Results 5,441-5,460 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — Proceeds of Crime: Proceeds of Crime (1 Dec 2009)

Dermot Ahern: Currently the Criminal Justice Act, 1994, as amended, is the primary legislation in dealing with money laundering the proceeds of criminal activity. I am advised by the Garda authorities that the Criminal Assets Bureau in cooperation with the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation Money Laundering Investigation Unit and the appointed Gardaí for money laundering reporting in the Garda Divisions,...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (1 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 July 2006. 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...

Written Answers — Guardianship Register: Guardianship Register (1 Dec 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I am aware of the provisional recommendation made by the Law Reform Commission in its September 2009 Consultation Paper on the Legal Aspects of Family Relationships. The Commission has invited submissions on its provisional recommendations as part of the consultation process and I look forward to examining its final report in due course. It would not be appropriate for me to comment on the...

Written Answers — Prison Staff: Prison Staff (1 Dec 2009)

Dermot Ahern: There are currently no plans to initiate a recruitment campaign for prison officers. In accordance with Government Decision S180/20/10/0964C of 3 February and 24 March 2009 on the implementation of savings measures on public service numbers, more generally referred to as the moratorium on public sector recruitment, filling of vacancies in the Irish Prison Service is subject to the approval...

Written Answers — Firearms Licences: Firearms Licences (1 Dec 2009)

Dermot Ahern: Following consideration of the matter within my Department, including discussions at the Firearms Consultative Panel, it was agreed that the fee for a firearms certificate should be the same irrespective of the type of firearm, to reflect the cost of processing the application and to simplify the system. The new firearms certificate will last for three years and the fee was calculated with...

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (1 Dec 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I am advised by the Office of Public Works that tenders for the provision of a new Garda station at Castleisland are currently being sought. Upon completion of this process a contract will be put in place and works will commence thereafter.

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (1 Dec 2009)

Dermot Ahern: An 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 March 2009. On examination of the application submitted it was determined that the application in its entirety be returned to the person concerned for further attention on 10 March, 2009. In order to be fair to all applicants,...

Written Answers — Courts Procedure: Courts Procedure (1 Dec 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I am not in a position to provide legal advice in response to Parliamentary Questions. However, I can say in general that a person who is the subject of a separation agreement or a judicial separation may have options under the Family Law (Maintenance of Spouses and Children) Act 1976 and the Enforcement of Court Orders Act 1940 for enforcement of maintenance. Following a judgment of the...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (1 Dec 2009)

Dermot Ahern: In the case of Niall Dillon -v- The Director of Public Prosecutions, the High Court found that the statutory provision under which prosecutions for begging were brought, namely Section 3 of the Vagrancy (Ireland) Act 1847, was unconstitutional. Arising from that judgement, new legislation is being prepared. I hope to be in a position to bring the Bill to Government shortly, for its approval...

Written Answers — Criminal Prosecutions: Criminal Prosecutions (1 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 relevant statistics directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (1 Dec 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the number of Gardaí who have retired or have indicated their intention to retire from the Force, both voluntarily and on age grounds, in 2009 is 759. 200 trainees have been recruited to the Garda Training College since the start of 2009 and the moratorium on recruitment in the public service currently applies to An Garda Síochána. I intend to...

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (1 Dec 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 217 to 219, inclusive, together. I am informed by the Garda Authorities that the strengths of the Districts, as requested by the Deputy, is as set out below. District 31/12/2008 31/10/2009 Dungarvan 59 66 Tramore 50 53 Waterford 183 191

Written Answers — Employment Support Services: Employment Support Services (1 Dec 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I can advise the Deputy that there are three programmes which have been developed to assist persons to access employment who have previously been in prison. These programmes are run in partnership between Business in the Community Ireland (BITC) and the Probation Service or the Irish Prison Service. They are: The Linkage Programme; The Prison Project and The Mentoring Service. The Linkage...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (1 Dec 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I can inform the Deputy that my Department adopts a range of practical common sense measures to reduce energy use and encourages staff to avail of all opportunities to reduce wastage within its offices. Staff are encouraged to switch off all electrical office equipment at close of business. Thermostatic valves have also been installed on radiators where possible and the Department follows...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (1 Dec 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I am informed by the Garda authorities that Gardaí from Santry and Clontarf Sub-Districts police the area referred to by the Deputy. One Sergeant and six Gardaí are attached to each of the Community Policing Units at Clontarf and Santry Garda Stations. These Community Gardaí liaise with the local community and proactively target crime including public disorder and anti-social behaviour....

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (1 Dec 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I am advised by the Office of Public Works that a lease of a premises has been secured in Ballyvary for use as a temporary Garda station. Fit-out of the property, which is of a relatively small scale, has commenced and it is anticipated that it will be available to Gardaí by the end of December and to the public in early 2010.

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (1 Dec 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I refer the Deputy to his recent Parliamentary Question No. 683 of Wednesday, 16 September 2009, and the written Reply to that Question. As stated in my earlier Reply, my Department has no record of an application for Family Reunification having been made by or on behalf of the person concerned.

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (1 Dec 2009)

Dermot Ahern: Based on the information provided by the Deputy, the visa office has no record of the person referred to. It is however open to all persons resident outside the State, and who are visa required to apply to their nearest Irish Embassy or Consulate for the appropriate visa. Each visa application is considered on its individual merits the onus resting with the applicant to satisfy the Visa...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (26 Nov 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 November 2006. 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...

Written Answers — Crime Prevention: Crime Prevention (26 Nov 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The Government has introduced an extensive package of criminal justice legislation this year targeted at those engaged in serious crime, including the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009 by which all organised crime offences will be tried in the Special Criminal Court unless the DPP directs otherwise; the Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Act 2009, which provides a statutory framework for...