Results 11,761-11,780 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (8 Jul 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 93 and 110 together. Following a two stage tender and evaluation process, a preferred bidder has been selected. Following a cooling off period in accordance with standard procurement procedures, the intention is that An Garda Síochána will shortly commence contract discussions with the preferred bidder. A rollout of the network of cameras would commence...

Written Answers — Juvenile Offenders: Juvenile Offenders (8 Jul 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I am informed by the Garda authorities that to date all significant arrests by the Garda National Drugs Unit in 2008 have involved adults. There is no evidence, currently to hand, to indicate that there is an increase in the use of juveniles by criminals for the purpose of drug-trafficking. However there is no room for complacency on matters such as this and An Garda Síochána will...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (8 Jul 2008)

Dermot Ahern: Work is underway in my Department on the preparation of the heads of a Bill to give effect to the legislative elements of the 'Justice for Victims Initiative' which I announced recently. While I cannot at this time give a precise date for submission of the heads of the Bill to Government, it remains my firm intention that the Bill should be published in the Spring of 2009 and I remain...

Written Answers — Crime Statistics: Crime Statistics (8 Jul 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 96 and 102 together. The recorded crime figures for the first quarter of 2008 issued by the Central Statistics Office for the first time use the new Quarterly Irish Crime Classification System. This system includes some offences which were not previously classified as headline offences. These statistics, which have to be assessed against the background of an...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (8 Jul 2008)

Dermot Ahern: Following the approval of Government the details of my proposals for a Civil Partnership Bill were published on 24 June 2008. The Bill is now in the course of being drafted by Parliamentary Counsel. It is, I believe, generally acknowledged that the Bill, while being comprehensive, is very complex. It will require a good deal of consideration on the legal and technical aspects in the course of...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (8 Jul 2008)

Dermot Ahern: My Department (including the immigration and asylum areas) is required to operate within overall staffing levels approved by Government. The staffing of the immigration and asylum areas is dealt with in the same manner as obtains across the Department and is determined by: the availability of staff; the competing priorities of the many critical areas of responsibility handled by my...

Written Answers — Licensing Laws: Licensing Laws (8 Jul 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The position is that the Licensing Acts already provide for a system of sequential closing of licensed premises. Existing legislation provides for a general closing time of 11.30 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday; 12.30 a.m on Friday and Saturday and 11.00 p.m. on Sunday. A further period of 30 minutes drinking-up time is also permitted. Special exemption orders which permit...

Written Answers — Joint Policing Committees: Joint Policing Committees (8 Jul 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I refer the Deputy to my answer to Question No. 59 of today's date.

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (8 Jul 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I refer the Deputy to the replies to Question Nos. 9121/08, 14079/08, 19315/08, 21109/08 of 4 March, 17 April, 20 May and 28 May 2008 respectively. The position is unchanged.

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (8 Jul 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The Refugee Appeals Tribunal was established under the Refugee Act 1996 to consider and decide appeals against recommendations of the Refugee Applications Commissioner refusing refugee status. Under the Act, the Refugee Appeals Tribunal is independent in the performance of its functions. I am informed by the Refugee Appeals Tribunal that the members of the Tribunal have received training in...

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (8 Jul 2008)

Dermot Ahern: Over the last number of years the Government has of course been aware of and concerned by the increasing prevalence of cocaine use in Ireland. We are not alone in this as this development reflects increasing use of the drug across all of Europe in recent times. As the Deputy points out, the drug prevalence study recently produced by the National Advisory Committee on Drugs (NACD) which...

Written Answers — Identification Cards: Identification Cards (8 Jul 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I have no immediate plans to introduce a national, mandatory identity card scheme.

Written Answers — Garda Ombudsman: Garda Ombudsman (8 Jul 2008)

Dermot Ahern: Discussions have been taking place for some time now between the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission and my Department regarding the Commission's proposals for amendments to be made to the Garda Síochána Act 2005, which, in the light of the Commission's operational experience to date, will contribute to greater effectiveness and efficiency in the Commission's operations. The areas where...

Written Answers — Garda Training: Garda Training (8 Jul 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I am advised by the Garda authorities that there are sufficient resources and infrastructures in place to provide training for members of the Garda Síochána who are authorised to carry Firearms Authorisation Cards. Cardholders are required to attend for refresher training three times per year which is significantly more than the average international policing standards. There has been...

Written Answers — Firearms Licences: Firearms Licences (8 Jul 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that the number of licensed firearms has increased by approx 5% over the last five years. On the other hand, figures from the Central Statistics Office indicate that the population grew by over 8% between 2002 and 2006 so, while there has been a small increase in the number of licensed firearms in recent years, in real terms the number of firearms per...

Written Answers — Drug Seizures: Drug Seizures (8 Jul 2008)

Dermot Ahern: Consideration of the issue of heroin misuse in Ireland needs to take place in the global context within which such misuse takes place. I am advised that the United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime estimates that approximately 90% of the heroin which is consumed in the European Union originates from Afghanistan. The sharp increase both in cultivation and production of illicit opium poppy in...

Written Answers — Crime Prevention: Crime Prevention (8 Jul 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The recent increase in the use of pipe bombs and other improvised explosive devices (IEDs) is a matter of concern to me. That concern is shared by the Garda Commissioner. I am informed by the Garda authorities that all available intelligence is fully analysed and used in the strategic deployment of both local and specialised operational Garda units in pursuing persons and groups who use pipe...

Written Answers — Juvenile Liaison Service: Juvenile Liaison Service (8 Jul 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 117 and 127 together. It is the responsibility of the Garda Commissioner to decide on the prioritisation and allocation of resources within the force. The Commissioner has informed me that, as of 31 May 2008, the number of Gardaí assigned to the Juvenile Liaison Service was 101. The Garda Commissioner has given a commitment to appoint an additional 21...

Written Answers — Drug Seizures: Drug Seizures (8 Jul 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the following tables provide details of the seizures made of the main categories of illegal drugs for 2007 and to date for 2008 (up to and including 4 July ). Drug Seizures 2007* Drug Type Quantity Estimated Value € Cannabis 725 Kg 1,450,000 Cannabis Resin 1,167 Kg 8,169,000 Cocaine 1,718 Kg 120,260,000 Diamorphine (Heroin) 117 Kg...

Written Answers — Garda Charter: Garda Charter (8 Jul 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The Garda Commissioner has committed in his Policing Plan 2008 to commence the development of a Garda Charter during the third and fourth quarters of 2008. The aim of a Garda Charter is to improve customer service and responsiveness. The Charter will set out targeted response times and levels of service the public can expect, including the frequency of high visibility patrols in urban and...