Results 901-920 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Macroeconomic and Fiscal Outlook: Statements (Resumed) (28 Oct 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The Deputy called for additional spending.

Written Answers — Illicit Trade in Tobacco: Illicit Trade in Tobacco (28 Oct 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The fight against tobacco smuggling involves close co-operation between An Garda Síochána and the Customs Service, which has primary responsibility in this area. I am advised by the Garda authorities that there is involvement by so-called dissidents in the smuggling of tobacco products. This is a matter which has been confirmed by the Independent Monitoring Commission in various reports....

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (28 Oct 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 52, 66 and 67 together. While promotion of tourism in Ireland is primarily a matter for the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism and associated agencies, I am aware of the recent report from the European Tour Operators Association referred to by the Deputy. As with all visas in all countries worldwide, the central concern is to strike an appropriate balance...

Written Answers — Closed Circuit Television Systems: Closed Circuit Television Systems (28 Oct 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I am informed by the Garda authorities that Garda CCTV systems have been deployed at the locations set out in the Table below. The systems use analogue cameras and a mixture of fibre optic & radio technologies to transfer the images to monitoring stations. The systems installed after 2007 have digital storage. While the systems installed before 2007 previously used VHS tapes their recorders...

Written Answers — Sex Offenders: Sex Offenders (28 Oct 2010)

Dermot Ahern: As the Deputy is aware, Part 10 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2006 provides for the introduction of electronic monitoring in this jurisdiction and I have made the relevant order commencing the provisions in the context of a restriction of movement condition applying to the granting of temporary release. I am glad to tell the Deputy and the House that the Irish Prison Service is currently...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (28 Oct 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I am, of course, deeply concerned about the incidence of murders and I deplore all such killings. All killings, regardless of the circumstances involved, are the subject of rigorous investigation by An Garda Síochána and will continue to be so. In setting the policing priorities for An Garda Síochána in 2010, I asked the Commissioner to continue the focus of the force on serious crime,...

Written Answers — Prison Seizures: Prison Seizures (28 Oct 2010)

Dermot Ahern: Section 36 of the Prisons Act, 2007, which was brought into operation on 1 May, 2007, makes it an offence for prisoners to have unauthorised possession of or use of mobile telecommunication devices. Under the Act it is also an offence to supply such a device to a prisoner. The penalties for such an offence, on summary conviction, include a fine not exceeding €5,000 or imprisonment for a...

Written Answers — Sentencing Policy: Sentencing Policy (28 Oct 2010)

Dermot Ahern: In the vast majority of offences, the Oireachtas has provided the courts with a number of options for disposal of such cases including fines, the Probation of Offenders Act, community service orders and imprisonment. It is a matter for the sentencing judge to decide what is the appropriate sanction in individual cases depending on the circumstances of the offender and the particular facts of...

Written Answers — Drugs in Prisons: Drugs in Prisons (28 Oct 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The Irish Prison Service has introduced a range of measures in all closed prisons to prevent the flow of and assist in the capture of contraband such as illicit drugs. These include: The introduction of enhanced security screening for all persons (visitors and staff) entering our prisons; The establishment of a drug detection dog service within the Irish Prison Service involving...

Written Answers — Garda Equipment: Garda Equipment (28 Oct 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The Medical Bureau of Road Safety, which is under the aegis of the Department of Transport, has statutory responsibility for the testing, approval and supply of roadside breath screening devices to An Garda Síochána. I am informed by the Garda authorities that Garda management is satisfied that there are sufficient roadside breath-screening devices available to meet current operational...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (28 Oct 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the total number of Community Gardaí in the Kildare Division, on the latest date for which figures are readily available, was 17, with 4 stationed in Naas, 10 stationed in Kildare and 3 stationed in Leixlip. Responsibility for the allocation of resources, including community Gardaí, within the Force rests with the Garda Commissioner, in...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (28 Oct 2010)

Dermot Ahern: As the Deputy may be aware I recently published a 'New Immigration Regime for Full Time non-EEA Students' which contains more than 20 recommendations designed to reform the student immigration regime. These recommendations include the introduction of maximum periods of residence in the State on foot of a student permission. A number of the recommendations, including the maximum periods of...

Written Answers — Child Abduction: Child Abduction (28 Oct 2010)

Dermot Ahern: Ireland is a party to the Hague Convention, a Council of Europe Convention and an EU Regulation on the civil aspects of international child abduction by a parent in defiance of the rights of the other parent. Among the functions of the Central Authority that operates in my Department for the purposes of the Conventions and the Regulation is that of cooperating with the Central Authorities of...

Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (28 Oct 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The Fines Act 2010 will be commenced on a phased basis and I expect that the capacity to pay provisions in section 14 will be among the first features of the legislation to be commenced from early January, 2011. Section 14 places an obligation on the court to take account of the defendant's financial circumstances before a fine is imposed. While I would like to be in a position to commence...

Written Answers — Data Protection: Data Protection (28 Oct 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I wish to inform the Deputy that the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner has worked closely with Google to ensure that privacy concerns were addressed in advance of the launch date of their Street View technology. In order to inform members of the public about the proposed mapping process, details of the movements of the company's camera cars were issued publicly and were available...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (28 Oct 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 65 and 68 together. The issuing of fixed charge notices for relevant offences is a matter for An Garda Síochána. Payment of a fixed charge is a discretionary option for the recipient of a fixed charge notice. The relevant road traffic legislation provides that, during the initial period of 28 days from the date of the notice, payment is accepted at the...

Written Answers — Auctioneers and House Agents: Auctioneers and House Agents (27 Oct 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I wish to inform the Deputy that the licensing of Auctioneers and House Agents is currently a matter for the Revenue Commissioners under the Auctioneers and House Agents Acts 1947 to 1973. As the Deputy will be aware, the Property Services (Regulation) Bill 2009, which will establish the Property Services Regulatory Authority (PSRA), is currently awaiting Second Stage debate in this House....

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (27 Oct 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Question 361 on 12 October, 2010. The position remains as stated.

Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (27 Oct 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The Fines Act 2010 will be commenced on a phased basis and I expect that the capacity to pay provisions in section 14 will be among the first features of the legislation to be commenced from early January, 2011. Section 14 places an obligation on the court to take account of the defendant's financial circumstances before a fine is imposed. While I would like to be in a position to commence...

Written Answers — Asylum Support Services: Asylum Support Services (27 Oct 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The Deputy may be aware that Ireland operates a system of Direct Provision of services and supports for asylum seekers. At the time of their applications, asylum seekers are offered accommodation in a reception centre in Dublin for a period of approximately ten to fourteen days. During this period they are given access to health (including health screening), legal and welfare services....