Results 6,941-6,960 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (8 Jul 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I would refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 306 of 23 June, 2009.

Written Answers — Prison Accommodation: Prison Accommodation (8 Jul 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I wish to inform the Deputy that as of 6 July, 2009 there were 3,786 permanent beds available in the prison system. On the same day there were 3,908 prisoners in custody. This represented an occupancy level of 103%. The following table provides a breakdown of the population of each prison/place of detention on 6 July, 2009: Prison/Place of Detention Bed Capacity No. of prisoners heldin...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (8 Jul 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 the statistics sought by the Deputy directly to him.

Written Answers — Bench Warrants: Bench Warrants (8 Jul 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I am informed by the Garda authorities that there are 37,345 bench warrants recorded as unexecuted as of 3 July, 2009. It is inevitable in any criminal justice system that at any given time there will be a significant number of warrants awaiting execution. The Garda authorities are committed to strengthening the warrants in the system enforcement process. The Commissioner has raised the...

Written Answers — Garda Communications: Garda Communications (8 Jul 2009)

Dermot Ahern: There is no continuing delay in the roll-out of the National Digital Radio Service to An Garda Síochána. Roll-out of the service commenced on a phased basis in the Dublin Metropolitan Region on 16th June 2009 when the network was declared to be ready for use. A further phase of the Garda roll-out is taking place today (8th July) and further phases are planned in accordance with agreed...

Written Answers — Irish Prison Service: Irish Prison Service (8 Jul 2009)

Dermot Ahern: In 2003 the results of a survey commissioned by my Department were published in the Irish Prison Service publication entitled "The Prison Adult Literacy Survey - Results and Implications". The cost of commissioning and publishing the survey was €32,080. The survey found that a significant number of prisoners were not functionally literate, with 52% of them at Level 1 or Pre-Level 1...

Written Answers — Garda Equipment: Garda Equipment (8 Jul 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I have been informed by the Garda authorities that two firearms were reported stolen over this five year period*, one in 2004 and the other in 2006. Both firearms were subsequently recovered. * From the beginning of 2004 up to 15 December 2008.

Written Answers — Irish Prison Service: Irish Prison Service (8 Jul 2009)

Dermot Ahern: Mobile phones are viewed as highly valuable commodities which could assist in illegal activity and eliminating their supply is one of the major challenges facing prisons worldwide. The Irish Prison Service is dealing with this problem through a multifaceted approach which incorporates measures to prevent the smuggling of mobile phones into prisons, search and find operations aimed at locating...

Written Answers — Drugs in Prisons: Drugs in Prisons (8 Jul 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The first Body Orifice Security Scanner (BOSS) chair was introduced by the Irish Prison Service in early 2008 on a pilot basis as part of a wide range of security initiatives introduced to combat the smuggling of contraband into our prisons. Since then seven additional chairs have been installed bringing the total to eight and it is proposed to introduce them in all closed prisons during the...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (8 Jul 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 334 and 335 together. I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda Commissioner. I will write to the Deputy directly when this information is to hand.

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (8 Jul 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I refer the Deputy to my Reply to Parliamentary Question No. 289 of Tuesday, 24 February 2009, which sets out the position in this matter. As indicated therein, a key element in the White Paper process will be the production of a series of discussion documents designed to stimulate and structure the debate on relevant topics. I can confirm that the first in the series will be published shortly.

Written Answers — Crime Prevention: Crime Prevention (8 Jul 2009)

Dermot Ahern: In the time available it has not been possible for the Garda authorities to supply the information requested by the Deputy. I will be in contact with the Deputy when the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Payment of Fines: Payment of Fines (8 Jul 2009)

Dermot Ahern: Statistics of the kind sought by the Deputy are not readily available, in particular because there is inevitably a time lapse between a fine being imposed and its collection.

Written Answers — Garda Remuneration: Garda Remuneration (8 Jul 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following tables. Overtime Expenditure in An Garda Síochána Year Expenditure (€ million) 2004 63.1 2005 79.5 2006 105 2007 138.4 2008 115.3 2009 (to 6th July) 41.9 Overtime Expenditure in the Irish Prison Service Year Expenditure (€ million) 2004 45.5 2005 46 2006 6.2* 2007 0.06* 2008 0.07* 2009 (to end June)...

Written Answers — Sentencing Policy: Sentencing Policy (8 Jul 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I wish to advise the Deputy that the available statistical information can be obtained from the Annual Reports of the Irish Prison Service for the years requested. I am further advised that the 2008 report will be published in the near future. The Irish Prison Service have also informed me that the relevant reports are available on their website: www.irishprisons.ie

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (8 Jul 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The Irish Nationality and Citizenship (Fees) Regulations, 2008, sets out the prescribed fees payable by applicants on the issue of a certificate of naturalisation since 1 August, 2008. The fees are as follows: (a) where an application is made on behalf of a minor, a fee of €200.00 (b) where an application is made by a spouse of a naturalised Irish citizen, a fee of €950.00 (c) where an...

Written Answers — Asylum Support Services: Asylum Support Services (8 Jul 2009)

Dermot Ahern: In replying to the Deputy's Question, it is firstly necessary to give the following general background to the asylum seeker accommodation system. The Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) is responsible for the accommodation of asylum seekers in accordance with the Government policy of direct provision and dispersal. The RIA is currently accommodating almost 6,900 persons representing 94...

Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (7 Jul 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I move amendment No. 1: In page 4, line 22, to delete "in relation to the commission of an offence". This is a drafting amendment to section 3. The amendment deletes a reference in the definition of "structured group" to "in relation to the commission of an offence" in the context of two people acting in concert. The words are unnecessary as they are contained in the definition of criminal...

Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (7 Jul 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The revised definition of organised crime is simpler. The notion of the period of time contained in the 2006 Act has been removed and it is also now clear that it is enough for two persons to act in concert rather than three persons, as before. It is no longer necessary to show that the commission of a serious offence was to obtain a financial or material benefit. For example, directing...

Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (7 Jul 2009)

Dermot Ahern: Three or more people constitutes a gang, whereas the commission of the offence relates to two or more persons.