Results 12,241-12,260 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — Asylum Support Services: Asylum Support Services (17 Jun 2008)

Dermot Ahern: In relation to the provision of interpretation services in the asylum determination process, the sole purpose of the use of an interpreter at asylum interviews is to enable efficient and effective communication between the asylum applicant and the interviewing officer and to ensure that the asylum applicant has a full opportunity to put forward his or her case. Interpreters are obliged to...

Written Answers — Firearms Licences: Firearms Licences (17 Jun 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 797 and 798 together. I have been informed by the Garda authorities that there has been an increase in the number of handguns licensed in this jurisdiction since 2004 following a legal challenge taken on the temporary custody order made in 1972 by the then Minister for Justice. Prior to that it was generally not the practice to issue licences for handguns. I...

Written Answers — Departmental Applications: Departmental Applications (17 Jun 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The name of the person referred to by the Deputy does not match the reference number supplied. As it is therefore not possible to correctly identify the person to whom the Deputy is referring I cannot provide the information sought at this time. However, if the Deputy wishes to clarify the identity of the person concerned and resubmit his Question, I will provide a substantive reply.

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (17 Jun 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that as of 31 May 2008, the latest date for which figures are readily available, the personnel strength of Killaloe Garda Station and District was 31 and 47 respectively. The Deputy will appreciate that, as with any large organisation, on any given day personnel strengths of individual divisions, districts and stations may fluctuate due, for example, to...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (17 Jun 2008)

Dermot Ahern: 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 December 2007. Officials in that Section are currently processing applications received in late 2005 and have approximately 15,400 applications on hand to be dealt with before that of the person concerned. These are generally dealt...

Written Answers — Vagrancy Prosecutions: Vagrancy Prosecutions (17 Jun 2008)

Dermot Ahern: Prosecutions relating to street begging have generally been brought under section 3 of the Vagrancy (Ireland) Ireland Act 1847. However, the Deputy may be aware that in its judgement in March 2007 in the case of Niall Dillon -v- The DPP the High Court found that section to be unconstitutional. The reasoned judgement was delivered in December 2007. In its judgement, the High Court found that...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (17 Jun 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I am advised by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner (ORAC) that 53 civil servants are at present involved in interviewing and making recommendations on applications for refugee status. Other staff in ORAC provide support functions in the asylum area including dealing with cases under the EU Dublin Regulation determining the Member State responsible for processing asylum...

Written Answers — Prisoner Transfers: Prisoner Transfers (17 Jun 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The person referred to by the Deputy has made four separate applications for transfer to a prison in this jurisdiction under the Council of Europe Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons, all of which have been refused. The person referred to by the Deputy has been notified of the reasons for refusal of his applications. The Council of Europe Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced...

Written Answers — Garda Equipment: Garda Equipment (17 Jun 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The detailed allocation of Garda resources, including transport, is a matter for the Garda Commissioner to decide in accordance with his identified operational requirements and priorities. I have been informed by the Garda authorities that a new public order van will be allocated on a permanent basis to the Bridewell Garda Station when new vans become available later this year. In the...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (17 Jun 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I am advised by officials in the Long Term Residency section of my Department that an application for Long Term Residency from the person referred to by the Deputy was received in March 2007. I understand that applications received in September 2006 are currently being dealt with. As soon as a decision is made on the case, the person concerned will be notified.

Written Answers — Legal Aid Services: Legal Aid Services (17 Jun 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) Act 1962 provides that criminal legal aid may be granted by the court for the defence of persons of insufficient means in criminal proceedings. An applicant for criminal legal aid must establish to the satisfaction of the court that his/her means are insufficient to enable him/her to pay for legal aid and the court must also be satisfied that by reason of the...

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (17 Jun 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The detailed allocation of Garda resources, including accommodation, is a matter for the Garda Commissioner to decide in accordance with his identified operational requirements. The Garda accommodation programme is based on agreed priorities established by An Garda Síochána and it is brought forward in close cooperation with the Office of Public Works (OPW), which has responsibility for the...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (17 Jun 2008)

Dermot Ahern: 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 November 2007. Applications are generally dealt with in chronological order and this practice is not deviated from except in exceptional circumstances. However, due to the circumstances outlined, I understand that a submission will...

Written Answers — Deportation Orders: Deportation Orders (17 Jun 2008)

Dermot Ahern: In accordance with Directive 2004/38/EC every European citizen has the right to move and reside freely within the territory of the Member States. Regulation 20(1)(a) of the European Communities (Free Movement of Persons (No.2) Regulations 2006, which gives effect in Irish law to the Directive, provides for a Removal Order to be made in respect of an EU citizen in certain circumstances....

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (17 Jun 2008)

Dermot Ahern: It is not the practice to comment in detail on individual asylum applications. As the Deputy will be aware, applications for refugee status in the State are determined by an independent process comprising the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner and the Refugee Appeals Tribunal which make recommendations to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform on whether such status...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (17 Jun 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The person concerned arrived in the State on 23 August 1999 and applied for asylum. His application was refused following consideration of his case by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner and, on appeal, the Refugee Appeals Tribunal. Subsequently, in accordance with Section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended), the person concerned was informed, by letter dated 18...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (17 Jun 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The person concerned arrived in the State on 8 December 2005 and applied for asylum on 9 December 2005. His application was refused following consideration of his case by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner and, on appeal, the Refugee Appeals Tribunal. Subsequently, in accordance with Section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended), the person concerned was informed, by...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (17 Jun 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I am advised by officials in the Long Term Residency section of my Department that the accompanying table sets out the number of applications received each month from June 2006 to December 2006 inclusive. Statistics for the months from January 2006 to May 2006 are not readily available. Month 2006 Applications for Long Term Residency June 255 July 415 August 437 September 464 October...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (17 Jun 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended, provides that the Minister may, in his absolute discretion, grant an application for a certificate of naturalisation provided certain statutory conditions are fulfilled. Section 15 of that Act requires that the applicant must have had a period of one years' continuous residence in the State immediately before the date of the...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (17 Jun 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I am advised by officials in the long term residency section of my Department that long term residency is an administrative scheme introduced in May 2004 and is focused on persons who have been legally resident in the State for over five years on the basis of work permit / work authorisation / work visa conditions. Such persons may apply to the Immigration Division of my Department for a...