Results 8,961-8,980 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (25 Feb 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The appointment of members of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission is dealt with in section 65 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005, which provides they are to be appointed by the President on the nomination of the Government and the passage of resolutions by both Houses of the Oireachtas. In making the nomination of a person to be a member of the Ombudsman Commission, the Government is...

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

Dermot Ahern: I refer the Deputy to the response to Parliamentary Question number 132 of 23 October, 2008 which outlines both the immediate and longer term plans for the station. I am advised that communications are ongoing between the Garda authorities and the Office of Public Works on the feasibility report prepared by the Board for the longer term development of the station. The immediate measures to...

Written Answers — Prison Building Programme: Prison Building Programme (25 Feb 2009)

Dermot Ahern: It is the responsibility of the commercial consortium, under the PPP process, to arrange the funding and other resources to deliver the project. Part of the PPP process includes various checks to ensure that the bidder has the capacity to deliver the project before any contract is signed. It is not appropriate, for commercial and procurement reasons, for me to comment on the specific...

Written Answers — Registration of Title: Registration of Title (25 Feb 2009)

Dermot Ahern: I can inform the Deputy that under the Registration of Deeds and Title Act 2006, the Property Registration Authority (PRA) was established as and from 4 November, 2006. The PRA replaces the Registrar of Deeds and Titles as the registering authority in relation to property registration in Ireland and, subject to the above Act, is independent in the performance of its functions. The Deputy will...

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

Dermot Ahern: The companies in question were Bridgestock Ltd, Mosney Holidays PLC, East Coast Catering, IBM Ireland and Accenture. The first three companies provide accommodation and related facilities for asylum seekers and the value of these contracts ranged from €10.3 million to €14.1 million. In the case of the latter two companies who provided IT and risk management services respectively, the...

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

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 157 and 158 together. The Community Alert Programme is a community-based initiative in rural communities, set up in 1985 by Muintir na Tíre in association with the Garda authorities. The Programme is dedicated in particular to improving the quality of life of vulnerable people in rural communities, especially the elderly, by: crime prevention; neighbourliness...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (25 Feb 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The Community Graffiti Reduction Programme is managed for the Department by Pobal in such a way that it is divided into two distinct phases. In 2008 grants were made under Phase 1 of the scheme. It offered each RAPID area the opportunity to receive a ring-fenced budget allocation (of up to €30,000) for graffiti removal work, using a list of approved contractors. Under this phase of the...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (25 Feb 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The Community Graffiti Reduction Programme (CGRP) is sponsored by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the Department of Community Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. Its aims are to: support an immediate reduction in the extent and impact of graffiti within the communities who participate in the programme; develop...

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

Dermot Ahern: I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that staff at the Continuous Professional Development Training Centres in each Garda Division deliver a two (2) day training course each year — Core Programme — to members of Garda and Sergeant Rank. The Core Programme regularly includes modules on new legislation and policy, and the Core Programme for 2008 covered the following areas: (1)...

Written Answers — Garda Disciplinary Proceedings: Garda Disciplinary Proceedings (25 Feb 2009)

Dermot Ahern: Where an alleged breach of procedure by a member of An Garda Síochána occurs, the matter is one for the Garda Commissioner to investigate.

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

Dermot Ahern: I am aware of the circumstances which the Deputy is referring to in his Question and I dealt with them in my reply to a Question tabled by the Deputy on the 2nd December 2008 (No. 301). As I indicated in that reply, a response to the letter referred to by the Deputy would be issued and this has been done.

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

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 164, 172 and 176 together. I have been informed by the Garda Authorities that organised criminal groups are being targeted on a number of fronts, including through the use of focused intelligence led operations by specialist units in An Garda Síochána. Specialist units within the Gardaí targeting organised crime operate under the remit of the Assistant...

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

Dermot Ahern: I refer the Deputy to my answer to Question No. 52 of today's date.

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

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 166 and 171 together. 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. These goals are backed up by strategic actions which include a commitment to continue and intensify...

Written Answers — Recidivism Rate: Recidivism Rate (25 Feb 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The Deputy will be aware of the findings of the major study on prisoner re-offending, undertaken by the Institute of Criminology at UCD, which was facilitated by the Irish Prison Service. Briefly the study found that 27.4% of released prisoners were serving a new prison sentence within one year; this rose to 39.2% after two years, 45.1% after three years and 49.2% after four years. The...

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

Dermot Ahern: The law takes a serious view of offences committed by persons on bail. The commission of any offence while on bail carries the prospect of a harsher sentence than might otherwise be imposed had the offence not been committed while the offender was on bail. Section 11 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 provides that any sentence of imprisonment passed on a person for an offence committed while...

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

Dermot Ahern: I am informed by the Garda authorities that approximately 1,800 handguns have been licensed since the beginning of 2004 and that 31 have been stolen in that period. I am further informed that stolen firearms are used in the course of the commission of other criminal offences but, because not all stolen firearms or firearms used in the commission of offences are recovered, it is not possible...

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

Dermot Ahern: I understand from the Garda Authorities that records indicate approximately 1,800 handguns have been licensed since the beginning of 2004 and that 31 have been stolen in that period. I am further advised that stolen firearms are used in the course of the commission of other criminal offences but, because not all stolen firearms or firearms used in the commission of offences are recovered, it...

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

Dermot Ahern: The Garda Síochána 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 — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (25 Feb 2009)

Dermot Ahern: The Garda Síochána 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.