Results 10,721-10,740 of 16,537 for speaker:Brian Lenihan Jnr

Written Answers — Forensic Medical Examiner Service: Forensic Medical Examiner Service (17 Apr 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Garda Síochána has of course arrangements in place for the supply of necessary medical services. These arrangements are being reviewed by a working group, representative of An Garda Síochána, my Department, the Department of Health and Children and the Forensic Science Laboratory, to see how these services might be enhanced in line with best international practice. I look forward to...

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

Brian Lenihan Jnr: A licence granted under the Licensing Acts 1833 to 2004 permits the licensee to sell intoxicating liquor in specified premises in accordance with the terms of the licence. It is an offence under licensing law to sell intoxicating liquor in premises which are not licensed for that purpose. I am informed by the Garda authorities that local Gardaí commenced an investigation into the operation...

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

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am informed by the Immigration Division of my Department that the Family Reunification applications from the person in question were refused on 26 October 2006 and a letter outlining the reasons for the refusals issued on the same date. Following a request from the person in question the file was re-examined in the Immigration Division. This re-examination revealed a problem with some of...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (17 Apr 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Deputy might wish to note that, in accordance with the provisions of the Refugee Act, 1996 (as amended), two statutory independent refugee status determination bodies, namely the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner and the Refugee Appeals Tribunal, were established with effect from 20 November 2000 to examine, at first instance and, where appropriate, on appeal, applications...

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

Brian Lenihan Jnr: One of the strategic actions to achieve the goals set out in the Garda Commissioner's Policy Plan for 2008 is the continuation and intensification of intelligence-led operations against groups and individuals engaged in the supply of arms (including heavy calibre weapons) to criminal gangs. I am informed by the Garda authorities that all available intelligence is fully analysed and used in...

Written Answers — Anti-Social Behaviour: Anti-Social Behaviour (17 Apr 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I propose to take Questions Nos. 578 and 580 together. I am informed by the Garda authorities that Operation Encounter, which commenced in February, 2002, targets public disorder and anti-social behaviour by specifically targeting offences contrary to the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994 and the Intoxicating Liquor Act 1988, which includes provisions on the sale to and consumption of...

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

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I propose to take Questions Nos. 579, 581 and 583 together. I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that as of 31 March 2008, the latest date for which figures are readily available, the personnel strength of the Carlow/Kildare Garda Division was 408. The Deputy will appreciate that, as with any large organisation, on any given day, personnel strengths of individual stations may fluctuate...

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

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am informed by the Office for Public Works that the Garda Station in Leixlip, Co. Kildare is on target for completion in Autumn 2008. It is the responsibility of the Garda Commissioner to allocate personnel throughout the Force taking everything into account. The situation will be kept under review and when additional personnel next become available the needs of the Garda Station referred...

Written Answers — Witness Intimidation: Witness Intimidation (17 Apr 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The intimidation of witnesses is already an offence pursuant to Section 41 of the Criminal Justice Act 1999. Section 41 specifies the offence as harming, threatening or menacing or in any other way intimidating or putting in fear another person who is assisting in the investigation of an offence by the Garda Síochána, with the intention of causing the investigation or course of justice to...

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

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I presume the Deputy is referring to instances of temporary release pursuant to Section 2 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1960 as amended by the Criminal Justice (Temporary Release of Prisoners) Act, 2003. Periods of temporary release may be granted during a prisoner's sentence for health or other humanitarian grounds (e.g. a funeral), to assess a person's ability to reintegrate into society...

Written Answers — Criminal Assets Bureau: Criminal Assets Bureau (17 Apr 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am informed by the Garda Authorities that the Criminal Assets Bureau, pursuant to its statutory remit, proactively targets the assets of persons suspected to derive directly or indirectly from criminal conduct. To help achieve this objective, the Bureau works closely with all other law enforcement agencies including Revenue Customs, other Garda National Units and the local Gardaí in each...

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

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I propose to take Questions Nos. 587 and 588 together. 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...

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

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am informed by the Director General of the Irish Prison Service that the figures for 10 April 2008, as requested by the Deputy, are as follows: Prison Number in Custody Arbour Hill 146 Castlerea Prison 241 Cloverhill Prison 441 Cork Prison 269 Dóchas 108 Limerick Prison 300 Loughan House 120 Midlands Prison 466 Mountjoy Prison 583 Portlaoise 107 Shelton Abbey 67 St...

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

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Garda statistics are compiled at the end of each month and the attested personnel strength of An Garda Síochána as requested by the Deputy is set out hereunder. Number 31 May 2007 13,140 30 November 2007 13,780 31 March 2008 13,900 These figures do not include the more than one thousand Garda recruits who are in training at any one time. As the Deputy is aware, an unprecedented...

Written Answers — Extradition of Criminals: Extradition of Criminals (17 Apr 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am informed by the Garda Authorities that An Garda Síochána maintains liaison with other law enforcement agencies throughout Europe, and elsewhere, exchanging information and intelligence on Irish criminals living abroad. This ongoing liaison has led to a number of successful joint operations, targeting attempted importations of drugs and firearms, resulting in a number of significant...

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

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am assured by the Garda authorities that existing Garda telecommunications infrastructures are utilised to meet the operational and organisational needs of the Garda Síochána. A number of initiatives are currently underway in An Garda Síochána in this area. As I indicated in my response to Questions Nos. 21 and 43 today, the contract for the provision a new National Digital Radio...

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

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The 2008 Garda Budget has been increased by over 11.6% on last year's allocation to over €1.6bn. This enables the Garda Commissioner to deliver on the range of services and priorities as set out in the 2008 Annual Policing Plan. One of the main priorities I have set for the Garda Síochána is to target gun crime, organised crime and drug trafficking through a range of measures including...

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

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am informed by the Garda Authorities that there are two categories of organised crime groups operating in this jurisdiction. The first category consists of individuals / groups that are well established and tightly structured, involved in drug trafficking, armed robbery and firearms offences. The second category involves groups whose activities are characterised by less cohesive group...

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

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The issue referred to by the Deputy would raise profound legal and constitutional issues and I have no proposals in that regard.

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

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am informed by the Garda Authorities that the Organised Crime Unit was established on a temporary basis in November 2005 to pro-actively target organised criminal gangs. Since then the Organised Crime Unit has pro-actively targeted criminal gangs engaged in diverse types of criminality. The main forms of criminality being committed by these gangs include armed robberies, hi-jacking of...