Results 8,341-8,360 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Asylum Applications. (22 Apr 2009)

Dermot Ahern: This matter will be fast-tracked when the complicated legislation to which I refer has been passed.

Garda Investigations. (22 Apr 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The killing of Roy Collins is deplored by all right-thinking people and our sympathy is with his family and friends. The killing remains under active investigation by An Garda Síochána in Limerick, with assistance being provided, as required, by Garda national support services. A number of persons have been arrested and detained in the course of the investigation. One person has been...

Garda Investigations. (22 Apr 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I hope to go to Government on the other measures soon. I welcome the support of Members of the House, particularly on the necessity for the use of these special arrangements. It must be said the courts in Limerick have been successful in gaining prosecutions because, thankfully, people have come forward. The success rate of prosecutions for gangland crime is better in Limerick than...

Garda Investigations. (22 Apr 2009)

Dermot Ahern: Having said that, I believe, as does the House, that recent events, not least the murders of Shane Geoghegan and Roy Collins, were an affront to society and to those decent people who were prepared to come forward to give evidence. The State must respond and that is why we are fast-tracking surveillance legislation in the wake of the murder of Shane Geoghegan and the recent murders in the...

Garda Investigations. (22 Apr 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The legislation will be taken next week or the week after that. There is a convention that we must allow for a two week time lag, as the Opposition always reminds us. I would like to introduce the legislation next week but people must have an opportunity to look at the implications of the Bill.

Garda Investigations. (22 Apr 2009)

Dermot Ahern: It is complex legislation.

Garda Investigations. (22 Apr 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The Government approved the Bill, subject to some minor drafting, before the murder of Roy Collins. With regard to the additional measures, I believed, after consultation with the Attorney General, my Department, the Taoiseach and the Minister for Defence, Deputy O'Dea, they were necessary in view of what has happened in recent weeks. I strongly suggest, in the context of potentially moving...

Garda Investigations. (22 Apr 2009)

Dermot Ahern: If there are people who are in fear of intimidation, and I understand from the Garda, the Minister, Deputy O'Dea, and others that there is intimidation of witnesses and jurors, particularly in the context of recent events, and even though we recently changed the legislation relating to the issue of intimidation of witnesses, I am prepared to increase the penalties to more than ten years....

Garda Investigations. (22 Apr 2009)

Dermot Ahern: It is the case that there was a change of view in the Garda Síochána, and that long predated the murders of Shane Geoghegan and Mr. Collins. It has to be accepted that for decades the Garda has been using electronic surveillance. Obviously, it is being used to a certain extent without statutory authority. Gardaí have been limited in what they can do given the prohibition in the...

Garda Investigations. (22 Apr 2009)

Dermot Ahern: Again, there is no change of heart with regard to any of those matters. What we are examining more intensely is the issue of directing a criminal organisation, which is not covered in existing legislation, and to mirror, in effect, the offences that were introduced after 1998 and the Omagh bombing. That is what we propose to do. There has been a ratcheting up of attacks on and intimidation...

Proposed Legislation. (22 Apr 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The Law Reform Commission has included a review of the law on juries in its "Third Programme of Law Reform 2008-2014". The Government will, of course, be considering in due course the recommendations made by the commission, including those relating to the composition of juries. Part 6 of the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2008 has already made a number of amendments to the Juries...

Proposed Legislation. (22 Apr 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I would not be averse to having a look again at the composition of juries but certain occupations have been excluded because of the nature of their work. I am prepared to consider that issue in the context of any amendments but I would not like it to hold up the proposals in connection with gangland crime and some other issues to which I referred. One measure we will consider in the context...

Proposed Legislation. (22 Apr 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The change related only to the type of language used in the legislation. To the best of my knowledge, nobody has been refused. I do not have any information on file in that regard. The new wording makes no specific reference to a particular disability, rather it refers to non-specific permanent infirmity, which would render it impracticable for persons to perform jury duty. Such...

Proposed Legislation. (22 Apr 2009)

Dermot Ahern: We are considering the scheduling of new offences of directing a criminal gang and membership of a criminal gang. Under the 2006 legislation there is the existing offence of participation in a criminal gang. It is the intention – subject to legal advice – to link that in some way to the Special Criminal Court, given that there is strong anecdotal evidence on the intimidation of...

Departmental Bodies. (22 Apr 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 72, 76, 99 and 110 together. I am pleased to indicate that in launching its new strategic plan on 4 April 2009 for the period 2009 to 2011 entitled, Equality for All in a Time of Change, the Equality Authority fully reaffirmed its determination to continue its important work, while fully acknowledging the changed financial circumstances in which all public...

Departmental Bodies. (22 Apr 2009)

Dermot Ahern: This is not a shambles. It was originally agreed that the majority of the Equality Authority would decentralise to Roscrea and that a core staff would remain in Dublin. The Government made the decision in the context of the tightening budgetary situation last year that we would, in effect, suspend decentralisation for the majority of the projects, especially in those areas where no...

Departmental Bodies. (22 Apr 2009)

Dermot Ahern: -----that there are 16 people in Roscrea at present and approximately 19 in Dublin. A number of the latter bilocate. That was part of their contract long before there was any row about the Equality Authority.

Departmental Bodies. (22 Apr 2009)

Dermot Ahern: Quite a number of senior personnel - one or two have already purchased houses in Roscrea - are bilocating between the two locations.

Departmental Bodies. (22 Apr 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The issue of having two locations - Roscrea and Dublin - predated any row, any resignation of the-----

Departmental Bodies. (22 Apr 2009)

Dermot Ahern: -----predated any resignation of the CEO.