Results 11,441-11,460 of 16,537 for speaker:Brian Lenihan Jnr

Garda Deployment. (4 Mar 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: ——it will eventuate in legislation which will address this problem. I am anxious to get that legislation through the House before the summer and I hope I can receive the co-operation of the different parties in the House. We are not going to be able to deal with all the problems in a short Bill to be enacted before the summer, but we can at least begin to address the problem. I am not...

Garda Deployment. (4 Mar 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am not, and I am very open to any proposals the Opposition may wish to bring forward as well. However, as regards Dr. Holmes's previous studies, on my appointment as Minister he contacted me and expressed specific concern that in his earlier work the terms of reference did not permit him to address the issue of the harmful effects of alcohol in the context of any review of legislation....

Garda Deployment. (4 Mar 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: ——that further extensions in the opening hours for licensed premises or the establishment of café bar type arrangements would be quite disastrous in this context.

Garda Deployment. (4 Mar 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I agree with Deputy Doyle and that is why the Commissioner is undertaking this review — to arrive at a more precise definition of the responsibilities of the community policeman. As regards Deputy Ó Snodaigh's point concerning the ringfencing of traffic gardaí, many countries have a separate traffic corps. In this jurisdiction, my predecessor maintained — I agree with him — that it...

Garda Deployment. (4 Mar 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that, as of 28 February 2008, there are 3,377 members of the Garda Síochána who are competent in the use of firearms and who are authorised firearms card holders. This includes members of specialist units such as the special detective unit as well as a percentage of uniformed gardaí. A Garda working group on firearms training recommended that not...

Garda Deployment. (4 Mar 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The fundamental question asked by the Deputy related to training. I have outlined in my answer the new initiatives which have been taken to ensure training in the use of firearms is first-class. I have looked at the facilities available in Templemore and I am satisfied they are of the highest standard and will ensure that the continuous training which the Garda Síochána requires in this...

Garda Deployment. (4 Mar 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: As I indicated in my reply, I am satisfied with the training arrangements as regards the use of firearms. On the supply of further weaponry, I will be guided by any requests made by the Commissioner in that regard.

Garda Deployment. (4 Mar 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Not to my knowledge.

Garda Deployment. (4 Mar 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am confident that every effort was made in the interim to maintain a high standard. The new provision in Templemore is of an excellent standard and similar provision will be available in Dublin from April of this year.

Crime Prevention. (4 Mar 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I have been informed by the Garda authorities that the organised crime unit was established on a temporary basis in November 2005 to actively target organised criminal gangs. It was initially established with officers seconded from various units. In January of this year, the unit was established on a permanent basis and full-time staff have been assigned to it. This new status has been...

Crime Prevention. (4 Mar 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The unit was established temporarily in November 2005 and it was in this year that it was decided to establish it on a permanent basis. Officers were seconded from various units. While the detection of drugs offences is a principle responsibility of the unit, it is not the only one. Organised crime takes other forms also, including, for example, the acquisition of firearms. The unit is...

Crime Levels. (4 Mar 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The House will join me in offering heartfelt sympathies to the families of two Polish citizens who tragically died as a result of injuries they sustained in a serious attack with an offensive weapon in Drimnagh on 23 February last. A full-scale Garda investigation is under way. The Garda Síochána will, of course, spare no resources to bring about a successful outcome to the investigation....

Crime Levels. (4 Mar 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Deputy introduced in the course of his question the incidence of routine gangland murders involving the use of firearms. Whereas there was an increase in the number of homicides involving the use of knives last year, there was a decline in the number of gangland murders. The reason for this was the incessant activity of the Garda Síochána in connection with Operation Anvil. A careful...

Crime Levels. (4 Mar 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: With effect from 1 November 2006, there has been a mandatory minimum sentence of between five and ten years under the Criminal Justice Act 2006 for certain firearms offences, including possession of a firearm in suspicious circumstances, possession of a firearm with criminal intent, possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life or cause serious injury to property, possession of a...

Crime Levels. (4 Mar 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: We must never lose sight of the fact that regardless of whether crime figures show a decrease or an increase, they represent victims and those close to them whose lives have been adversely affected by a criminal act. There was an increase in headline crime in 2007 of 1.7% but this must be seen against the background of the unprecedented rise taking place in our population. Taking this...

Crime Levels. (4 Mar 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Deputy Rabbitte began with homicide and I very fairly accepted there was an increase in the number of homicides last year but I pointed out that there was a reduction in the number of gangland homicides in which firearms were used. There was an overall increase in the homicide rate last year, as Deputy Rabbitte pointed out, and there are wider social trends in operation here. A substantial...

Crime Levels. (4 Mar 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The gardaí are exceptionally visible on the ground and in recent weeks, I arranged for an allocation of further resources to ensure additional bicycles are provided to the Garda Síochána to maximise its visibility and presence on the ground in areas troubled in the manner Deputy Rabbitte described.

Drugs in Prisons. (4 Mar 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Presumably, the Deputy is referring to recent reports regarding the number of prisoners testing positive for drugs in our prisons. In regard to the figures published, some of them relate to the use of drugs immediately prior to committal. The length of time prisoners were in custody before being tested was not recorded, so a precise breakdown of such cases cannot be given. It should also be...

Drugs in Prisons. (4 Mar 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I assure Deputy Charles Flanagan that the dogs are on the way and the handlers are being trained. I am not aware of what promises I have made in this area but I very much believe in action. I will supply the Deputy with the information about the evaluator, but on my appointment I found I did not need an evaluator to tell me about the extent of this problem. I went to Government and got a...

Drugs in Prisons. (4 Mar 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Enhanced security screening is part of the plan and it will be introduced in closed prisons to ensure that the easy passage of materials such as those under discussion ceases. On the matter of detoxification, not only in respect of those addicted to drugs but also for those addicted to alcohol, it is important — I have considered this matter in the context of Thornton Hall — to provide...