Results 9,841-9,860 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Crime Levels. (10 Dec 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I agree with Deputy Costello on the matter of parental responsibility. I was Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs for five years, from 1997 to 2002. During that time I was aware of and involved in the build-up of community development projects around the country, and tried to assist disadvantaged geographic areas in particular. Many issues revolved around responses by...

Crime Levels. (10 Dec 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The 2,200 firearms that have been seized since 2005 — 1,200 of them in Dublin and 1,000 in the rest of the country — are obviously illegally held. In recent times, it is clear that handguns have been used much more often by criminal gangs, due to the advantages of concealment. That is why we owe it to ourselves in this House not to allow for policy on the hoof, as per the decision made...

Crime Levels. (10 Dec 2008)

Dermot Ahern: Twenty seven of them have been reported stolen since 2005.

Crime Levels. (10 Dec 2008)

Dermot Ahern: One only has to look at some of the websites. The Deputy asked a valid question. Why do legitimate people need handguns? That is the question I have been asking myself——

Crime Levels. (10 Dec 2008)

Dermot Ahern: They are used in firing ranges with live ammunition. I discussed this with my Cabinet colleagues, and Members on that side of the House have come to me——

Crime Levels. (10 Dec 2008)

Dermot Ahern: No, there have been more than one. I tell them I would like to hear their views on this.

Crime Levels. (10 Dec 2008)

Dermot Ahern: This is not the issue we are discussing today.

Crime Levels. (10 Dec 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I was asked why legitimate people would want handguns. Judge Peter Charleton's decision was reiterated by Judge George Bermingham and by Judge Kevin Kilraine when he was deciding an issue in Donegal——

Crime Levels. (10 Dec 2008)

Dermot Ahern: We must look at this from a holistic point of view. The Garda has been very successful in seizing 2,200 firearms, a large proportion of which would be handguns. Will we allow the proliferation of licensed handguns to the other side? Not all illegal handguns are brought in with illegal drug consignments, although gardaí generally come across firearms in those hauls. It is possible that a...

Crime Levels. (10 Dec 2008)

Dermot Ahern: It was set up in 2005.

Crime Levels. (10 Dec 2008)

Dermot Ahern: 2005.

Crime Levels. (10 Dec 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I can undertake to get that information. However, issues like this have to be tackled on a multi-agency basis. I was a great supporter of community development projects when I was Minister for Social and Family Affairs. The youth diversion projects have been very successful, and I gave an example of the four that are in existence in the East Wall area alone. There are about 100 of these...

Crime Levels. (10 Dec 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The Deputy is being somewhat facetious when he suggests that I am concentrating on the issue of legal handguns. That is not the case.

Crime Levels. (10 Dec 2008)

Dermot Ahern: As I said earlier, significant resources have been provided to the Garda over recent years. As a result, the force has seized a substantial number of handguns. I mentioned earlier that approximately 65,000 searches for firearms and drugs have been undertaken by the Garda since 2005. While the main concentration is in this area, we have to deal with other situations as they arise. I...

Crime Levels. (10 Dec 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The Deputy is speaking out of both sides of his mouth on that issue. Juvenile liaison officers are working closely and successfully with local communities on youth diversion projects. The number of gardaí has increased over recent years. We hope the strength of the force will increase from 14,200 to 14,900 next year. If that happens, there will be scope to employ more juvenile liaison...

Crime Levels. (10 Dec 2008)

Dermot Ahern: He should listen to people like Deputy Flanagan on both sides of the House. I remind the House that 630 gardaí are involved in community policing throughout the country. The more gardaí are redeployed within the overall force to deal solely with specific issues, the greater the dilution of the ability of gardaí to deal with ordinary day-to-day policing issues. While we need specialised...

Crime Levels. (10 Dec 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I thank the Deputies for tabling these questions. I begin by expressing my sympathy and that of the Government to the family and friends of the late Aidan O'Kane. The Deputies will appreciate that I am greatly constrained in what I can say about the specific tragic incident which gave rise to these questions. The Garda investigation has reached a stage where it would be inappropriate for...

Leaders' Questions (10 Dec 2008)

Dermot Ahern: God help Ireland if they were in power.

Written Answers — Registration of Title: Registration of Title (9 Dec 2008)

Dermot Ahern: On the first point, the question of whether the land register should be reformed to record all interests in property, is essentially a matter of legislative policy. The issue has been the subject of consideration for some time by a number of interested parties and it is generally accepted that the registration of such rights would be in keeping with moves towards electronic conveyancing. The...

Written Answers — Ministerial Travel: Ministerial Travel (9 Dec 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I have requested this information from the Garda authorities and I will contact the Deputy when it is to hand.