Results 5,101-5,120 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — Public Sector Pay: Public Sector Pay (16 Dec 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The current remuneration payable to the judiciary and Master of the High Court is as follows: Chief Justice €295,916 President of the High Court €274,779 Judge of the Supreme Court €257,872 President of the Circuit Court €249,418 Judge of the High Court €243,080 President of the District Court €183,894 Judge of the Circuit Court €177,554 Judge of the District...

Written Answers — Public Sector Pay: Public Sector Pay (16 Dec 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The current pay scales for the Chief Registrar of the High Court, High Court Registrars and County Registrars are set out in the following table: Post Salary Rate or Scale(reduced PRSI)â'¬ Salary Rate or Scaleâ'¬ County Registrar Dublin 150,712 158,644 County Registrar Cork 145,722 153,391 County Registrar Other Counties 133,745 140,784 Chief Registrar High Court(Head of Operations...

Written Answers — Legal Costs: Legal Costs (16 Dec 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I wish to advise the Deputy that, further to Parliamentary Question no. 345 of 9 June 2009, the total cost on cases involving this individual has now increased to €34,135. There is a further €2,267 pending approval. This cost is made up exclusively of payments to outside counsel.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (16 Dec 2009)

Dermot Ahern: As I outlined last week in the Dail in response to the Deputy's Parliamentary Question No. 2 of 10 December decisions in respect of many of the recommendations in relation to structural reform will be a matter for decision by Government in due course. Any expenditure reductions arising, including staff savings, will be included in the budget for the sector in future years. Prior to the report...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (16 Dec 2009)

Dermot Ahern: As outlined in my reply to the Deputy's Question No. 2 of the 10th December 2009, the recommendations contained in the Special Group Report (McCarthy) have been taken into account in the budget negotiations for 2010 for the Justice Sector. In common with all Departments, there will be reductions in payroll related provisions in 2010 to take account of the reductions in payroll rates, final...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (16 Dec 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The Office of the Minister for Integration has not been abolished. However, since the Government decision last April appointing a reduced number of Ministers of State, there has not been a separate office-holder with responsibility for the Office. The Government appointed Deputy John Curran as Minister of State at my Department, the Department of Education and Science and the Department of...

Written Answers — Drug Seizures: Drug Seizures (16 Dec 2009)

Dermot Ahern: In the time available it has not been possible to compile the detailed statistics requested. I will communicate further with the Deputy when the information sought is to hand.

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (16 Dec 2009)

Dermot Ahern: When I received the report last July, I immediately sent it to the Garda Commissioner and the Director of Public Prosecutions. Since then, I have discussed the matter at length with the Commissioner. A number of the perpetrators discussed in the report have already been brought to justice, proceedings are pending against others and a number of investigations are ongoing. The Garda...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (16 Dec 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the personnel strength of the Wicklow, Laois/Offaly and Carlow/Kilkenny Garda Divisions on 31 October 2009, the latest date for which figures are readily available, is as set out in the following table: Division Strength Wicklow 359 Laois/Offaly 333 Carlow/Kilkenny 313 Responsibility for the allocation of personnel rests with the Garda...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (16 Dec 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The Garda Síochána Act 2005 makes provision for the compilation and publication of crime statistics by the Central Statistics Office, as the national statistical agency, and the CSO has established a dedicated unit for this purpose. I have requested the CSO to provide the statistics sought by the Deputy directly to him.

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (16 Dec 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to takes Questions Nos. 201 to 204, inclusive, together. The Public Service Management Act 1997 provides for the appointment of two Special Advisers to assist Ministers in performing their roles and achieving the objectives of Government. I have two Special Advisers, one focusing on policy, one focusing on press. The current salary scale applicable to both advisers is that of...

Written Answers — Irish Language: Irish Language (16 Dec 2009)

Dermot Ahern: Public bodies, including my Department, are obliged under the Official Languages Act 2003 to publish certain documents in both official languages. Such documents include those setting out public policy proposals, annual reports, audited accounts or financial statements, and statements of strategy required to be prepared under section 5 of the Public Service Management Act 1997. The costs of...

Written Answers — Prison Building Programme: Prison Building Programme (16 Dec 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The replacement of Cork Prison with a modern prison complex at Kilworth, County Cork is currently being planned. Agreement has been reached with the Department of Defence to acquire about 160 acres at Kilworth, County Cork for the new prison development and Government approval for the transfer of the land has also been obtained. A preliminary site suitability report has confirmed that there...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (16 Dec 2009)

Dermot Ahern: Tackling gun crime and tightening gun controls are key priorities for this government. Against that background it is regrettable that the Deputy's Party has actively opposed legislative proposals to tackle gang land crime and tighten gun-controls. I am informed by the Garda authorities that there were in total 86 cases of murder in which a firearm was used from 2006 to 2008 and in 2009 up to...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (16 Dec 2009)

Dermot Ahern: Legislation on the use of knives and similar weapons is extremely robust and heavy penalties are in place. The Garda Commissioner last year made recommendations in relation to knives and sharply pointed or bladed weapons, and subsequently I introduced legislation which was enacted as the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009. The maximum penalty for possessing a knife in a...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (16 Dec 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The Garda Síochána Act 2005 makes provision for the compilation and publication of crime statistics by the Central Statistics Office, as the national statistical agency, and the CSO has established a dedicated unit for this purpose. I have requested the CSO to provide the statistics sought by the Deputy directly to him.

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (16 Dec 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Question 163 on 16 June, 2009. Section 15A of the Act provides that the Minister may grant a certificate of naturalisation to the non-national spouse of an Irish citizen if, among other things, the applicant has been married to that citizen for a period of not less than three years. On examination of the application submitted by the person...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (16 Dec 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I refer the Deputy to my Reply to his recent Parliamentary Question, No. 203 of Thursday, 26 November 2009. The position in the State of the person concerned is as set out in that Reply.

Written Answers — Ministerial Travel: Ministerial Travel (16 Dec 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The information requested by the Deputy is provided from June 2007. Details prior to that date are not readily available. The cost to my Department of commercial air travel by my predecessor while on official business was approximately €2,850. Since my appointment as Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform in May 2008 to date, the cost to my Department of such travel has been...

Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (15 Dec 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I can inform the Deputy that Section 132 will come into force on 28 February 2010 (Statutory Instrument No. 471 of 2009 refers).