Results 641-660 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — Community Service Orders: Community Service Orders (16 Nov 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I am of the view that there is scope for greater use of community service orders in relatively minor cases. To that end, a proposal to draft a Criminal Justice (Community Service) (Amendment) Bill was approved by Government on 9 November. An amendment to existing legislation will require courts to consider imposing a community service order in any case where they had envisaged imposing a...

Written Answers — Liquor Licensing Laws: Liquor Licensing Laws (16 Nov 2010)

Dermot Ahern: Enforcement of the Licensing Acts 1833 to 2010, including the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2008, is a matter for the Garda. As regards below-cost selling of intoxicating liquor, the position is that the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment revoked the Restrictive Practices (Groceries) Order 1987 in March 2006, thereby removing price controls from alcohol products. However, in March...

Written Answers — Immigration Service: Immigration Service (16 Nov 2010)

Dermot Ahern: Section 4 of the Immigration Act, 2004, empowers an immigration officer, on behalf of the Minister, to authorise a non-national to land or be in the State. Sub-section (3) of Section 4 sets out the various circumstances which an immigration officer may have regard to in refusing to give such authorisation. The table below sets out the number of persons refused permission to land in the State...

Written Answers — Irish Prison Service: Irish Prison Service (16 Nov 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I wish to inform the Deputy that the total number of prisoners in custody on 15 November 2010 was 4,416. The number of prisoners on temporary release for that day was 660. The Deputy will appreciate the Irish Prison Service must accept all prisoners committed by the Courts. There has been a consistent increase in the total prisoner population over recent years. This situation is...

Written Answers — Irish Prison Service: Irish Prison Service (16 Nov 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I can advise the Deputy that the number of complaints and reports relating to rodents, insects and other pests received are set out in the following table: From 2009 to date Prisons Complaints/Reports Arbour Hill Nil Castlerea Nil Cloverhill Nil Cork Nil Dóchas Nil Limerick 3 Reports Loughan House Nil Midlands Nil Mountjoy Nil Portlaoise Nil Shelton Abbey 1 Reports St...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (16 Nov 2010)

Dermot Ahern: Responsibility for the allocation of resources, including personnel, within the Force rests with the Garda Commissioner, in consultation with his senior management team. Resource levels are constantly monitored, in conjunction with crime trends and other demands made on An Garda Síochána. The situation is kept under continuing review to ensure optimum use is made of these resources and...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (16 Nov 2010)

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 August 2006. Officials in that section inform me that letters requesting further documentation have been sent to the applicant on 7 November 2008 and further letters were issued on 14 May 2009 and 4 August 2010. This...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (16 Nov 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The amount paid in damages in respect of civil claims handled by my Department, arising from the actions of members of the Garda Síochána, is set out in the table below. This information is also available on my Department's website. In addition to the claims handled in my Department, the State Claims Agency also manages other categories of personal injury and property damage claims against...

Written Answers — Legal Aid Service: Legal Aid Service (16 Nov 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I can inform the Deputy that the full details of the estimate for 2010 for legal aid, both civil and criminal, are contained in the Revised Estimates for Public Services 2010, while the costs for the earlier years sought are contained in the Revised Estimates volume for each of the years concerned. As the Deputy will be aware, copies of these documents are available at www.finance.gov.ie and...

Written Answers — Garda Vetting Services: Garda Vetting Services (16 Nov 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I am informed by the Garda Authorities that an application for Garda vetting in respect of the person to whom the Deputy refers is in the course of being processed and a response will issue in due course.

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (16 Nov 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The number of applications for a Study Visa that have been rejected so far in 2010 on the basis that the student's need to undertake a course in the State is not demonstrated or warranted is 298 wordlwide. This figure represents slightly less than 6% of Study Visa applications received. The period covered is from 1 January 2010 to 11 November 2010.

Written Answers — Crime Prevention: Crime Prevention (16 Nov 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I am informed by the Garda authorities that, up to 12 November, 2010, there has been a reduction of approximately 10% in the number of burglaries in Meath Garda Division, compared with the same period in 2009. Crime prevention initiatives have been put in place by local Garda management. These include high visibility patrols and checkpoints by uniform personnel, supplemented as required by...

Written Answers — County Sheriffs: County Sheriffs (16 Nov 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I am not in a position to provide legal advice in response to Parliamentary Questions. However, I can say, generally, that the powers of Sheriffs and County Registrars are as prescribed in various Courts Acts. The charges and fees levied by a Sheriff are set out in the Sheriff's Fees and Expenses Order 2005 (S.I. No. 644 of 2005).

Written Answers — Garda Vetting Services: Garda Vetting Services (16 Nov 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The Garda Central Vetting Unit (GCVU) provides employment vetting for a large number of organisations in Ireland registered with the Gardaí for this purpose and which employ persons in a full-time, part-time, voluntary or training capacity to positions where they would have substantial, unsupervised access to children and/or vulnerable adults. The processing time for vetting applications...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (16 Nov 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I have requested a report from the Garda authorities in relation to the levels of speeding at the location referred to by the Deputy. I will contact the Deputy again as soon as the report is to hand. The issuing and payment of fines are matters for the courts. Under the Courts Service Act 1998 the Courts Service is independent in the performance of its functions which include, inter alia,...

Written Answers — UN Convention Against Corruption: UN Convention Against Corruption (16 Nov 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The United Nations Convention Against Corruption was signed on behalf of Ireland when that Instrument opened for signature in December 2003. There are certain legislative measures required to be in place before Ireland can proceed with ratification, and it is intended that the arrangements will be made for ratification of this Convention, as soon as the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment)...

Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (16 Nov 2010)

Dermot Ahern: It is my intention to consolidate anti-corruption legislation with a view to making the law more accessible for people, and to bring greater clarity to this area. As the Deputy will be aware, the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill 2008, is currently under consideration by the Oireachtas. Its enactment will facilitate fulfilment of our international obligations in regard to the United...

Written Answers — Crime Prevention: Crime Prevention (16 Nov 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I can inform the Deputy that I published a discussion document entitled Organised and White Collar Crime on 22 October 2010, as part of the consultation process leading to a White Paper on Crime. The document has been widely circulated and is available to download from my Department's website or in hard copy by request. Submissions on the issues raised in the document may be made by end...

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (16 Nov 2010)

Dermot Ahern: Part 11 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006 provides for civil proceedings in relation to anti-social behaviour by adults, and Part 13 of the Act relates to anti-social behaviour by children. These provisions set out an incremental procedure for addressing anti-social behaviour. For adults they provide for a behaviour warning and a civil order. For children, they range from a behaviour...

Written Answers — Juvenile Offenders: Juvenile Offenders (16 Nov 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Question 29 on 4 February, 2010. The position remains as stated.