Results 521-540 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (17 Nov 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The new building for the Property Registration Authority (PRA) in Roscommon Town is expected to be fully completed and ready for occupation in the first quarter of next year. The first staff to move into the building will be 75 existing employees of the PRA currently in temporary office accommodation in Roscommon Town, with further staff to follow in due course.

Written Answers — Bicycle Theft: Bicycle Theft (17 Nov 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I have requested a report from the Garda authorities in relation to the matter referred to by the Deputy. I will contact the Deputy again when the report is to hand.

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

Dermot Ahern: I can assure the Deputy that the Government attaches the highest priority to tackling serious crime. In setting the policing priorities for An Garda Síochána in 2010, I asked the Commissioner to continue the focus of the force on serious crime, in particular organised crime. This priority is reflected in the Garda policing plan for this year and the specific initiatives undertaken by An...

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

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 95 and 153 together. The Deputy will appreciate that the incident in question is currently the subject of a Garda investigation and so it would be inappropriate for me, as Minister, to make any comment at this time in relation to any such investigation. With regards to obtaining a security licence, the Private Security Authority, established under the Private...

Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (17 Nov 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 14 also for answer today. In brief, the position is that I am now considering a report from my officials on a proposed policy for the better regulation of gambling. Following my consideration of the report, I will make the necessary arrangements to bring it before the Government. Pending a decision on the matter by the...

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

Dermot Ahern: Each year I determine priorities for An Garda Síochána, in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005. These priorities inform the annual Garda Policing Plan. I am informed by the Garda authorities that local Garda management throughout the State closely monitors patrols and other operational strategies in place, in the context of crime trends and the policing needs of the community....

Written Answers — Deportation Orders: Deportation Orders (17 Nov 2010)

Dermot Ahern: In the period January to end October this year, a total of 241 persons were removed from the State on foot of Deportation Orders. In addition to these, a further 2,597 persons were refused leave to land at the State's frontiers and were returned to the place from where they had come. Moreover a further 131 persons were returned to other EU member states under the arrangements in place on...

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

Dermot Ahern: I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that there are 56 Garda Protection Officers assigned to drive and protect current office holders and former Taoisigh. A reserve panel, comprising 24 Gardaí, is in place, and these personnel are also available to An Garda Síochána for other duties. Responsibility for the allocation of personnel rests with the Garda Commissioner, in conjunction...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (17 Nov 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The internet is a worldwide phenomenon with no borders and no single organisation controlling it. There is, however, an existing self-regulatory framework for internet service providers (ISPs) in operation in Ireland which actively encourages the adoption of best practice procedures aimed at limiting the proliferation of illegal child pornography content online. Members of the public may...

Written Answers — Criminal Prosecutions: Criminal Prosecutions (17 Nov 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 145 and 146 together. I am informed by the Garda authorities that if an investigation showed that a mobile phone was being used at the time of a road traffic collision, this would form part of the proof and would be contained in the investigation file submitted to the law officers for decision. In the context of investigating such collisions, An Garda...

Written Answers — Criminal Prosecutions: Criminal Prosecutions (17 Nov 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 147 and 148 together. 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 statistics directly to the Deputy. The Irish Prison Service has...

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

Dermot Ahern: As I have stated in the House on a number of occasions, the abduction and false imprisonment of a person's family or friends, in order to coerce them into assisting with a robbery, is a particularly abhorrent type of crime. There are agreed response procedures in place for dealing with such incidents. Regular meetings are held between An Garda Síochána and financial institutions to discuss...

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

Dermot Ahern: The confidential reporting system under the Garda Síochána (Confidential Reporting of Corruption or Malpractice) Regulations 2007 commenced operation in June 2008. The Garda Commissioner has issued a Confidential Reporting Charter to all sworn members and civilian staff of An Garda Síochána. The Charter contains the contact details of the Confidential Recipients to whom confidential...

Written Answers — Legal Aid Service: Legal Aid Service (17 Nov 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I am glad to be able to inform the Deputy that my proposals are to include in the Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) Bill, referred to in the Government Legislation Programme, provisions to enable the transfer from my Department to the Legal Aid Board of responsibility for the administration and management of criminal legal aid. Drafting of the Bill is in the course of being finalised with a view...

Written Answers — Judicial Appointments: Judicial Appointments (17 Nov 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The law in relation to assignment of District Court judges is provided for in the Courts Acts. Permanent assignments of District Court judges are made by the Government following consultation with the judge concerned and the President of the District Court. Temporary assignment of judges to a District other than their permanent assignment may be made by the President of the District Court...

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

Dermot Ahern: In the time available it has not been possible for the Garda authorities to supply the information requested by the Deputy. I will be in contact with the Deputy when the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Human Trafficking: Human Trafficking (17 Nov 2010)

Dermot Ahern: A legal opinion on the issue of forced labour was presented to a roundtable seminar hosted by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and the Migrant Rights Centre Ireland which, in short, states that forced labour is criminalised by the Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Act 2008. The Anti-Human Trafficking Unit of my Department wrote to the Attorney General to seek his opinion on this issue. We...

Written Answers — Prison Staff: Prison Staff (17 Nov 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I am advised by the Director General of the Irish Prison Service that the staffing levels for each prison at the 6 November 2010 are as follows: Prison Grade Staff Mountjoy (Male) 524.5 Mountjoy (Female) 78.5 St Patrick's Institution 204 Cork 212 Limerick 216 Castlerea 192.5 Cloverhill 344 Wheatfield 380 Portlaoise 270.5 Arbour Hill 102.5 Training Unit 55 Midlands 336...

Written Answers — Prisoner Transfers: Prisoner Transfers (17 Nov 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I am informed by the Director General of the Irish Prison Service (IPS) that details of the amount of money spent on taxi transport for prisoners is only available as far back as the year 2003. The available costs are set out in the table below: Year Spend on taxi transport for prisoners(€) 2003 693,898 2004 755,122 2005 922,762 2006 572,259 2007 446,067 2008 236,590 2009 368,212...

Written Answers — Commercial Rent Review: Commercial Rent Review (17 Nov 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I have undertaken to progress the recommendations of the Working Group on transparency in commercial rent reviews contained in the report which was published in August. That Working Group recommended the establishment of a public database containing relevant details of letting arrangements and rent reviews in the commercial property market. As I indicated during the course of the recent...