Results 11,321-11,340 of 16,537 for speaker:Brian Lenihan Jnr

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (4 Mar 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Directive 2006/24/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the retention of data was due to be transposed by 15 September 2007. Under Article 249 of the Treaty establishing the European Community (TEC), Member States of the European Union as well as members of the European Economic Area (EEA) are bound to transpose such Directives. Failure to do so could result in the Commission...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (4 Mar 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: As of 31 January 2008 the personnel strength of Limerick Garda Division and Tallaght Garda Station was 592 and 180 respectively. The number of Community Gardaí assigned to the Limerick Garda Division and Tallaght Garda Station on 31 December, 2007 (the latest date for which figures are readily available) was 66 and 24, respectively. The Deputy will appreciate that, as with any large...

Written Answers — Garda Equipment: Garda Equipment (4 Mar 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I propose to take Questions Nos. 118 and 168 together. I have been assured by the Garda authorities that the Garda Information System which includes PULSE is functioning very satisfactorily. Significant investment has been made to improve availability and response times and I am advised that as a result, since the beginning of 2007, there has been virtually no unplanned downtime. The PULSE...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (4 Mar 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I propose to take Questions Nos. 119, 121, 159 and 516 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 the...

Written Answers — Prison Building Programme: Prison Building Programme (4 Mar 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I propose to take Questions Nos. 120 and 172 together. Negotiations are currently underway with a commercial consortium which was selected following an EU tender procedure 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...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (4 Mar 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The information requested by the Deputy in relation to the number of applications for asylum received by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner in each of the past five years is set out in the table below: Asylum Applications Received — 2003 to 2007 Year No. of asylum applications received 2003 7,900 2004 4,766 2005 4,323 2006 4,314 2007 3,985 Total 25,288 Timescales...

Written Answers — Witness Intimidation: Witness Intimidation (4 Mar 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I propose to take Questions Nos. 123, 521 and 533 together. There are a number of statutory provisions in place to ensure that intimidation of witnesses does not frustrate the taking of prosecutions. The intimidation of witnesses is 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...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (4 Mar 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The attested strength of An Garda Síochána as at 31 January 2008, the latest date for which figures are readily available, was 13,732. In addition 1,310 student Gardaí were at various stages of their training on that date, making a total of 15,042. It is the responsibility of the Garda Commissioner to assign members of the Force throughout the country and to national units. In doing...

Written Answers — Garda Equipment: Garda Equipment (4 Mar 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Following the completion of a pilot Digital Radio project by the Garda authorities, a decision was taken to procure a single nationwide digital radio service for use by the Garda authorities, other emergency services and non-commercial State bodies. This enables economies of scale as well as allowing for inter-agency communication in the event of major incidents or cross agency operations....

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (4 Mar 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I propose to take Questions Nos. 127 and 184 together. The Scheme of a Civil Partnership Bill, containing detailed proposals, is being developed in my Department for submission to Government by the end of March 2008. The scope of the Bill as proposed does not extend to provision for the marriage of same-sex couples. The Government Legislative Programme includes the Bill as providing for a...

Written Answers — Prison Population: Prison Population (4 Mar 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am informed by the Director General of the Irish Prison Service that the figures for 28 February, 2008, as requested by the Deputy are as follows: Prison/Place of Detention Number in Custody Arbour Hill 138 Castlerea 236 Cloverhill 434 Cork 268 Dóchas 113 Limerick 301 Loughan House 104 Midlands 454 Mountjoy 571 Portlaoise 114 Shelton Abbey 58 St. Patrick's Institution 203...

Written Answers — Liquor Licensing Laws: Liquor Licensing Laws (4 Mar 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The information supplied in Parliamentary Question 324 of 20 February, 2008 was provided in answer to a specific question relating to prosecutions commenced, between 2003 and 2007, for an offence under section 31(2) of the Intoxicating Liquor Act 1988, as amended, and is not inclusive of prosecutions commenced in respect of any other offences relating to the sale of alcohol to minors....

Written Answers — Security Industry: Security Industry (4 Mar 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The security of cash in transit deliveries is an issue the Government takes extremely seriously. A number of measures have been adopted in recent years to improve security in this area. The Deputy will appreciate that I cannot comment on Garda Síochána operational plans to prevent attacks on cash-in-transit deliveries. Nevertheless, I can say that there are a range of measures in place to...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (4 Mar 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Law Reform Commission published a Consultation Paper on Reform and Consolidation of the Courts Acts in 2007 as a follow up to a project it began in 2005 which aimed to reform and consolidate the Courts Acts, which comprise up to 100 Acts, including a large number that predate the foundation of the State. The Commission embarked on the project jointly with my Department and the Courts...

Written Answers — Youth Justice Strategy: Youth Justice Strategy (4 Mar 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Diversion of young people from crime and the criminal justice system is one of the responsibilities of my Department in accordance with the provisions of the Children Act 2001, as amended. The causes of delinquent, anti-social, and criminal behaviour are often complex and may cover a range of issues which are dealt with by a number of Government Departments. While my Department has not...

Written Answers — Crime Prevention: Crime Prevention (4 Mar 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I have been informed by the Garda Authorities that organised criminal gangs operating in this jurisdiction are being targeted on an ongoing basis and profiles regarding the personnel of such groups are continually updated. Their members, operating methods, criminal interests and financial assets are likewise proactively targeted through the use of intelligence-led operations primarily...

Written Answers — Prison Drug Treatment Services: Prison Drug Treatment Services (4 Mar 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: At present, any person entering prison giving a history of drug use and testing positive for drugs on committal are offered a medically assisted symptomatic detoxification for operational reasons. Patients can, as part of the assessment process, discuss other treatment options with healthcare staff, which may include methadone maintenance. The Medical Unit in Mountjoy Prison has spaces...

Written Answers — Drug Seizures: Drug Seizures (4 Mar 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I have been informed by the Garda authorities that the following table shows the approximate quantities of heroin, cocaine, cannabis and other main illegal drugs seized in 2007*: *Drug Seizures in 2007 Drug Type Quantity Street Value € Heroin 125.2 Kgs 24,920,000 Cannabis Resin 1.7 Tonne 12,416,000 Cannabis Herb 1.76 Tonne 3,676,000 Ecstasy Tables 360,279 tablets ...

Written Answers — Pre-Nuptial Agreements: Pre-Nuptial Agreements (4 Mar 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Questions No. 64 and 131 on 7 November 2007. The recommendations made in the Report of the Study Group remain under review in my Department.

Written Answers — Disability Support Service: Disability Support Service (4 Mar 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The National Disability Strategy was launched by Government in September, 2004 and underpins the participation of people with disabilities in Irish society by building on existing policy and legislation. The implementation of the Strategy is the agreed focus of disability policy under the Partnership Agreement, Towards 2016. Under the terms of Towards 2016, the National Disability Strategy...