Results 10,201-10,220 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (13 Nov 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I am informed by the Commissioner that there are 56 members of An Garda Síochána permanently assigned to duties as Garda Protection Officers to 28 designated persons including the President, Taoiseach, Cabinet Ministers, former Taoisigh and members of the Judiciary. In addition, a further 27 members of the Garda Síochána are also designated as relief Garda Protection Officers, for relief...

Written Answers — Drug Seizures: Drug Seizures (13 Nov 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the following table provides details of heroin seizures for the years 2004 to 2008 inclusive: Heroin seizures 2004-2008 (to date) Year Volume 2004 26.4 Kgs 2005 32.2 Kgs 2006 128 Kgs 2007 117.8 Kgs 2008* (to date) 161.7 kg *To date in 2008 as at 11 November 2008. In terms of availability, while heroin still predominates in the greater...

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (13 Nov 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that the personnel strength of the Garda Síochána on 30 September 2008, the latest date for which figures are readily available, was 14,284. The number of students in training as of 30th September 2008 is as follows: Phase I: 282 Phase II: 561 Phase III: 231 Phase IV: 831 Phase V: 273 I should point out that members in Phase IV and V are fully...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (13 Nov 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 34 and 78 together. I am informed by the Garda authorities that there are currently three fixed cameras rotated between posts at various locations in Louth Division, Meath Division and in the Dublin Metropolitan Region. The emphasis of Garda speed enforcement is on the use of mobile speed cameras and their capacity in this area has been substantially enhanced...

Written Answers — Public Order Offences: Public Order Offences (13 Nov 2008)

Dermot Ahern: Part 11 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006, which provides for civil proceedings in relation to anti-social behaviour by adults, was commenced on 1 January, 2007. Part 13 of the Act, relating to anti-social behaviour by children, was commenced on 1 March, 2007. These provisions set out an incremental procedure for addressing anti-social behaviour by adults and children. With regard to...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (13 Nov 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 38, 59 and 64 together. The context in which financial provision has been made by the Government for the Human Rights Commission and the Equality Authority for 2009 is as indicated in the Budget announcement of 14 October 2008. In both cases, while I accept that reduced budgets will cause some difficulties, I also consider that there is sufficient funding...

Written Answers — National Disability Strategy: National Disability Strategy (13 Nov 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I have already indicated in response to Question No. 992 of 24 September 2008, that a strategic document on the National Disability Strategy which will outline the vision, mission and strategic objectives under the Strategy is due to be finalised later in the year and will be published as soon as possible afterwards. That remains the position.

Written Answers — Tribunals of Inquiry: Tribunals of Inquiry (13 Nov 2008)

Dermot Ahern: As I indicated in my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 87 of 2 October, the disturbing events uncovered by the first five Morris Reports have been the subject matter of strong action on the part of the Government. This includes: the passage of the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the most significant piece of legislation relating to the Garda Síochána in the history of the State, the...

Written Answers — Bail Law: Bail Law (13 Nov 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 42 and 57 together. The law already takes a serious view of offences committed by persons on bail. The Criminal Justice Act, 1984 provides for mandatory consecutive sentences to apply where a person is convicted of an offence committed while on bail. In addition, the law provides that the fact that an offence was committed while on bail must be treated as an...

Written Answers — Court Awards: Court Awards (13 Nov 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The information requested by the Deputy concerning the amounts paid out in Court awards and out of court settlements in relation to actions taken against members of the Garda Síochána relating to assault, unlawful arrest or other breaches of citizens' rights is set out in the following table. Actions taken by Civilians against Gardaí The number of cases settled/or awards made by the...

Written Answers — Garda Complaints Procedures: Garda Complaints Procedures (13 Nov 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I have previously informed the House that I have received an interim report from the Garda Commissioner on a particular case involving a convicted drug dealer. I am awaiting a full report from the Commissioner as soon as certain inquiries he was having undertaken have been completed. The House will also be aware that I agreed to a request from the Garda Commissioner that the interim report...

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (13 Nov 2008)

Dermot Ahern: As indicated in my reply to Parliamentary Question Number 99 of 2 October, the findings of the Hartnett Report have been accepted. I am constrained in what I can say due to the fact that civil proceedings instituted by the Rossiter family are still ongoing and an inquest into Brian Rossiter's death has yet to be concluded. I understand, in fact, that the Inquest is due to resume again on...

Written Answers — Garda Vetting Services: Garda Vetting Services (13 Nov 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 47 and 62 together. The Garda Central Vetting Unit (GCVU) provides employment vetting for a number of organisations in Ireland, registered with the Unit, which employ personnel to work in a full-time, part-time or voluntary capacity with children and/or vulnerable adults. The procedure is also conducted for fostering and the Adoption Board. The service being...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (13 Nov 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the following table shows the number of drink-driving related incidents recorded on PULSE from 2003 to 2007, the number of proceedings commenced, convictions recorded and rate of conviction for those incidents. Year Drink-driving incident types recorded (total) Proceedings Commenced Convictions Proceedings concluded (Non-conviction**)...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (13 Nov 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the following table shows the number of drink-driving related incidents recorded on PULSE from 2003 to 2007, the number of proceedings commenced, convictions recorded and rate of conviction for those incidents. Year Drink-driving incident types recorded (total) Proceedings Commenced Convictions Proceedings concluded (Non-conviction**)...

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (13 Nov 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I am informed by the Garda authorities that to date in 2008 there have been 91 incidents involving grenade, pipe bomb or other improvised devices in the Dublin Metropolitan Region. A Defence Forces Explosives Ordnance Device (EOD) team attended 71 of these. In 2007 there were 24 such incidents and an EOD team attended at 17. Investigation by the Garda Síochána into recent incidents...

Written Answers — Garda Equipment: Garda Equipment (13 Nov 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The enabling provisions to allow for the use of Electronic Monitoring are provided for in the Criminal Justice Acts of 2006 and 2007. As the Deputy will appreciate any decision to introduce Electronic Monitoring here, as a component of penal policy development, must be informed by a detailed analysis of the costs, advances in technology, the offender cohort most suitable and the likely...

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (13 Nov 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The Government appointed Mrs. Justice Susan Denham to chair a high-level Working Group to consider the complex issue of the establishment of an intermediate appellate court. Its work commenced in March last year (2007). The Group completed an interim report in March 2008. The Group is now proceeding, under its terms of reference, to prepare a final report, incorporating the interim report,...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (13 Nov 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The Deputy will be aware that this is a complex issue which involves a number of Government Departments. The Government is determined that its Strategy for Multi-Unit Developments will be effective and comprehensive. To that end, work on the preparation of legislative proposals to respond to the Law Reform Commission's recommendations concerning multi-unit developments and the regulation...

Written Answers — Human Trafficking: Human Trafficking (13 Nov 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I am aware of the data referred to by the Deputy. I understand that the estimate figures arising from the research in question, while presented at a number of recent public fora, has not yet been published. The suggested figures relate to research conducted prior to the commencement of the Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Act 2008 on 7 June 2008. This Act criminalises the trafficking of...