Results 6,021-6,040 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Election of Ceann Comhairle (13 Oct 2009)

Dermot Ahern: As a constituency colleague I also wish to offer my congratulations, coimhghairdeas and also to his wife, Mary and his family and also to his hard-working secretary of many years, Dymphna Neasy. It will be an interesting constituency from now on. He is leaving me with a very heavy burden of looking after the entire constituency which now stretches from Omeath, Fairyhill on one side and as...

Written Answers — Judicial Investigations: Judicial Investigations (13 Oct 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I understand that, following discussions by officials with possible providers of counselling services, the legal advisor to the Victims Committee has been consulted to establish the level of interest among the bereaved families in taking up such services at this juncture. Appropriate arrangements to provide services will be made for those among the bereaved families who feel this would be of...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (13 Oct 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Question 638 on 16 September, 2009. The position remains as stated.

Written Answers — Legal Costs: Legal Costs (13 Oct 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I can inform the Deputy that the law, as it stands, provides for an independent and impartial assessment of legal costs by a Taxing Master. There are currently two Taxing Masters who perform functions of a judicial nature in respect of legal costs with the aim of establishing a fair relationship between the services rendered and the cost of those services. The positions of the Taxing Master...

Written Answers — Closed Circuit Television Systems: Closed Circuit Television Systems (13 Oct 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The Community-based CCTV Scheme was launched in 2005 to provide financial assistance towards the capital costs of establishing community CCTV systems in towns and cities throughout the country. A total of 43 schemes have been approved for substantive funding and to date 25 of these have been fully installed with the balance at various stages of implementation. Any future plans for the...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (13 Oct 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The information requested by the Deputy for 2008 is available in the recently published Appropriation Accounts for my Department and the other Votes under the aegis of the Department. The corresponding information for 2009 will be published in the same manner in due course. In the meantime information on the budgetary allocations for 2009 is available in the Revised Estimates Volume...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (13 Oct 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The information requested by the Deputy for 2008 is available in the recently published Appropriation Accounts for my Department and the other Votes under the aegis of the Department. The corresponding information for 2009 will be published in the same manner in due course. In the meantime information on the budgetary allocations for 2009 is available in the Revised Estimates Volume...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (13 Oct 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 2008. 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 — Prison Security: Prison Security (13 Oct 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I am informed by the Director General of the Irish Prison Service that a number of meetings have been held recently between Mountjoy Prison Management and local residents in relation to this issue and that these will continue as necessary. The position is that, some years ago, following concerns expressed by residents, physical barriers were erected adjacent to the rear gardens of a number...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (13 Oct 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 235 and 236 together. Leixlip Garda Station forms part of the Kildare Division. I have been informed by the Garda authorities that on the latest date for which figures are readily available the total strength of Kildare Division was 321, which includes 3 Inspectors. It should be noted that Inspectors have a Divisional remit. The strength of Leixlip Garda...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (13 Oct 2009)

Dermot Ahern: Where an applicant is the spouse of a non-EEA national who is in possession of a valid work permit and has been in employment for at least twelve months prior to the date of application, it is open to such an applicant resident outside the State, and who is visa required, to apply to their nearest Irish Embassy or Consulate for the appropriate visa. Each visa application is considered on its...

Written Answers — Garda Training: Garda Training (13 Oct 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I have been informed by the Garda Authorities that Motorcycle and Advanced Motorcycle Training Courses are provided on an ongoing basis by the Garda Driving Schools with no delays currently being experienced in the provision of these courses. Van and Personnel Carrier Courses are also provided on an ongoing basis within an average period of approximately ten weeks from the date an...

Written Answers — Missing Persons: Missing Persons (13 Oct 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I have been in direct contact with the person referred to by the Deputy. Following my request to the Garda Síochána Inspectorate to assess the need to establish a dedicated Missing Persons Unit within An Garda Síochána, including a response similar to Amber Alert, and to report their findings to me, the Inspectorate published its report earlier this year. One of its main recommendations...

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (13 Oct 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I am advised by the Garda authorities that the Office of Public Works has allocated the former Department of Social Welfare, Community and Family Affairs offices in Athlone, which is situated adjacent to the existing Garda station, to the Garda Síochána. The timetable for the proposed refurbishment works to the station will be considered in the context of overall building priorities and...

Written Answers — Closed Circuit Television Systems: Closed Circuit Television Systems (13 Oct 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 242 and 255 together. I am advised by the Garda authorities that installation of the CCTV system for Athlone is nearing completion. Civil Works are being completed in the Garda station to accommodate monitoring and the system is under going final testing. It is expected that the system will be commissioned before the end of November, subject to the civil...

Written Answers — Private Security Services: Private Security Services (13 Oct 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The Private Security Authority, established under the Private Security Services Act 2004, is the regulatory body with responsibility for regulating and licensing the private security industry. The Authority is an independent body under the aegis of my Department and the administration of the Authority is vested in its Board Membership. My Department is therefore not involved in the day to...

Written Answers — Legal Aid Service: Legal Aid Service (13 Oct 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) (Amendment) Bill referred to in the Government's Legislation Programme, as announced by the Chief Whip on 16 September 2009, proposes to strengthen the provisions for the granting of criminal legal aid. The Bill is in the course of being drafted with a view to being published as soon as possible. While the schemes of criminal legal aid and civil legal aid...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (13 Oct 2009)

Dermot Ahern: A Legal Costs Bill is a commitment in the Government Legislation Programme. The details of my proposals for the Bill continue to be developed in my Department with a view to being completed as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (13 Oct 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The Multi-Unit Developments Bill 2009 was presented to the Seanad on 25 May 2009 and is currently awaiting Committee Stage. The Bill has been developed against a background of extensive consultations by the Law Reform Commission during the preparation of its Consultation Paper and Final Report on the subject. Work is continuing in my Department on preparing necessary amendments to the Bill...

Written Answers — Prison Building Programme: Prison Building Programme (13 Oct 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The Deputy will be aware that when granting development consent for the Thornton prison project, the Oireachtas decided to increase the planted zone in order to mitigate the visual and aural impact of the development. The initial landscape contract for the Thornton Hall site comprised the planting of approximately 3,700 linear metres of the boundary of the site with trees and shrubs within a...