Results 1,141-1,160 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (7 Oct 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I am informed by the Garda authorities that, on the latest date for which figures are available, the personnel strength of An Garda Síochána was 14,615. This figure includes 400 probationer Gardaí who have been attested and will graduate over the next six months. On that date there were also 9 unattested students in training. In relation to retirements, 236 members of the Force have so...

Written Answers — Garda Interpreters: Garda Interpreters (7 Oct 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The provision of interpretation for the Garda Síochána is primarily an operational matter for the Garda Commissioner. I have been informed by the Commissioner that a range of interpretation services is available to the Force in accordance with contracts that have been put in place. These services operate where persons have been detained and in other circumstances, as required, and the...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (7 Oct 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the personnel strength of the Cavan/Monaghan Garda Division was 402 on 31 December 2007 and 406 on 31 August 2010. These Divisional resources are augmented by relevant Garda national units as and when deemed necessary. For operational reasons it is not the practice to comment on specific anti-terrorism measures relating to the security of...

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (7 Oct 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I understand from the Garda Commissioner that, in the course of preparing a comprehensive investigation file into the criminal activities of an organised criminal group for consideration by the DPP, a small but nonetheless important portion of the investigation file was brought under Garda supervision to the premises in question. During the course of the Garda visit to the premises, and...

Written Answers — Gaming Regulation: Gaming Regulation (7 Oct 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 21 and 50 together. I launched the review of gambling in May of last year. The Casino Gaming Control Section of my Department was established from within the existing resources of my Department at that time to manage the review process. This Section also deals with all matters arising from my Department's current responsibility for the Gaming and Lotteries...

Written Answers — Garda Security Escorts: Garda Security Escorts (7 Oct 2010)

Dermot Ahern: As part of the Proposal for Organisational Change in the Irish Prison Service (IPS), which was agreed with staff representatives in 2005, a dedicated Prison Service Escort Corp (PSEC) was established. Essentially, this is a dedicated corps of staff whose task is to escort prisoners to and from court in new cellular vehicles, thus eliminating the need to resort to overtime working as had been...

Written Answers — Garda Security Escorts: Garda Security Escorts (7 Oct 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The Annual Report on the Garda Diversion Programme for 2009 indicates that there was a reduction of 13% in the number of incidents referred to the programme, and a reduction of 14% in the number of children referred to it, during that period. As regards alcohol-related offences, there was a reduction of 22% in the number of such offences compared with 2008. This suggests that the Government's...

Written Answers — Prisoner Releases: Prisoner Releases (7 Oct 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The vast majority of the persons are classified at large because of a technical breach, i.e., failing to sign on at the prison at an allotted time having been granted temporary release. It is not possible without manually examining each and every case to provide information on the exact length of sentence being served or the date that each person went at large, however, the overwhelming...

Written Answers — Garda Recruitment: Garda Recruitment (7 Oct 2010)

Dermot Ahern: In June 2010, 106 Garda Trainees were attested as members of An Garda Síochána and the strength of the force, on the latest date for which figures are readily available, was 14,615. An Garda Síochána is of course subject to the moratorium on recruitment and appointments in the public service and the purpose of the present Garda recruitment campaign is to establish a panel of approved...

Written Answers — Official Engagements: Official Engagements (7 Oct 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I met with Northern Ireland Minister of Justice David Ford MLA and Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Justice Kenny MacAskill MSP on 27 September 2010 at Stephenstown Pond in Co. Louth. The genesis of this meeting lies in discussions in bilateral meetings I had previously held with both Ministers. I met with Mr MacAskill in April 2010, to build on contact at official level and with a view to...

Written Answers — Tribunals of Inquiry: Tribunals of Inquiry (7 Oct 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The Smithwick Tribunal was established pursuant to the Tribunals of Inquiry (Evidence) Acts 1921-2002, to enquire into suggestions that members of the Garda Síochána or other employees of the State colluded in the fatal shootings of RUC Chief Superintendent Harry Breen and RUC Superintendent Bob Buchanan in 1989. The Tribunal was established by resolutions passed by the Oireachtas in March...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (7 Oct 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 28 and 31 together. This is a despicable type of crime. The abduction and false imprisonment of a person's family or friends, in order to coerce them into assisting with a robbery is a particularly abhorrent type of crime. The trauma visited on the innocent victims involved by heartless criminals can only be imagined by the rest of us. I know my contempt...

Written Answers — Sex Offender Treatment Programme: Sex Offender Treatment Programme (7 Oct 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I would like to advise the Deputy that the information requested is currently being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it is available.

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (7 Oct 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The Government Legislation Programme, published on 29 September 2010, indicates that the Mental Capacity Bill will be published in this Session. The Bill will reform the law on mental capacity taking into account the Law Reform Commission's Report on Vulnerable Adults and the Law. It is intended that the Bill will replace the Wards of Court system with a modern statutory framework...

Written Answers — Probation and Welfare Service: Probation and Welfare Service (7 Oct 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The Probation Service of my Department is the lead agency in the assessment and management of offenders in our communities. In common with the rest of the Civil Service the Probation Service is subject to the Government's moratorium on recruitment and promotion and its staff also have access to the Incentivised Career Break Scheme and the Incentivised Scheme of Early Retirement. Where...

Written Answers — Gaming Regulation: Gaming Regulation (7 Oct 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Question No 100 for answer on 30 June 2010, in which the operation of gaming premises was previously addressed. Subsequent to that reply, my officials have sought advice from the Office of the Attorney General on the matter. I can assure the Deputy that should the law need to be changed consequent on any advices received, to ensure an...

Written Answers — Remission of Prison Sentences: Remission of Prison Sentences (7 Oct 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The granting of sentence remission is a feature of many prison systems worldwide and has been a feature of the Irish criminal justice system since the foundation of the State. Indeed our Courts are aware of the statutory entitlement to remission when passing sentence. Section 35 of the Prisons Act, 2007 (No. 10 of 2007) provides that the Minister may make rules for the regulation and good...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (7 Oct 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The number of offences being committed by persons on bail is a matter of concern. The operation of the legislation relating to bail is kept under continuing review by my Department, and proposals for amendment of the legislation are brought forward when that is considered necessary. A decision to grant bail in a particular case is a matter for the court, which is, subject only to the...

Written Answers — Gangland Killings: Gangland Killings (7 Oct 2010)

Dermot Ahern: All cases of murder where proceedings have not yet been taken remain under active investigation. The detection rate by its nature increases over time as Garda investigations progress. It is expected that the number of convictions obtained will increase as Garda investigations are concluded and proceedings commenced are finalised by the courts. This applies particularly to murders committed...

Written Answers — Prisoner Releases: Prisoner Releases (7 Oct 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The person referred to was given a cumulative sentence totalling 4 years imprisonment in October, 2007 for a number of sentences including no insurance, dangerous driving and assault. Following a sentence management review in mid 2009, the prisoner in question was deemed suitable for a transfer to an open centre and was transferred to Shelton Abbey on 5 September 2009. I am advised by the...