from associates of a victim of a gangland killing, or indeed from gangland figures even when they...

Written Answers — Garda Reserve: Garda Reserve (17 Nov 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the personnel strength of the Garda Reserve, on the latest date for which figures are readily available, was 623 with a further 184 in training. The stations to which these Reserve members are set out in the table below. The Government has set a target strength for the Reserve at 10% of the full time strength of the Force. While recruitment...

Written Answers — Probation and Welfare Service: Probation and Welfare Service (17 Nov 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The Probation Service of my Department is the lead agency in the assessment and management of offenders in our communities. In common with the rest of the Civil Service, the Probation Service is subject to the Government's moratorium on recruitment and promotion and its staff also have access to the Incentivised Career Break and Early Retirement schemes. Where vacancies do arise, the...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (17 Nov 2010)

Dermot Ahern: As the Comptroller and Auditor General report acknowledges, increased civilian support for the Garda Síochána does not exclusively take the form of one-for-one replacement of individual Gardaí by civilian staff. Of course, in some instances, civilianisation does indeed enable the direct replacement of Gardaí who are engaged in exclusively clerical, administrative or technical duties by...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (17 Nov 2010)

Dermot Ahern: As I have indicated to the House on more than one occasion, my Department has met with representatives of Justice for the Magdalenes during which there has been an exchange of views. My Department has offered - and will continue to offer - every assistance possible to allow access to the limited available records in the normal way. It behoves all of us to have regard to the age profile of...