Results 8,641-8,660 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — Prison Accommodation: Prison Accommodation (24 Mar 2009)

Dermot Ahern: On 19 March, 2009, there were 3,882 prisoners in custody as compared to a bed capacity of 3,611. This represents an occupancy level of 108%. The following table provides a breakdown of the population of each prison/place of detention on 19 March, 2009: Prison/Place of Detention Bed Capacity No. in Custody Arbour Hill Prison 148 153 Castlerea Prison 228 278 Cloverhill Prison 431 474 Cork...

Written Answers — Drugs in Prisons: Drugs in Prisons (24 Mar 2009)

Dermot Ahern: There are 3 main exercise yards at Mountjoy Prison and one smaller exercise yard attached to the Medical Unit. From October 2006 netting has been placed around the exercise yards which have an external boundary with Glengarriff Parade. This netting is approximately 20 foot in height and is placed over the exterior walls which stand at 20 foot in height giving a total height of wall and...

Written Answers — Prison Staff: Prison Staff (24 Mar 2009)

Dermot Ahern: For security reasons, it is not possible to provide the Deputy with a breakdown of the staffing levels in the Training Unit, or indeed of any individual prison, in the detailed format that she has requested. I can, however, inform the Deputy that I am satisfied that the staffing levels at the Training Unit are appropriate.

Written Answers — Public Order Offences: Public Order Offences (24 Mar 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the persons referred to by the Deputy were arrested in Sligo and Tuam Garda Districts. On 5 February, 2008 one person was charged with a number of offences under the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994 and for failing to produce a valid passport or other equivalent document. The person's identity was subsequently established. He appeared...

Written Answers — Ministerial Appointments: Ministerial Appointments (24 Mar 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 532 and 549 together. Following enactment of the Legal Services Ombudsman Bill on 10 March 2009 arrangements are being made to facilitate the appointment of the Legal Services Ombudsman. The details of the arrangements will be announced as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (24 Mar 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The position in relation to granting long term residency is as follows: persons who have been legally resident in the State for over five years on the basis of work permit/work authorisation/work visa conditions may apply to the Immigration Division of my Department for a five year residency extension. In that context they may also apply to be exempt from employment permit requirements. ...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (24 Mar 2009)

Dermot Ahern: Officials in the Citizenship Section of my Department inform me that processing of this application is complete and a decision will be forwarded to the person in question in the near future.

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (24 Mar 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the total number of handguns stolen in the years 2004 to 2008 was 33. The following table shows a breakdown by year. I am also informed that the six handguns stolen in 2007 were two air pistols, three revolvers and one pistol. The six handguns stolen in 2008 were two air pistols, one starting-pistol, two semi-automatic pistols (both licensed) and...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (24 Mar 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 536 and 537 together. There are no drivers employed directly by me. Under a long-standing arrangement, Government Ministers and certain other State officials are provided with an official car which is driven by a member of An Garda Síochána from a pool of Gardaí which are allocated on a full-time basis to Office Holders. These Gardaí provide security and...

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (24 Mar 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The Deputy will be aware from my previous replies to questions 32363/08 of 30th September and 44880/08 of 9th December 2008 that the programme of replacement and refurbishment of Garda accommodation around the country is based on agreed priorities established by An Garda Síochána in consultation with the Garda representative associations. The programme is progressed by the Garda...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (24 Mar 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The Equality Authority launched, on 4 March 2009, its new Strategic Plan for 2009 to 2011, entitled "Equality for All in a Time of Change". It has been widely acknowledged that the Plan represents a new direction for the Authority to enable it to meet its complex mandate, and recognises the changing financial circumstances in which all public service bodies are operating. The stated position...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (24 Mar 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The Employment Equality Acts 1998 to 2008 and the Equal Status Acts 2000 to 2008 prohibit direct and indirect discrimination in the area of employment and in the provision of goods and services respectively on nine grounds. These are gender, marital status, family status, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, race, and membership of the travelling community. The Employment Equality...

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (24 Mar 2009)

Dermot Ahern: Once Irish nationals or persons resident in Ireland have been deemed suitable parents to adopt by the Adoption Board of Ireland and wish to adopt a non-national child from outside the State, an application for an Immigration Clearance letter should be made to the Foreign Adoptions Unit, Immigrations Services, 13-14 Burgh Quay, Dublin 2. The Immigration Clearance letter is issued in lieu of a...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (24 Mar 2009)

Dermot Ahern: Further to my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 155 of 12 March 2009, the response received from the person concerned referred to in that reply has been assessed by the relevant officials. The application of the person concerned for permission to remain as the dependant family member of a person granted permission under the IBC/05 Scheme has been refused, as the person does not meet the...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (24 Mar 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The person concerned applied for asylum on 25 November 2004. His application was refused following consideration of his case by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner and, on appeal, the Refugee Appeals Tribunal. Subsequently, in accordance with Section 3 of the Immigration Act, 1999 (as amended), the person concerned was informed, by letter dated 24 January 2006, that the...

Written Answers — Crime Statistics: Crime Statistics (24 Mar 2009)

Dermot Ahern: As stated in my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 110 of 5 March 2009, the Central Statistics Office, as the national statistical agency, is responsible for the compilation and publication of crime statistics. I am informed by the CSO that a key protocol in the production of official statistics is to protect confidentiality and minimise the risk of disclosing information that might lead to...

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (24 Mar 2009)

Dermot Ahern: Detailed policing arrangements for East Wall, or any area, are a matter for the Garda authorities. I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that the 2009 Policing Plan for the Dublin Metropolitan Region — North Central Division, which includes the East Wall area, has been prepared by the Divisional Officer in consultation with all relevant stakeholders, including the Joint Policing...

Written Answers — Garda Recruitment: Garda Recruitment (24 Mar 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that there is currently a panel in place of candidates for recruitment, and there are no proposals at present to hold a further recruitment competition. I have also been informed that a recruitment campaign for prison officers was held in 2008, the closing date for which was the 9th October, 2008. This recruitment campaign meets the present recruitment...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (24 Mar 2009)

Dermot Ahern: An application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to in the Deputy's Question was received in the Citizenship Division of my Department in April 2007. Officials in that Section inform me that processing of the application is at an advanced stage and the file will be submitted to me for a decision shortly. The average processing time from application to decision is...

Written Answers — Court Staff: Court Staff (24 Mar 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The current pay scales for the Judiciary are as follows: Judicial salaries payable from 1 Sep 2008 Post Salary € Chief Justice 295,916 President of the High Court 274,779 Judge of the Supreme Court (7) 257,872 President of the Circuit Court 249,418 Judge of the High Court (36) 243,080 President of the District Court 183,894 Judge of the Circuit Court (37) 177,554 Judge of the...