Results 7,661-7,680 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern
- Written Answers — Gangland Crime: Gangland Crime (27 May 2009)
Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 160 and 163 together. I am informed by the Garda Authorities that currently there are two categories of organised crime groups operating in this jurisdiction. The first category consists of individuals / groups that are well established and tightly structured involved in drug trafficking, armed robbery and firearms offences. The second category involves groups...
- Written Answers — Gangland Crime: Gangland Crime (27 May 2009)
Dermot Ahern: According to the Garda authorities the number of robberies of cash or cash in transit recorded in the years 2004 to the present, and the number of detections, are as follows :
- Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (27 May 2009)
Dermot Ahern: The Garda SÃochána 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 — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (27 May 2009)
Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 164 and 165 together. The opening hours of all Garda stations throughout the State are provided in the reply to Parliamentary Question 15302/09 which was put down for answer on 22 April 2009 and the position remains unchanged. The opening hours of non-24 hour stations are dependent on manpower availability. The extension of the current opening hours of these...
- Written Answers — Witness Intimidation: Witness Intimidation (27 May 2009)
Dermot Ahern: There is a specific statutory offence of intimidation of witnesses or jurors. Section 41 of the Criminal Justice Act 1999 makes it an offence to harm or threaten or in any other way intimidate or put in fear another person who is assisting in the investigation by the Garda SÃochána of an offence or is a witness or potential witness or a juror or potential juror in proceedings for an...
- Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (27 May 2009)
Dermot Ahern: The Garda SÃochána 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 — Prison Security: Prison Security (27 May 2009)
Dermot Ahern: This Government took a decision in 2007 to approve the resources necessary to introduce a package of security measures which target the routes whereby contraband such as drugs, weapons and mobile phones are trafficked into our prisons. As a result, a number of new security initiatives have been introduced in all closed prisons including: the introduction of enhanced security screening for...
- Written Answers — Prison Accommodation: Prison Accommodation (27 May 2009)
Dermot Ahern: Since 1997 in excess of 1,300 prison spaces have come on stream in the prison system. These include the new prisons in Castlerea, the Midlands, Cloverhill, the Dóchas Centre and new accommodation in Limerick Prison. A further 400 extra paces are coming on stream this year in Castlerea, Wheatfield and Portlaoise Prisons. These significant developments increased our overall capacity as...
- Written Answers — Anti-Social Behaviour: Anti-Social Behaviour (27 May 2009)
Dermot Ahern: The Garda Policing Plan for 2009, which reflects the priorities set for the Force by me as Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, contains a series of measures aimed at reducing the impact of crime and criminal behaviour. One of the strategic goals identified in the Plan is to reduce significantly the incidence of public disorder and anti-social behaviour in communities. I am...
- Garda Strength. (27 May 2009)
Dermot Ahern: We cannot give an indication of what the overall figure for retirements over the year will be. It was always indicated, even before any recent announcements in the budget or in regard to moratoriums and so on, that over a three-year period, given the fact there was an extension in regard to age back in 2006, there would always be a spike in these years, particularly at the current time....
- Garda Strength. (27 May 2009)
Dermot Ahern: I have indicated previously that the figure is expected to be approximately 14,900. There are approximately 900 gardaà in training as we speak. It is probable that 900 new gardaà will come on stream between now and the end of the year. I cannot dictate whether there will be an increase in the number of retirements. It is a matter for individual gardaÃ, as they approach retirement age...
- Sexual Offences. (27 May 2009)
Dermot Ahern: I am informed by the Garda authorities that they have conducted a number of operations to combat brothel keeping, prostitution and human trafficking. The Garda will continue to conduct such operations, in line with the intelligence available to it. A recent investigation by the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, in conjunction with a number of other police forces, resulted in...
- Sexual Offences. (27 May 2009)
Dermot Ahern: I assure the House that this country's legislation in respect of brothel-keeping and the sex industry in general is strict and strong. I will not mention all the legislative provisions that are in place. The Garda has been very active in this area. A number of operations, including Operation Hotel, Operation Quest, Operation Snow and Operation Boulder, have been ongoing over recent years....
- Sexual Offences. (27 May 2009)
Dermot Ahern: That is something the Garda can look at.
- Sexual Offences. (27 May 2009)
Dermot Ahern: What was the other issue the Deputy asked about?
- Sexual Offences. (27 May 2009)
Dermot Ahern: Gardaà work closely with their colleagues on the other side of the Border and elsewhere in the UK.
- Sexual Offences. (27 May 2009)
Dermot Ahern: I would not like to fuel the perception that Ireland has a more lax regime, in some way, than the UK.
- Sexual Offences. (27 May 2009)
Dermot Ahern: The Garda works closely with its counterparts across the Border and elsewhere in the UK, in particular. It also works with police forces on the Continent.
- Electronic Tagging. (27 May 2009)
Dermot Ahern: The Deputy will be aware that I published a detailed discussion document on the management of convicted sex offenders last January. The document highlights, inter alia, the possibility of using GPS electronic monitoring technology to monitor higher-risk convicted sex offenders for the first six months after the completion of their prison sentences and their release back into the community....
- Electronic Tagging. (27 May 2009)
Dermot Ahern: It is my intention and I have not softened in that respect. This is quite a complex area. In France only 20 serious sex offenders are subject to electronic monitoring. If we proceed on this, which I hope we will do in the not too distant future, we will be the first in Europe to use a global positioning service, GPS. Tagging is used extensively in the US but not so extensively in other...