Results 5,281-5,300 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Prison Staff. (10 Dec 2009)

Dermot Ahern: This year alone we have put in place 450 prison places. I rest my case.

Criminal Prosecutions. (10 Dec 2009)

Dermot Ahern: It is important to recognise that the report of the commission describes the Garda investigation in 2002 as probably the most comprehensive Garda investigation into clerical sexual abuse ever undertaken in the State and as effective, co-ordinated and comprehensive. It resulted in a number of files being sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions and, following his directions, people have...

Criminal Prosecutions. (10 Dec 2009)

Dermot Ahern: Many prosecutions of abusers have been taken and hardly a day goes by when cases are not brought up. That is not just for the Dublin area but across the country. The unit dealing with domestic violence and sexual crime that the Garda has set up has been very successful in that respect. On the most recent announcement by the Garda Commissioner, my understanding having spoken to him on the...

Criminal Prosecutions. (10 Dec 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I do not have those figures but perhaps the Deputy could put down a separate question to get them. The Criminal Law Act 1997, which passed in March that year, abolished the distinction between felonies and misdemeanours. The commission reported that the vast majority of complaints regarding alleged offences were misdemeanours rather than felonies. To a certain extent the goalposts have...

Criminal Prosecutions. (10 Dec 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I reject that because there were----

Criminal Prosecutions. (10 Dec 2009)

Dermot Ahern: Prosecutions are still being taken against many people.

Criminal Prosecutions. (10 Dec 2009)

Dermot Ahern: And the report clearly outlines the difficulties in that respect.

Criminal Prosecutions. (10 Dec 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I most certainly am not.

Departmental Expenditure. (10 Dec 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The recommendations in the special group report, the McCarthy report, have been taken into account in the budget negotiations for 2010 for the justice sector. The proposed savings in the report in respect of the sector were €136.4 million. In monetary terms, a significant proportion of the recommendations - €84 million - related to reductions in payroll costs on items such as allowances...

Departmental Expenditure. (10 Dec 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The McCarthy report involved other people, unlike the claim on radio earlier. I never considered it to be gospel that we had to implement every suggestion made. If that was the case, we might as well have let Dr. McCarthy and whoever else was in the group deal with the Department. Ultimately, I am the person responsible to the Oireachtas regarding policy decisions and I will make such...

Departmental Expenditure. (10 Dec 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The McCarthy report made a number of suggestions regarding payroll costs not only in regard to the Garda but across the justice sector, as it did in other areas. The Government must bear those in mind but, ultimately, it has to make decisions, as I have to in regard to my own budget. I have made my position clear on the Garda issue. The Government - and the Oireachtas - will agree that we...

Crime Levels. (10 Dec 2009)

Dermot Ahern: These so-called "tiger" kidnappings are among the most frightening and vicious crimes which could be committed against any individual. I am sure all Members will join me in condemning them outright. The investigation of crime is the operational responsibility of An Garda Síochána, and the Government continues to offer its fullest support to our Garda Commissioner and his officers in this...

Crime Levels. (10 Dec 2009)

Dermot Ahern: It would be wrong and improper of me to go into detail on the type of surveillance and counter-surveillance training made available to the employees of banks and other financial institutions.

Crime Levels. (10 Dec 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The banks and the Garda use best international practice in training, protocols and the smart technology. I have seen some caustic remarks in this respect but in my meetings with the banks what has come across very strongly is that the amount of cash in our society is way higher than in any other state in proportion to our population and it is something we must cure by taking it out of the...

Crime Levels. (10 Dec 2009)

Dermot Ahern: My information is that it is. However, all of the training in the world will not cure a position where someone's family is put at risk. In fairness to the people in this area, no matter how well they would be trained it would depend on the person involved. Where the protocols on tiger kidnappings are adhered to there have been very significant successes. Where they have not been...

Deportation Orders. (10 Dec 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The lady in question arrived in the State on 19 August 2005 and though her child was born in the State two days after her arrival, he is not an Irish citizen as he was born subsequent to the coming into force of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 2004 in that neither of his parents was an Irish citizen nor had either parent been lawfully resident in the State for three of the four...

Written Answers — Stardust Tragedy: Stardust Tragedy (9 Dec 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I can inform the Deputy that there has been ongoing contact with the Victims Committee's legal advisor with a view to identifying the level of demand for services referred to by him. As this process had yet to produce sufficient information to allow arrangements be made and so as to avoid having to intrude on the privacy of those victims or bereaved who might not welcome direct contact, a...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (9 Dec 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I can inform the Deputy that the main bodies within the remit of my Department include An Garda Síochána, the Courts Service, the Irish Prison Service and the Property Registration Authority in addition to twenty four other bodies, details of which can be found in the appendices to my Department's most recent Annual Report available at www.justice.ie and also in the Oireachtas Library....

Written Answers — Probation and Welfare Service: Probation and Welfare Service (9 Dec 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I wish to inform the Deputy that the premises in question have been used by the Probation Service for over 25 years. It previously operated as a hostel and day centre for young persons under probation supervision in the community, but ceased being used as a hostel a number of years ago. It currently operates under the responsibility of the Young Persons Probation Division (YPP) of the...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (9 Dec 2009)

Dermot Ahern: A valid application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to in the Deputy's Question was received in the Citizenship Division of my Department in April 2009. All valid applications are dealt with in chronological order as this is deemed to be the fairest to all applicants.The average processing time from application to decision is now at 24 months. More complicated...