Results 5,041-5,060 of 6,728 for speaker:John Curran

Seanad: Health Services (11 Mar 2010)

John Curran: I am responding on behalf of the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney. I thank the Senator for raising the issue and welcome the opportunity to update the House on Government policy on community services in general. The Government is committed to supporting people to live in dignity and independence in their homes and communities for as long as possible. Where this is not...

Seanad: Health Services (11 Mar 2010)

John Curran: I accept the Senator's point regarding the reply, in particular, the allusion by the Minister to industrial action. I will try to elicit further information on the Senator's behalf. The Seanad adjourned at 2.25 p.m. until 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday, 23 March 2010.

Seanad: Head Shops: Statements (Resumed) (11 Mar 2010)

John Curran: ): I welcome the opportunity to speak on this motion. I thank all Members who have spoken on the matter today and on 3 February and I acknowledge the work of the Seanad in pursuing this important and immediate issue and for adopting a broadly unanimous stance. Without going through the debate in great detail, I divided the contributions into two clear halves, namely, those who demonstrated...

Seanad: Head Shops: Statements (Resumed) (11 Mar 2010)

John Curran: Senator Glynn referred to products sent in the post. There are two distinctions. I am not dealing with medicinal products, but products sold as plant food and so on which are obviously not intended for human consumption will be added to the controlled list and made illegal. I met Customs officials to ensure they would be able to intercept these products in the postal system and take...

Written Answers — European Year of Volunteering: European Year of Volunteering (9 Mar 2010)

John Curran: Each EU Member State is required to designate a national co-ordinating body which will be responsible for organising its participation in the European Year of Volunteering 2011. The Irish nominee is Volunteering Ireland, a representative body whose member organisations include the GAA, the ICA, the FAI, St Vincent de Paul, Tidy Towns Association and the National Youth Council of Ireland....

Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (9 Mar 2010)

John Curran: There are two issues of public concern raised in the Deputy's Question. However, given the difficulty in responding adequately to the matters raised by him within the constraints of a 'details supplied' Question, I am arranging to have the relevant information forwarded directly to him. If the Deputy would prefer to re-submit the Question in a less restricted format, I will, of course, be...

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (9 Mar 2010)

John Curran: As the Deputy is aware, the aim of the new Local and Community Development Programme (LCDP) is to tackle poverty and social exclusion through partnership and constructive engagement between Government and its agencies and people in disadvantaged communities, while enabling groups to objectively demonstrate the positive impacts they are securing for local communities. It is intended that the...

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (9 Mar 2010)

John Curran: There are 14 Local Drugs Task Forces funded by my Department. The funding allocated to each Task Force since 2007 is outlined in the table below. Local Drugs Task Force Area Funding allocated 2007 Funding allocated 2008 Funding allocated 2009 Funding allocated 2010 €m €m €m €m Ballyfermot 1.52 1.83 1.57 1.53 Ballymun 1.13 1.43 1.26 1.24 Blanchardstown 1.12 1.39 1.29 1.18 Bray...

Criminal Justice (Forensic Evidence and DNA Database System) Bill 2010: Second Stage (4 Mar 2010)

John Curran: I thank Deputies who contributed to this debate. Many important and useful points were made and they have all been noted. In particular, Deputies Joe Carey and Ó Snodaigh stated that they intend to use Committee Stage to tease out a number of issues and table a number of amendments. I note that many of the points raised which people want to tease out on Committee State relate to Part 10...

Criminal Justice (Forensic Evidence and DNA Database System) Bill 2010: Second Stage (4 Mar 2010)

John Curran: It was the manner in which you said it. The Bill does not specify test methods. In any event, DNA results can be challenged under normal rules of evidence. Court procedures are not solely about DNA evidence. Normal rules of challenging evidence will apply. Deputy Ó Snodaigh also mentioned the Human Rights Commission and the Minister received its observations on the Bill. It acknowledges...

Criminal Justice (Forensic Evidence and DNA Database System) Bill 2010: Referral to Select Committee (4 Mar 2010)

John Curran: I move: That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights, in accordance with Standing Order 122(1) and paragraph 1(a)(i) of the Order of Reference of that committee.

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (4 Mar 2010)

John Curran: I regret to advise the Deputy that it is not possible to provide a response to his Question at this time. The information sought by the Deputy will be provided at a later date.

Written Answers — Drugs Task Forces: Drugs Task Forces (3 Mar 2010)

John Curran: As the Deputy will be aware, the Dial-to-Stop Drug Dealing Campaign ran across 15 Local and Regional Drugs Task Force areas in 2008 and 2009. At the end of 2009, nearly 5,770 calls had been made to the confidential phone number, generating almost 1,600 reports to the Gardaí. The calls are spread right across the country including areas which have not directly run a campaign. This...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (3 Mar 2010)

John Curran: I am endeavouring to ensure that the researcher post in the National Advisory Committee on Drugs will be filled as soon as possible and my officials are pursuing the matter with the Department of Finance with a view to resolving the issue.

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (3 Mar 2010)

John Curran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 205 and 206 together. I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 221 of 10 February 2010. I have had no discussions with the local development company in question, although I have met with the community development project (CDP) referred to by the Deputy. As I have previously stated, my primary concern is to make every effort to ensure that the front-line...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Bill 2009: Second Stage (2 Mar 2010)

John Curran: I thank Senators from all sides for their positive and constructive contributions to the debate on this Bill. A number of interesting and relevant points were made and I will deal with as many of them possible as we conclude proceedings. Some of the points will also appear as amendments on Committee Stage, to which Senator Cummins alluded, and during further debate. I am glad the Senator...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Bill 2009: Second Stage (2 Mar 2010)

John Curran: The timeframe might have been an issue.

Written Answers — Charities Regulation: Charities Regulation (2 Mar 2010)

John Curran: There are two issues of public concern raised in the Deputy's Question. Firstly, there is the practice of non-charities representing themselves as charities when collecting clothing and bric-a-brac from residences. Secondly, there is the public nuisance that can be caused by undertaking such collections at anti-social hours. At present, certain collectors of clothing and bric-a-brac convey...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (2 Mar 2010)

John Curran: Publicity in relation to the publication of the National Drugs Strategy 2009-2016, including the arranging of interviews, press briefings and additional dissemination of information and press releases to the media, was co-ordinated by the Press and Information Office of my Department. Photographic services €860 Catering for 200 attendees €1,589 Printing of press folders €782 The...

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (23 Feb 2010)

John Curran: I have voiced my concerns in regard to the activities of headshops and substances represented as "legal highs" sold in these outlets on numerous occasions since my appointment as Minister of State with responsibility for the National Drugs Strategy. The problem of "legal highs" is not unique to Ireland and headshops are causing concern across Europe. A number of countries, including the UK,...