Results 6,001-6,020 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Leaders' Questions. (21 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I do not know offhand the figures for burglaries.

Leaders' Questions. (21 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The Minister tells me there was an increase. In interpreting the figures one must consider a sizeable increase in population. This morning I read the figures supplied by the Minister's Department. In 1995 with a population of 3.6 million there were 29 crimes per thousand head of population, in 2005 with a population of more than 4.1 million there was an equivalent of 24.6 crimes per thousand.

Leaders' Questions. (21 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The gardaí figures are up.

Leaders' Questions. (21 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: By the end of this year there will be 3,500 more gardaí, including the students going through the system.

Leaders' Questions. (21 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: There are not more robbers. The crime rate is down per thousand head of population.

Leaders' Questions. (21 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: By our own and international standards crime has decreased. Any crime is one too many.

Leaders' Questions. (21 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: According to the records these are the statistics.

Leaders' Questions. (21 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The Deputy has asked me several questions.

Leaders' Questions. (21 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I will answer all the questions.

Leaders' Questions. (21 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The figure of 14,000 will be reached at the end of the year. From 1995 to 1997 there were 53 homicides while last year there were 58. That is certainly an increase, but one must take into account that the population has also increased by 600,000.

Leaders' Questions. (21 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The Garda budget in the Estimates for the capital programme has gone up 35%, a huge increase. The strength of the force has increased significantly and the Garda budget is up 39%. The Commissioner has undertaken to review the force's performance, looking at some new techniques in the areas where detection rates are not so high. Detection rates for crimes against the person continue to compare...

Leaders' Questions. (21 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I am not getting into a dispute about this. I am told that the low figures of personnel in the Dublin Garda stations in December 2005, was due to transfer of 50 personnel from the uniformed service.

Leaders' Questions. (21 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I am not. I am merely giving the reason. If the Deputy was not told that, I am telling him now. I have no difficulty mentioning the areas where crime has increased. However, the policy of this Government was first to stop the revolving door system——

Leaders' Questions. (21 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: ——to open up 1900 additional prison places, to bring Garda numbers up to 12,500 and now to 14,000. We had to make a considerable investment in Templemore training college to provide the necessary facilities. The policy was also to resource the Garda properly, both in terms of existing staff, overtime rates and equipment. Allowing for the population increase, the figures do not show that...

Leaders' Questions. (21 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Deputy Rabbitte is aware that the surplus clerical staff in the Department of Agriculture and Food is to be appointed to the posts he speaks of. I understand some 300 people are to be involved.

Leaders' Questions. (21 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I do not want to repeat all the figures again, but we will have an additional 3,500 gardaí on the streets. Our population has increased. The Minister took action to increase Garda numbers to what they are today. That took an enormous effort. Anyone familiar with the training programme and the top class new facilities at Templemore will be aware of the effort to do that. We will reach the...

Leaders' Questions. (21 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The Minister was in College Green on St. Patrick's Day. I do not want to get into the other issues either. The Minister has dealt with personal issues——

Leaders' Questions. (21 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: ——and it has been accepted by Deputy Kenny.

Leaders' Questions. (21 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I meant to answer Deputy Kenny's question. I declare my position by saying I have personal security. In fairness to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform he has not used personal security. I do not want to make an issue of that because that may not be wise.

Leaders' Questions. (21 Mar 2006)

Bertie Ahern: While I have acknowledged some of the difficulties it is entirely wrong for any Member, not least Deputy Rabbitte, to try to portray this or any other city as a lawless zone because that is totally untrue. This city has the third highest number of tourists in Europe. All the research carried out shows it is a safe city. I acknowledge there are pockets in my constituency and in that of the...