Results 7,721-7,740 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Prison Accommodation. (27 May 2009)

Dermot Ahern: -----while reconsidering the configuration.

Prison Accommodation. (27 May 2009)

Dermot Ahern: No, I did not state that I did not know anything about the figures. I stated the Deputy's figure of €30 million was not correct and he should not misquote me.

Prison Accommodation. (27 May 2009)

Dermot Ahern: Whoever is briefing Deputy Rabbitte is doing so with completely incorrect and inaccurate figures. I know the figures and the difference in the unitary annual cost between the time when the preferred bidder was announced, after which negotiations began, and the final offer that was made by that bidder.

Prison Accommodation. (27 May 2009)

Dermot Ahern: Over the 25-year lifetime of the contract, it would have cost the taxpayer hundreds of millions of euro more. I considered it in the context both of affordability and the concept of constructing a prison to the proposed scale. The Government will consider constructing a similar prison with the same configuration of spaces but will try to find a way to so do while providing better value to...

Prison Accommodation. (27 May 2009)

Dermot Ahern: Ultimately, when I considered the position, having been briefed by my officials on what was the final offer by this consortium, it was decided it could not be afforded on the basis of the additional money that was being sought by the consortium.

Prison Accommodation. (27 May 2009)

Dermot Ahern: Moreover, even at the final stage, the consortium did not come up with a clear indication as to the source of the finance.

Prison Accommodation. (27 May 2009)

Dermot Ahern: Again, we will consider the issue of Thornton Hall-----

Prison Accommodation. (27 May 2009)

Dermot Ahern: -----while trying to provide the same spaces, albeit perhaps on a much more reasonable scale than was conceived originally at the height of the market.

Prison Accommodation. (27 May 2009)

Dermot Ahern: Again, the direct day-to-day running of the prison is the responsibility of the Irish Prison Service and I am in constant contact with its director in respect of this issue. Obviously, our record speaks for itself. Both Deputies Flanagan and Rabbitte were members of a Government that stopped the prison building programme.

Prison Accommodation. (27 May 2009)

Dermot Ahern: While the Deputy may state that was ages ago, one cannot build prison spaces overnight and one must plan for the short, medium and long term, which is what the Government has done by building 1,300 spaces since 1997.

Prison Accommodation. (27 May 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The Government restarted the prison building programme, which had been in abeyance for three years when Deputy Flanagan's party was last in government. The Government has provided 1,300 spaces and will put in another 400 by mid-summer-----

Prison Accommodation. (27 May 2009)

Dermot Ahern: -----and is considering the long term, which is Thornton Hall. The Government should be given credit in this regard.

Garda Reserve. (27 May 2009)

Dermot Ahern: On 30 April 2009, there were 322 attested reserve gardaí with a further 198 at various stages of training making a total of 520. The Government is strongly committed to the development of the Garda Reserve. I am fully satisfied that the reserve provides, and will continue to provide, a valuable contribution to the Garda Síochána and to the many communities in which it operates. In...

Garda Reserve. (27 May 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I do not accept it has not got the political will it requires. This Government set up the Garda reserve so I do not know what the Deputy is talking about. As far as I am concerned, I was down-----

Garda Reserve. (27 May 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I was in Templemore recently when substantial numbers of Garda reserves were attested and they are now out on the streets. The fact is that under existing legislation they have relatively minor powers in regard to policing, and are allocated to station duty, other than the care and custody of prisoners; communication room duty, to include the monitoring of CCTV; foot patrol when accompanied...

Garda Reserve. (27 May 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I would not disagree with the Deputy in regard to using the Garda reserve as at least a part of the gateway to becoming a full-time member of the Garda Síochána. It is an issue we should consider and we are doing so at present. Again, while a large number of people are applying, one cannot just put anyone out on the street and there must be good vetting of applicants. We have been...

Garda Reserve. (27 May 2009)

Dermot Ahern: This is a commitment over the lifetime of the Government. Given the fact that substantial numbers are already attested and a substantial number are still in training, those figures will be reached over the lifetime of the Government.

Garda Reserve. (27 May 2009)

Dermot Ahern: This is the target of the current Government.

Garda Reserve. (27 May 2009)

Dermot Ahern: That is the commitment. The Deputy sometimes incorrectly complains that we do not comply with the commitments we make.

Garda Strength. (27 May 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that 178 members of the Garda Síochána have voluntarily retired in the first four months of this year. This compares to 74 in the same period last year, 33 the previous year and 62 the year before that. A breakdown of figures for other years is not immediately available. Clearly, the rate of early retirements is increasing compared to previous...