Results 10,341-10,360 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Prison Accommodation. (13 Nov 2008)

Dermot Ahern: It is an excellent project for the State. Any money expended to date has been spent on the purchasing of the land, the design and the deployment of archaeologists to ensure that the site is correct, etc. The bidders have expended significant resources in their bids. While I accept that we are building 400 extra prison spaces in the various prisons, the ultimate solution for the ongoing...

Cyber Bullying. (13 Nov 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 and 39 together. Tackling Internet downside issues is a complex business and continues to set new challenges for all those charged with protecting against the downside of the Internet. Increasing access to powerful communication tools such as social networking websites, video and photograph sharing sites has brought a new dimension to child protection...

Cyber Bullying. (13 Nov 2008)

Dermot Ahern: It is not that bad.

Cyber Bullying. (13 Nov 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I ask the Deputy to familiarise himself with what the industry and Internet service providers are doing on www.hotline.ie. I launched an element of their website a number of months ago and all of the Internet service providers are participating, apart from one which has an objection to participating in this and believes that law enforcement is an issue for the Garda. To be fair to the...

Cyber Bullying. (13 Nov 2008)

Dermot Ahern: It is a bit complex for Deputy Rabbitte.

Cyber Bullying. (13 Nov 2008)

Dermot Ahern: Deputy Rabbitte is technologically disadvantaged.

Joint Policing Committees. (13 Nov 2008)

Dermot Ahern: Joint policing committees are provided for in the Garda Síochána Act 2005. Their purpose is to provide a forum where An Garda Síochána and the local authority — the two organisations which make the most significant contribution to preventing and tackling crime in a specific area — can come together, with the participation of members of the Oireachtas and community and voluntary...

Joint Policing Committees. (13 Nov 2008)

Dermot Ahern: A small level of funding will be available to support the work of committees generally but it will be a matter for each local authority to find the resources, although not much should be required for this. In answer to the question on whether I spoke to the Garda Commissioner, he was at the joint launch of the initiative. The Garda Commissioner and the Garda Síochána believe this is a...

Joint Policing Committees. (13 Nov 2008)

Dermot Ahern: Including Deputy Rabbitte.

Joint Policing Committees. (13 Nov 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, the Garda Commissioner and I launched the guidelines in September. Some tweaking of the guidelines was done with regard to the joint policing committees based on the experience of the pilots. However, it is more or less the same and I ask Deputies to familiarise themselves with the guidelines which set out exactly what are the...

Joint Policing Committees. (13 Nov 2008)

Dermot Ahern: That may well be and it is a matter for local authorities in particular to familiarise themselves with them. In my constituency, every Member of the Oireachtas has indicated a desire to be on the committee in Drogheda, which is a pilot. Public representatives all want to have their say. We can examine the guidelines as the committees proceed.

Joint Policing Committees. (13 Nov 2008)

Dermot Ahern: One hundred and fourteen was chosen to reflect the number of local authorities in the country. Provision is made for a number of them to come together. With regard to the issue of practical successes off the top of my head I cannot state any from the 29 committees which are up and running. However, I know it has been successful in my area in that we have had interaction and complete...

Detention Centres. (13 Nov 2008)

Dermot Ahern: Deputy Flanagan is being very negative. Perhaps he does not want it to be built at all.

Preservation of Evidence. (13 Nov 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The case referred to by the Deputy concerns the preservation of evidence by An Garda Síochána. The judgment delivered on 31 July last sets out in detail the specific circumstances of the case and the need to ensure that evidence is available for the defence to ensure there is no risk of an unfair trial. The court reiterated the judgment given in another recent case, Savage v D.P.P., that...

Preservation of Evidence. (13 Nov 2008)

Dermot Ahern: Obviously, I cannot guard against human error. There will always be circumstances where human error will occur. However, gardaí have a duty to preserve, to the best of their ability, exhibits for court evidence. The Garda is changing the system to bring these divisional stores into operation. There are stores in Athlone, Waterford, Templemore, Enniscorthy and Store Street and two more...

Preservation of Evidence. (13 Nov 2008)

Dermot Ahern: It has not been brought to my attention that there is a difficulty with storage of vehicles. When gardaí impound vehicles and take in vehicles that have been involved in road traffic accidents, they must have locations for their storage. To the best of my knowledge they are able to manage this. Indeed, I was involved in a case in Donegal in which a circus lorry was retained for a...

Preservation of Evidence. (13 Nov 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I am conscious of the difficulties in this regard.

Aircraft Search and Inspection. (13 Nov 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The programme for Government contains a number of commitments relating to extraordinary rendition and states unequivocally that the Government is opposed to the practice of extraordinary rendition. In particular, the programme commits the Government to encouraging and supporting An Garda Síochána in the investigation and enforcement of the Criminal Justice (United Nations Convention...

Aircraft Search and Inspection. (13 Nov 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I cannot answer for Deputy Cuffe.

Aircraft Search and Inspection. (13 Nov 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The Deputy should ask Deputy Cuffe about what he had to say on this issue. There is a commitment in the programme for Government with regard to training the Garda Síochána, and I have raised it with the Garda Commissioner on a number of occasions. At the newly formed Cabinet committee it was agreed that we would re-examine the legislation, particularly the air navigation Acts and the...