Results 8,941-8,960 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — Criminal Legal Aid: Criminal Legal Aid (25 Feb 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The matters which are of importance to note in relation to the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme and the Criminal Assets Bureau Ad-Hoc Legal Aid Scheme are the following:- (a) that the grant of legal aid, including the level of legal representation, is a matter for the court; (b) the court considering the application must be satisfied that the means of the applicant are insufficient to enable the...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (25 Feb 2009)

Dermot Ahern: Though legislation on the use of knives and similar weapons is already very strong and heavy penalties are already in place, I am moving to strengthen the law in this area. In that context, I sought and received proposals from the Garda Commissioner to assist his force in tackling knife-crime. These include: increasing the penalties for possessing a knife in a public place; creating an...

Written Answers — Garda Recruitment: Garda Recruitment (25 Feb 2009)

Dermot Ahern: Section 122(1)(d) of the Garda Síochána Acts, 2005-2007 provides for the making of regulations on the admission, appointment, and enrolment of members including members who have served with other Police Services and members with different ethnic or national origins or different religious beliefs or backgrounds. The Act also provides for the continuation in law of the Garda Síochána...

Written Answers — Organised Crime: Organised Crime (25 Feb 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I wish to inform the Deputy that tackling organised crime remains one of my highest priorities. The Commissioner's Policing Plan 2009 sets out strategic goals inter alia a commitment to reduce the impact of crime and criminal behaviour. An Garda Síochána, in accordance with the priorities determined by me pursuant to Section 20 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005/2007 is committed to...

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (25 Feb 2009)

Dermot Ahern: As indicated in my response to Parliamentary Question Number 62 of 18 December 2008, the findings of the Hartnett Report have been accepted. The Inquest into the death of the person in question has been concluded and civil proceedings instituted by the person's family have been settled. A Chief Superintendent was appointed under the Garda Síochána (Discipline) Regulations 2007 to deal...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (25 Feb 2009)

Dermot Ahern: In accordance with EU Directives, national public procurement procedures and relevant legislation, An Garda Síochána engaged in a procurement process for the provision and operation of safety cameras. As a result, a preferred supplier has been selected, and the contract discussion phase of the procurement process has commenced, with the aim of entering into a contract with the preferred...

Written Answers — Garda Complaints Procedures: Garda Complaints Procedures (25 Feb 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I refer the Deputy to my response to Parliamentary Question No. 64 of 18 December 2008. I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the recommendations are being actively pursued.

Written Answers — Garda Recruitment: Garda Recruitment (25 Feb 2009)

Dermot Ahern: Section 122(1)(d) of the Garda Síochána Acts, 2005-2007 provides for the making of regulations on the admission, appointment, and enrolment of members including members who have served with other Police Services and members with different ethnic or national origins or different religious beliefs or backgrounds. The Act also provides for the continuation in law of the Garda Síochána...

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (25 Feb 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the murder of the person concerned is under intensive Garda investigation. The Deputy will appreciate that as the investigation is ongoing, it would be inappropriate for me to comment further at this time.

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (25 Feb 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I am informed by the Garda authorities that to date in 2009 there have been 11 incidents involving grenade, pipe bomb or other improvised devices in the Dublin Metropolitan Region. A Defence Forces Explosives Ordnance Device (EOD) team attended nine of these. In 2008 there were 106 incidents and an EOD team attended 93. In 2007 there were 24 such incidents and an EOD team attended at 17....

Written Answers — Data Protection: Data Protection (25 Feb 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 97 and 99 together. Irish law on data retention is mainly at Part 7 of the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Act 2005. It obliges service providers to retain telephony data for three years and to disclose it to the gardaí on request for the purpose of the prevention, detection, investigation or prosecution of crime or for safeguarding the security of the...

Written Answers — Programme for Government: Programme for Government (25 Feb 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The information on the progress made to date with regard to the implementation of those sections of the Programme for Government referred to by the Deputy is published on the website of the Department of the Taoiseach. It can be accessed at www.taoiseach.gov.ie under Publications (archive 2008). The information will be updated later this year.

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (25 Feb 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the personnel strength of attested members of An Garda Síochána on 31 January 2009, the latest date for which figures are readily available, was 14,391. The number of recruits in training (Phases 1 to 3) at that date was 1,045. The number of probationer gardaí who have been attested but have not yet graduated (ie not yet completed...

Written Answers — Crime Prevention: Crime Prevention (25 Feb 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The Garda Inspectorate is currently examining resource deployment in the Garda Síochána. In this general context I have received a proposal from the Inspectorate to undertake a study in this regard. I envisage that the terms of reference for the study will be finalised shortly.

Written Answers — Crime Prevention: Crime Prevention (25 Feb 2009)

Dermot Ahern: As the Deputy is aware the monitoring of serious criminals is an operational matter for An Garda Síochána, independent of political interference or direction. Persons involved in organised criminal activities, including persons suspected of involvement in drug-trafficking, importation, sale and supply, including the illegal importation of firearms, are being targeted by An Garda Síochána...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (25 Feb 2009)

Dermot Ahern: My Department has responsibility for eight EU Directives which have to be implemented. Four of these Directives are overdue. They are: Council Directive 2005/85/EC of 1 December 2005 on minimum standards on procedures in Member States for granting and withdrawing refugee status. Irish law and practice in this area is already substantially in compliance with the terms of this Directive....

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (25 Feb 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 104 and 105 together. My predecessor published a Fines Bill in 2007. The primary purpose of the Bill was to provide for the indexation of fines. It also introduced the concept of equality of impact and the payment of fines by instalments. Those provisions are currently being redrafted in a new Bill I am preparing, and I am also examining the possibility for...

Written Answers — Gun Control: Gun Control (25 Feb 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The Deputy will be aware that prior to 2004 there was a de facto ban on handguns in this jurisdiction. However, I understand from the Garda Authorities that records indicate approximately 1,800 handguns have been licensed since the beginning of 2004. The most recent figures on stolen firearms were received on 16 December 2008 and indicate that 31 handguns were recorded as stolen since 2004....

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (25 Feb 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The Government announced on 26 January, 2009 that the Covert Surveillance Bill would be among a number of Bills which would be published during the present session of the Dáil.

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (25 Feb 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The 2008 crime statistics published by the Central Statistics office show a number of encouraging trends. The number of homicide offences decreased by almost half (42.9%) during the year, with murder down 36.4% and manslaughter down 57.1%. The number of sexual offences was stable (up 1.1%), with rape down 2.8% and aggravated sexual assault down 33.3%. The number of cases of discharging a...