Results 5,561-5,580 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (24 Nov 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The policy which is in place to facilitate the entry and residence of researchers and how these persons and other highly skilled workers will be eligible to seek long-term residence in the State was addressed in my reply to PQ number 256 of 17 November 2009. The Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service of my Department is in weekly and often daily contact with the Irish Universities...

Written Answers — Prison Accommodation: Prison Accommodation (24 Nov 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The workshops are located within a substantial building which was constructed at a cost of approximately €6m to provide services for the prisoner population at Loughan House. This building contains a number of educational, recreational and support service facilities and as such it is not possible to indicate the precise costings of the workshops within the overall figure. Two workshops...

Written Answers — Prison Committals: Prison Committals (24 Nov 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I wish to inform the Deputy that on 20 November 2009 there were 139 persons in custody in the centre the subject of this Parliamentary Question. The aims and objectives of open centres is to provide a place of detention aimed at the rehabilitation of offenders through education and training linked with a regime which encourages a sense of personal responsibility and self respect in order to...

Written Answers — Prison Staff: Prison Staff (24 Nov 2009)

Dermot Ahern: Current staffing levels and configurations for each of the prisons were established in the context of the Change Agreement reached with the Prison Officers' Association in 2005. The Agreement involved substantial changes to staff deployment which could only be achieved over time. At present, staffing levels and configurations are actually quite close to what was envisaged when the Agreement...

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (24 Nov 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the number of Gardaí and Sergeants at the end of 1997, 2002, 2007 and 31 October 2009 is as set out in the following table. Sergeant Garda 1997 1,844 8,642 2002 1,928 9,442 2007 2,083 11,090 2009 (31/10/09) 2,131 11,943 For security and operational reasons, it is Garda policy not to disclose the number of Gardaí assigned to certain areas...

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (24 Nov 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Question 266 of 17 November 2009 and Parliamentary Question number 143 of 5 November 2009.

Written Answers — Irish Language: Irish Language (24 Nov 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The costs of translating documents into Irish are met from my Department's Administrative Budget and unfortunately cannot readily be distinguished from the cost of providing administrative services generally. Accordingly the information sought by the Deputy could not be compiled without the application of a disproportionate amount of staff time and resources. However, I can inform the Deputy...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (19 Nov 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I refer the Deputy to my response to his Parliamentary Question No. 201 of 18 November 2009.

Written Answers — Crime Prevention: Crime Prevention (19 Nov 2009)

Dermot Ahern: An Garda Síochána enforce the provisions of the criminal law in respect of theft and robbery, including theft and robbery of jewellery and precious metals. If members of the public have suspicions that goods being sold or traded may have been stolen, the correct action is for these suspicions to be referred to An Garda Síochána for investigation. My Department has no function in relation...

Written Answers — Deportation Orders: Deportation Orders (19 Nov 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I wish to inform the Deputy that no deportation order has been made in respect of the person in question. In fact, the person to whom he refers was recently granted permission to remain to remain in the State, under Stamp 4 conditions, until 9 November, 2010, following representations received under section 3 of the Immigration Act, 1999. By way of background, I should add that a proposal to...

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (19 Nov 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The general retirement age in An Garda Síochána was increased by three years to 60 years of age in 2006 and this retirement age is compatible with national and EU legislation. The retirement age for Assistant Commissioner rank was recently challenged in the High Court which found that the setting of that retirement age was objectively and reasonably justified and was compatible with the...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (19 Nov 2009)

Dermot Ahern: A valid application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to in the Deputy's Question were received in the Citizenship Division of my Department in June 2007. 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 — Control of Firearms: Control of Firearms (19 Nov 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 — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (19 Nov 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 — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (19 Nov 2009)

Dermot Ahern: Section 41(1) of the Road Traffic Act 1994 as amended, provides for the making of regulations authorising the detention, removal and storage of vehicles and their subsequent release or disposal when used in a public place. A member of An Garda Síochána is authorised to detain a vehicle when he or she is of the opinion that the vehicle is being used without insurance, road tax or driving...

Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Bill 2009: Second Stage (19 Nov 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The Garda has been constantly investigating the issue of money laundering and I am told that approximately 14,000 suspicious transactions were looked at last year. Some people have raised the issue of the politically exposed person. It does not apply to anyone residing in Ireland, but in any event the directive mandates us to implement this. The concept comes from the directive and will...

Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Bill 2009: Referral to Select Committee (19 Nov 2009)

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

Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Bill 2009: Second Stage (19 Nov 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." The main purpose of the Bill before the House today is to transpose the third EU money laundering and terrorist financing directive into Irish law and to comply with the recommendations of the financial action task force, FATF, third round mutual evaluation report on Ireland. The Bill will also give effect to certain provisions of the United...

Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Bill 2009: Second Stage (19 Nov 2009)

Dermot Ahern: It sounds a little like he was giving his own a soundbite. One would wonder what he was doing for those five years.

Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Bill 2009: Second Stage (19 Nov 2009)

Dermot Ahern: One cannot bring people to court based on what the people on the street believe.