Results 10,781-10,800 of 16,537 for speaker:Brian Lenihan Jnr

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

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Group 1 relates to the amendment of the Long Title. This amendment has simplified the Long Title, which would be too unwieldy if all of the instruments were included in the Title. I refer to the international instruments.

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

Brian Lenihan Jnr: This is a large number of amendments but they are purely technical in character. They do not involve any substantive change in the Bill. A number of them correct typographical errors while others provide greater clarity in regard to the interpretation of the Bill. New definitions have been introduced in the light of the additional mutual assistance instruments which will now be given...

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

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Group 3 relates to the Swiss Confederation. There is a fraud agreement between the European Community and Switzerland and these amendments give effect to the mutual assistance provisions in Title III of this international agreement. The majority of the provisions were already included in the Bill as a result of giving effect to other instruments. However, amendments were required to...

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

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I welcome Senator Hannigan's contribution and the earlier contribution by Senator Cummins and the broad welcome they have extended to this legislation. The legislation is a Bill initiated in Seanad Éireann and it underwent substantial revision and change in Dáil Éireann. I appreciate the positive spirit in which the Senator has addressed that because the option for me was to deal with...

Written Answers — Employment Rights: Employment Rights (10 Apr 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Maternity Protection Acts 1994 and 2004 make provision for maternity leave and do not discriminate between employees in the private sector and those in the public sector. Employees and employers in either sector are free to agree terms more favourable to the employee than are set out in the Acts. My Department is currently undertaking a review of maternity, paternity and parental leave....

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (10 Apr 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: An application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to in the Deputy's question was received in the Citizenship section of my Department in May 2007. Officials in that section are currently processing applications received in August 2005 and have approximately 11,800 applications on hand to be dealt with before that of the person concerned. These are generally dealt...

Written Answers — Asylum Support Services: Asylum Support Services (10 Apr 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I propose to take Questions Nos. 164 and 165 together. The information sought by the Deputy is not separately compiled, and could be compiled in the short time available to the relevant authorities between the tabling of these Questions and the due date for answer only by the re-allocation of additional scarce staff resources from other important work, which would not be warranted. When the...

Written Answers — Asylum Support Services: Asylum Support Services (10 Apr 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) of my Department is charged with responsibility for the provision of accommodation for asylum-seekers while their asylum applications are being processed. The RIA advises me that, in the last five years, no premises have been purchased on its behalf for the purpose of accommodating asylum-seekers.

Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (10 Apr 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I can inform the Deputy that the concerns referred to are currently under consideration and that there is ongoing communication with the Committee representing the families and their legal advisors on these matters.

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (10 Apr 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that there are one Sergeant and nine Gardaí, all of which are full-time, allocated to the Drugs Unit in the Donegal Division. Of course all Gardaí in the Donegal Division and elsewhere have a role to play in addressing drug issues as they arise. The Deputy should appreciate that, as with any large organisation, on any given day, personnel strengths...

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (10 Apr 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that the personnel strength of the Community Policing Unit attached to Letterkenny Garda Station for each month from 31 January 2007 to 31 March 2008 was 4. Of course, community policing involves more than just a single unit within An Garda Síochána. All Gardaí have a role to play in addressing community policing issues. The Deputy should appreciate...

Written Answers — Criminal Prosecutions: Criminal Prosecutions (10 Apr 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: One of the high level strategic goals set in the Garda Síochána Corporate Strategy 2007-2009 is to significantly reduce the incidence of fatal and serious injuries and improve road safety. Collision data identifies young male drivers as vulnerable persons in terms of road safety. Consequently, one of the actions identified in the Garda Policing Plan 2008 in support of this goal is...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (10 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 Strength: Garda Strength (10 Apr 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The personnel strength of the Garda National Drugs Unit and each Divisional Drugs Unit, as at 31st December, 2004 -2007 inclusive is as set out in the following table. I have requested the information sought by the Deputy in respect of the strength for 2008 from the Garda Commissioner and I will write to the Deputy directly when this information is to hand. The Deputy should be aware that...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (10 Apr 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The person concerned submitted an application to my Department on 18th May, 2005 seeking permission to remain in the State under the revised arrangements for non national parents of Irish born children born prior to 1st January 2005, commonly referred to as the IBC/05 scheme. On 19th August, 2005 this application was refused as the applicant did not meet the continuous residency criterion of...

Written Answers — Asylum Support Services: Asylum Support Services (10 Apr 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) is responsible for the accommodation of asylum seekers primarily through the Government policy of direct provision and dispersal. Under direct provision, asylum seekers are provided with full board accommodation and ancillary services. In addition to direct provision accommodation, the Agency operates a very limited number of self-catering...

Written Answers — Asylum Support Services: Asylum Support Services (10 Apr 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Funding is available from the Vote of the Office of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform through the 'Asylum Seeker Supports Small Grant Scheme' details of which are available on the website of the Reception and Integration Agency (www.ria.gov.ie). This scheme provides funding to locally-based organisations which befriend, support and involve asylum seekers living in direct...

Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (10 Apr 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I have been informed by the Immigration Division of my Department that they have recently been in contact with the person referred to by the Deputy in relation to his immigration status. Further documentation has been requested from the person concerned in order to facilitate the Immigration Division in examining his case.

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (10 Apr 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: An application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to in the Deputy's Question was received in the Citizenship section of my Department in March 2008. The application has not been examined in detail. Examination of the residency requirement will take place in the near future and the applicant will be informed at that time when her application will be further...

Written Answers — Deportation Orders: Deportation Orders (10 Apr 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The person concerned arrived in the State on 7 March 2004 and applied for asylum on 29 September 2004. Her asylum application was refused following the consideration of her application by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner and, on appeal, by the Refugee Appeals Tribunal. Subsequently, in accordance with Section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended), the person concerned...