Results 10,761-10,780 of 16,537 for speaker:Brian Lenihan Jnr

Gaming Regulation. (17 Apr 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The policy of the Government has been to give all the parties in the House a say in the shape of any such legislation. That is the Government's position on the issue. In noting the report and approving its publication, the Government made it contingent on the establishment of such a committee. I am anxious to move these matters forward and I hope that Deputy Rabbitte can re-examine this...

Liquor Licensing Laws. (17 Apr 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I intend to bring the contents of the report of the alcohol advisory group to the attention of Government in the very near future. At the same time, I will seek the Government's approval of my proposals for the implementation of recommendations contained in the report. The group was asked to examine the following areas of concern — the increase in the number of supermarkets, convenience...

Liquor Licensing Laws. (17 Apr 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I will.

Liquor Licensing Laws. (17 Apr 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I examined the report and I am preparing heads of legislative proposals based on that report. I will be bringing them before the Government in a matter of weeks. I hope to publish the heads along with the report so that all parties in the House will have the opportunity to examine them before the definitive legislation is published. The report makes a large number of recommendations, some...

Liquor Licensing Laws. (17 Apr 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Minister of State in question, Deputy Pat Carey, is not attached to my Department.

Liquor Licensing Laws. (17 Apr 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Sorry, forgive me. The reference to the constituency confused me, because the incident took place in Deputy Carey's constituency. Some of the proposals brought forward by the advisory group reflect the need to develop robust provisions to prevent the sale and supply of alcohol to younger persons.

Proposed Legislation. (17 Apr 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Deputy will be aware that the Government's legislative programme includes a proposed criminal law (defence of life and property) Bill, the drafting of which the previous Government approved in March 2007. The Deputy may also be aware that this important issue is currently being examined by the Law Reform Commission as part of its consideration of the issue of defences generally in the...

Proposed Legislation. (17 Apr 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: One of the reasons, unfortunately, that householders are fearful is because of the persistent misrepresentation which the Deputy and his predecessor have engaged in with regard to the law that applies in this area. The law in this area was revisited by the Houses of the Oireachtas in the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997. I repudiate the suggestion that I have somehow been...

Proposed Legislation. (17 Apr 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I do not accept the law is as vague or uncertain as is being represented, as is clear if one looks at the expressions used in the legislation we enacted in 1997. However, I am prepared to ask the chairman of the Law Reform Commission whether consideration of this topic can be expedited to a conclusion.

Asylum Support Services. (17 Apr 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Reception and Integration Agency is responsible for the accommodation of asylum seekers in accordance with the Government policy of direct provision and dispersal. The information required by the Deputy regarding the cost of the asylum direct provision system in each of the past three years is: a total of €84.382 million in 2005, a total of €78.728 million in 2006 and a total of...

Asylum Support Services. (17 Apr 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The figures are set out in my reply to the Deputy's question. It takes on average 17 to 20 working days to determine an asylum application——

Asylum Support Services. (17 Apr 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I do not have that information but I will furnish it to the Deputy if he wants it. A study of the numbers involved will show that the average number of persons which the Reception and Integration Agency catered for in the past three years was 6,784 persons in 2005; 5,036 persons in 2006; 6,122 persons in 2007. The courts are independent in the operation of their functions. In our...

Asylum Support Services. (17 Apr 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I will examine the various matters which Deputy Naughten has raised, which certainly do not arise out of the question as put by him. I will have any specific matter of concern to him investigated and dealt with. It is the case that a person who seeks asylum in this jurisdiction is placed in direct provision and this is a Government policy decision.

Criminal Justice Act. (17 Apr 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Criminal Justice Act 2007 contains 60 sections and two Schedules. With the exception of sections 11 to 13, inclusive and 19 and 41, inclusive, all sections and the two Schedules have been commenced. Sections 11 to 13, inclusive, of the Act, concern the Bail Act 1997. They are the enabling provisions for electronic monitoring of persons granted bail subject to certain conditions. The...

Criminal Justice Act. (17 Apr 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Some of the provisions relating to bail will be commenced. I refer to the provisions relating to electronic monitoring of persons on bail which is certainly under examination in the Department. I have reservations about the legislative intent to transfer general jurisdiction in bail matters to the Circuit Court because it opens up the vista of a District Court case being followed by a...

Criminal Justice Act. (17 Apr 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: We are already engaged in discussions with the probation and welfare service on this matter. One of the main considerations is that the introduction of electronic monitoring may increase the number of persons out on bail at any one time. We are liaising with the probation and welfare service on this and other aspects of the introduction of such a system.

Garda Reserve. (17 Apr 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: As at 31 March 2008, there were 51 reserve trainees and 264 attested reserve gardaí. In the Dublin metropolitan region, 123 attested reserve gardaí are assigned as follows: 21 at Pearse Street, five at Kevin Street, three at Kilmainham, six at Donnybrook, nine at Store Street, six at Bridewell, six at Fitzgibbon Street, two at Clondalkin, four at Finglas, five at Lucan, three at...

Garda Reserve. (17 Apr 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am fully committed to the Garda reserve. One of my first functions as Minister, during which I paid tribute to my predecessor, was to attend a passing out ceremony for the Garda reserve. Applicants are carefully assessed and there has been a high attrition rate on applications. It has always been recognised that it will take some time to reach the desired target level for the force...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Mutual Assistance) Bill 2005 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (17 Apr 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am glad to say the Labour Party supported us in the decision we took and, candidly, it would be much more difficult to persuade the Irish people to vote "Yes" if they knew that we could be overruled in sensitive areas of our legal system by our European partners. We had that debate last autumn. We are completely committed to working with our European partners on combating crime but we are...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Mutual Assistance) Bill 2005 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (17 Apr 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I thank Senators for the speedy way in which today's business was dispatched. Some Members have a good understanding of the legislation because it was, of course, also considered by the previous Seanad, where it was first introduced. I acknowledge the kind remarks made about my staff. There is no doubt the Department was obliged to invest a phenomenal amount of work into the legislation....