Results 1,001-1,020 of 1,981 for speaker:Conor Lenihan

Prison Accommodation. (13 Dec 2007)

Conor Lenihan: I am at a loss as to how this relates to Deputy Varadkar's rather right wing suggestion that we should charge prisoners for their incarceration. To my mind Deputy Varadkar's proposal is rather loathsome because I believe any person with an understanding of our prison system could easily inform him that the people incarcerated in our prisons tend to be from very poor backgrounds. I do not...

Prison Accommodation. (13 Dec 2007)

Conor Lenihan: I am glad Deputy Flanagan clarified that; I have hope for him yet.

Prison Accommodation. (13 Dec 2007)

Conor Lenihan: I welcome the clarification that charging prisoners is not Fine Gael policy because such a scheme was attempted elsewhere without great success. The future policy of the Department and Government will be to build courthouses adjacent to prisons and it is hoped this will be the case with Thornton Hall. I will ask that the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform reply directly to the...

Prison Accommodation. (13 Dec 2007)

Conor Lenihan: Yes, but it is a welcome one. Given that we are spending on average €91,700 for a year's incarceration of a prisoner, Deputy Rabbitte is right to raise this issue. I assure him that the illegal possession and usage of mobile telephones to further criminal careers from within prison walls is being vigorously tackled. There have been significant numbers of confiscations recently. In...

Prisoner Releases. (13 Dec 2007)

Conor Lenihan: The parole board reviews the cases of those prisoners serving long terms of imprisonment who are eligible for parole and who apply to be considered and then provides advice and recommendations to the Minister on those cases. The board has done an excellent job in making recommendations to the Minister of the day. On several occasions, the issue has been raised as to whether decisions on the...

Prisoner Releases. (13 Dec 2007)

Conor Lenihan: I am not sure whether the Deputy heard my answer. As I stated, two prisoners took a case arguing that the operation of the parole board is in conflict with the European Convention on Human Rights and the High Court upheld the Minister's executive role or responsibility in regard to parole decisions. Recommendations on how the system may be improved, from the Human Rights Commission and...

Prisoner Releases. (13 Dec 2007)

Conor Lenihan: During 2006, the parole board made recommendations to the Minister on 73 cases. The total caseload for 2006 was 203 and 60 prisoners accepted an invitation to participate in the review process. I do not have the answer to the Deputy's question on whether sex offences should come within the scope of the parole scheme. I will ask the Minister to reply directly to the Deputy on that issue.

Sentencing Policy. (13 Dec 2007)

Conor Lenihan: My Department has not carried out any studies on the merits of imposing a mandatory life sentence on prisoners who are convicted of committing more than three serious offences. I am aware that such a policy has been introduced in certain jurisdictions in the United States and has resulted in a significant increase in the prison population. I have no plans to initiate such a study. It is...

Garda Complaints Procedures. (13 Dec 2007)

Conor Lenihan: I am pleased to clarify the reason for the reduction in the allocation of the Garda Ombudsman Commission for 2008. The 2007 allocation for the ombudsman commission included significant funding relating to the initial set-up of the office, particularly for the leasing and fit-out of its new premises in Abbey Street, Dublin. As these were once-off costs, the 2008 allocation has been adjusted...

Garda Complaints Procedures. (13 Dec 2007)

Conor Lenihan: The Government would not have established an ombudsman commission if it was entirely satisfied with the operation of the Garda Complaints Board. One follows from the other. One can draw whatever conclusion one likes but it seems obvious the Government was not satisfied with the complaints board.

Garda Complaints Procedures. (13 Dec 2007)

Conor Lenihan: The commission has been established and is engaged in its work. The Deputy may have misunderstood what I said. To clarify, the complaints board is completing only those cases where it has already commenced an investigation. Complaints that were logged with the board but not investigated will be transferred to the Garda Ombudsman Commission.

Garda Complaints Procedures. (13 Dec 2007)

Conor Lenihan: The ombudsman commission received 1,869 complaints. Of these, 455 were deemed inadmissible. I will have to come back to the Deputy with the figures regarding the complaints board.

Garda Complaints Procedures. (13 Dec 2007)

Conor Lenihan: The ombudsman commission has received 1,869 complaints in the period between 9 May and 30 November 2007, of which 455 were deemed inadmissible and a further 560 are pending.

Garda Complaints Procedures. (13 Dec 2007)

Conor Lenihan: I will ensure the Minister communicates directly with the Deputy on that.

Garda Complaints Procedures. (13 Dec 2007)

Conor Lenihan: The Deputy has asked a very relevant question but unfortunately I do not have the detailed figures requested by the Deputies. I will ensure the Minister communicates directly on the matter. I am working on an assumption that new complaints would automatically go to the ombudsman commission, and essentially the allocation or resourcing of the complaints board is merely to "trade out" the...

Garda Complaints Procedures. (13 Dec 2007)

Conor Lenihan: Is the Deputy asking why the increase?

Garda Complaints Procedures. (13 Dec 2007)

Conor Lenihan: As I stated earlier, the 8% increase is broadly in line with general increases under this budget.

Garda Complaints Procedures. (13 Dec 2007)

Conor Lenihan: It is clearing the backlog of complaints that have gone to a full investigation phase. Much of the increase will relate to pay of staff who are still working on the actual investigation complaints. That may not have been clear.

Garda Complaints Procedures. (13 Dec 2007)

Conor Lenihan: I will do so.

Garda Complaints Procedures. (13 Dec 2007)

Conor Lenihan: I will look into that and come back with a more detailed answer.