Results 10,621-10,640 of 16,537 for speaker:Brian Lenihan Jnr

Written Answers — Prison Equipment: Prison Equipment (17 Apr 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am committed to dealing with the problem of prisoners using mobile phones. On completion and evaluation of the pilot project to inhibit mobile phones in the Midlands and Portlaoise Prisons, the Irish Prison Service will proceed to install mobile phone inhibitors in all prisons. The indication of the success of the pilot scheme in the Midlands continues to be positive, and if the early...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (17 Apr 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Following the submission in 2004 of a report and recommendations by an expert group on crime statistics, it was decided that the compilation and publication of crime statistics should be taken over by the Central Statistics Office, as the national statistical agency, from the Garda Síochána. The Garda Síochána Act 2005 consequently makes provision for this and the CSO has established a...

Written Answers — Garda Vetting Services: Garda Vetting Services (17 Apr 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am informed by the Garda authorities that all vetting application forms received by the Garda Central Vetting Unit (GCVU) are processed in sequential order from the date of receipt. The current, average turnaround time for the processing of correctly completed vetting application forms is approximately one month. Significant departures from the average processing time occur only when...

Written Answers — Garda Management: Garda Management (17 Apr 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am satisfied that significant progress is being made in implementation of the Garda Inspectorate's Recommendations. The first three reports of the Garda Inspectorate were as follows: report on the Senior Management Structure; review of Practices and Procedures for Barricade Incidents; and policing in Ireland, Looking Forward. The reports covered a wide range of issues from senior...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (17 Apr 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I propose to take Questions Nos. 67 and 84 together. A tender process for procuring an outsourced safety camera network is under way. During this process issues arose because it emerged that costs involved would be substantially higher than had been estimated when the matter was considered by Government previously, which necessitated a further examination of the matter by Government. The...

Written Answers — Prisoner Escapes: Prisoner Escapes (17 Apr 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I refer the Deputy to my answer to question 180 of 4 March, 2008. The position remains unchanged.

Written Answers — Prison Education Service: Prison Education Service (17 Apr 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am informed by the Director General of the Irish Prison Service that CONNECT was piloted with EU Integra Funding in the years prior to 2000 and was announced as part of the 2000 to 2006 National Development Plan. Expenditure under the programme consisted in the main, of staff salaries and materials for the work training area. CONNECT consisted of three strands: work training (including...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (17 Apr 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the personnel strength of Tallaght Garda Station as at 31 March, 2008, the latest date for which figures are readily available, was 179. An unprecedented increase in the strength of the Garda Síochána is continuing in line with the commitment in the Programme for Government, with an intake of approximately 1,100 recruits per annum. In addition,...

Written Answers — State Airports: State Airports (17 Apr 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I did not discuss this issue during my recent Ministerial engagements in the US. However, my Department has been and continues to be involved in the ongoing negotiations with the US authorities on the possible extension of US customs and border protection facilities at Shannon Airport.

Written Answers — Public Order Offences: Public Order Offences (17 Apr 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I propose to take Questions Nos. 73 and 591 together. It is the nature of many public order offences that they are only recorded and detected because of the presence of Gardaí. Accordingly, an increase in the number of such offences detected almost certainly signifies can signify increased Garda activity rather than any failure in Law enforcement. Under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 it is...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (17 Apr 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I propose to take Questions Nos. 74 and 91 together. As of 31 March 2008, the number of Gardaí assigned to the Juvenile Liaison service (JLO) was 102. The Garda Commissioner has given a commitment to appoint an additional 21 JLOs by 2010. The Garda Juvenile Diversion Programme has proven to be highly successful in diverting young persons away from crime by offering guidance and support to...

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (17 Apr 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the Garda Chief Superintendent appointed to conduct an investigation into the matter concerned has submitted his report, which is internal to An Garda Síochána and to the Garda Commissioner. I am further informed that the report provides a comprehensive review of the actions taken by all parties in relation to the information supplied by the...

Written Answers — Juvenile Offenders: Juvenile Offenders (17 Apr 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am informed by the Director General of the Irish Prison Service that the data below relate to those of 15 years and above but less than 18 years, the overwhelming majority of whom were detained in Saint Patrick's Institution, a closed medium security place of detention for males aged 16 to 21 years of age. Year Persons Committed Total Committals 2004 350 509 2005 280 389 2006 297...

Written Answers — Liquor Licensing Laws: Liquor Licensing Laws (17 Apr 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The law already provides for the matter referred to by the Deputy. Under section 17(3) of the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2003, it is an offence for a licensee, with intent to evade the conditions of the licence, to take intoxicating liquor from the premises to which the licence refers for the purpose of its being sold on the account or for the benefit or profit of the licensee, or to permit any...

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (17 Apr 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Part 4 (Sections 17-51) of the Children Act 2001, as amended, provides the legislative framework for the Garda Diversion Programme. The Programme operates under the general superintendence and control of the Garda Commissioner. As the Deputy is aware, it is the responsibility of the Garda Commissioner to decide on the prioritisation and allocation of resources within the force. The...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (17 Apr 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Long term residency was introduced by way of an administrative scheme in May 2004. The position in relation to granting long term residency is as follows: Persons who have been legally resident in the State for over five years on the basis of work permit/work authorisation/work visa conditions may apply to the Immigration Division of my Department for a five year residency extension. In that...

Written Answers — Garda Divisions: Garda Divisions (17 Apr 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: In accordance with section 22 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005, proposals in relation to changes to Garda Divisions are a matter in the first instance for the Garda Commissioner in the context of the Annual Policing Plans. The Garda Síochána has committed in its Annual Policing Plan for 2008 to institute separate Divisions of Wicklow and Wexford. I am informed by the Garda Authorities...

Written Answers — Prison Building Programme: Prison Building Programme (17 Apr 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Negotiations are currently underway with a commercial consortium, which was selected following an E.U. tender procedure as the preferred tender for the design, construction, finance and maintenance of the proposed prison facilities at Thornton Hall, North County Dublin. The project includes the construction of the prison facilities along with the ancillary infrastructure including services....

Written Answers — Garda Equipment: Garda Equipment (17 Apr 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am informed by the Garda authorities that a Working Group has been established to examine the use of incapacitant sprays. The Group is chaired by the Assistant Commissioner in charge of Crime and Security and is researching: the effectiveness of incapacitant spray; the medical implications involved; and the development of a policy for the use of such devices and its operational and training...

Written Answers — Garda Retirement Age: Garda Retirement Age (17 Apr 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I propose to take Questions Nos. 83 and 608 together. I believe that the current compulsory retirement age of 60, which is now applicable to all ranks in An Garda Síochána, is fully consistent with the law on equality and anti-discrimination. I have no proposals to raise this age limit. Any proposals for change in the retirement age would have to be considered in light of the extremely...