Results 7,641-7,660 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (27 May 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The incident to which the Deputy refers is the subject of an ongoing and active investigation by An Garda Síochána. There is also, as required by law in such circumstances, an investigation under way by the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission. As these investigations are ongoing at present it would not be appropriate for me to comment on the details at this stage. What I will say is...

Written Answers — Crime Prevention: Crime Prevention (27 May 2009)

Dermot Ahern: Work on the preparation of the National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence is well advanced and is expected to be completed as planned by the end of this year. A wide range of State and non-governmental organisations dealing with domestic and sexual violence are assisting with the drafting of the strategy. They responded to the call for submissions on the strategy and...

Written Answers — Public Private Partnerships: Public Private Partnerships (27 May 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I do not accept the Deputy's contention about the Public Private Partnership (PPP) mechanism as a means of delivering infrastructure. He may not be aware for example that the greatest investment in courts buildings and services since the construction of the Four Courts over 300 years ago is due to be completed in the next six months. I am referring of course to the new Criminal Courts...

Written Answers — Prison Building Programme: Prison Building Programme (27 May 2009)

Dermot Ahern: As I set out already to this House it is my intention to bring comprehensive new proposals for a prison development at Thornton Hall in North County Dublin to the Government in a matter of weeks setting out how we can proceed with building a new prison on the site in a cost effective manner. There are a number of procedural steps set out in the Department of Finance guidelines for procuring...

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (27 May 2009)

Dermot Ahern: My Department and the Garda Síochána, in consultation with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Office of the Attorney General, are developing proposals for a new system which would allow for the taking of contemporaneous written notes to cease where interviews are electronically recorded. There is a complex range of training, technological, financial and legal issues...

Written Answers — Anti-Social Behaviour Orders: Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (27 May 2009)

Dermot Ahern: Part 11 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006, which provides for civil proceedings in relation to anti-social behaviour by adults, was commenced on 1 January, 2007. Part 13 of the Act, relating to anti-social behaviour by children, was commenced on 1 March, 2007. These provisions set out an incremental procedure for addressing anti-social behaviour by adults and children. These provisions have...

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (27 May 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to takes Questions Nos. 94 and 103 together. I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that two persons have been charged in connection with the incident to which the Deputy refers and that a file has been submitted to the Law Officers in relation to these persons. A sum of money relating to these charges was also recovered. In the circumstances it would not be appropriate for me to...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (27 May 2009)

Dermot Ahern: Certificates of naturalisation are issued on payment of the prescribed fee at the time of certification as set out in the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. Certification fees for Citizenship were last changed in 1993. The regulations that came into force on 1st August 2008 were the result of a review of citizenship fees that began some time prior to that date and merely...

Written Answers — Gangland Crime: Gangland Crime (27 May 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I have requested the statistical information which the Deputy has sought from the Garda authorities who are currently compiling the data. I will communicate it to the Deputy when it is to hand.

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (27 May 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the personnel strength of attested members of An Garda Síochána, as at the latest date for which figures are readily available, was 14,478. The number of recruits in training at Phases 1 to 3 at that date was 774. The number of probationer Gardaí who have been attested but have not yet graduated (i.e. not yet completed Phases 4 and 5) at...

Written Answers — Gangland Crime: Gangland Crime (27 May 2009)

Dermot Ahern: There are a number of major criminals who will attempt to use whatever means possible to continue criminal activity while in prison custody. This Government took a decision in 2007 to approve the significant resources necessary to introduce a wide ranging package of security measures which target the routes whereby contraband such as drugs, weapons and mobile phones are trafficked into our...

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (27 May 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I refer the Deputy to Parliamentary Question No. 131 of Wednesday 22 April, 2009 which outlines both the immediate and longer term plans for the station. The position remains unchanged.

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (27 May 2009)

Dermot Ahern: Legislation to give effect to the 3rd EU Money Laundering Directive and the related Implementing Directive is at an advanced stage of drafting. The legislation will also have regard to relevant recommendations arising from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) third mutual evaluation report (2006) on Ireland's measures to combat money laundering and the financing of terrorism. I am also...

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (27 May 2009)

Dermot Ahern: As stated previously, I am unaware of any proposal to shut rural Garda stations. I am aware of the issue raised by the organisation referred to by the Deputy and I have recently written to them in relation to the matter. I have set out the position in relation to rural Garda stations in my response to Parliamentary Question No. 262 of the 23rd of April 2009.

Written Answers — Drugs Seizures: Drugs Seizures (27 May 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I set out below a tabular statement giving the latest available information in relation to drug seizures for 2007, 2008 and this year to date. This statement shows seizures of a total value of over €168m being made in 2007 and just under €200m in 2008. Because of the covert nature of the activity, it is simply not possible to give a reliable estimate of the proportion of drugs coming...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (27 May 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I refer the Deputy to Parliamentary Question 15587/09 which he put down for answer on 22 April 2009.

Written Answers — Garda Recruitment: Garda Recruitment (27 May 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The Garda Training College continues to provide an excellent and essential service to An Garda Síochána and will do so into the future. There are currently a total of 774 Garda students in training. Approximately 275 of these will become attested in June 2009 with the remainder due to be attested over the next 12 months. The Public Service recruitment moratorium does not apply to the...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (27 May 2009)

Dermot Ahern: An application for a certificate of naturalisation on behalf of the person in question, who is a minor, was submitted by his mother to the Citizenship Section of my Department on 24 October 2008. Due to the fact that applications on behalf of minors generally require less processing than standard adult applications, it is usually possible to finalise them more quickly. Based on current...

Written Answers — Prison Accommodation: Prison Accommodation (27 May 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I do not accept the contention that Thornton Hall has been put "on hold". Both the Taoiseach and I have set out in the clearest possible terms the Government's continued commitment to replacing the Mountjoy Prison complex with modern prison accommodation at Thornton. The clear case has been made for this course of action and this Government will deliver on that commitment in a manner that...

Written Answers — Removal Orders: Removal Orders (27 May 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The European Communities (Free Movement of Persons) Regulations 2006 were transposed into Irish Law under S.I. No 656 of 2006 and came into force on 1 January 2007. Requests for Removal Orders in accordance with Regulation 20 are made to my Department by An Garda Síochána and not directly by the Courts Service. Each application made to my Department for the issuance of a Removal Order in...