Results 12,261-12,280 of 16,537 for speaker:Brian Lenihan Jnr

Written Answers — Garda Equipment: Garda Equipment (18 Dec 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Conductive electric devices (CEDs), often referred to by the brand name "TASER", form part of the range of less lethal weapons available to the members of the Garda Emergency Response Unit who have undergone appropriate training and qualification in their use. They form part of An Garda Síochána's response to critical incidents and give An Garda Síochána a more flexible, less lethal...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (18 Dec 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The position in relation to granting long term residency is as follows: Persons who have been legally resident in the State for over five years on the basis of work permit/work authorisation/work visa conditions may apply to the Immigration Division of my Department for a five year residency extension. In that context they may also apply to be exempt from employment permit requirements. The...

Written Answers — Departmental Records: Departmental Records (18 Dec 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: In line with established practice, an official diary of the appointments of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform is maintained by my Department. A log of my precise movements, to and from the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, is not kept.

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (18 Dec 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am informed by the Garda authorities that they are aware of a number of incidents of thefts of property belonging to the individual referred to by the Deputy. These incidents are under active investigation by the Garda authorities and in the circumstances it would be inappropriate for me to comment further. I have been further informed by the Garda authorities of a recent incident when a...

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (18 Dec 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am informed by the Garda authorities that a number of burglaries and thefts have been recorded at the location referred to and that there have been a number of detections in relation to these. A suspect has been identified for a number of offences and is being sought. The allocation of Garda personnel, together with overall policing arrangements and emerging crime trends, is continually...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (18 Dec 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I refer the Deputy to my previous answer to Parliamentary Question No. 149 put down for answer on the 25th October 2007 and No. 179 put down for answer on the 15th November 2007. I am informed by the Immigration Division of my Department that the person in question made a Family Reunification application in February 2007. The application was forwarded to the Refugee Applications Commissioner...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (18 Dec 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: 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 March 2005. Officials in that section inform me that processing of the application has commenced and the file will be forwarded to me for a decision in the coming months. I will inform the Deputy and the person in question when I...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (18 Dec 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The application referred to by the Deputy was received in the Irish Embassy, Kuala Lumpur, on 3 December 2007. The applicant applied for a visit visa but the period she intended to stay in Ireland was unclear. For visa purposes, however, a visit is regarded as short-term in nature and the maximum for which one may be approved is ninety days. This is what was approved by the Visa Officer on...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (13 Dec 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: As at 30th September 2007, the latest date for which Community Gardaí figures are readily available, the personnel strength of An Garda Síochána was 13,531 and the number of Gardaí attached to Community Policing was 598. This represents a percentage of 4.42% of the total strength of the Force. It is the responsibility of the Garda Commissioner to allocate personnel throughout the Force...

Written Answers — Deportation Orders: Deportation Orders (13 Dec 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The person concerned arrived in the State on 25 June 2001 and subsequently claimed asylum on that day. Her application was refused following consideration of her case by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner. She appealed this decision and was notified by the Refugee Appeals Tribunal that her appeal had been refused and the original recommendation upheld. The person concerned...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (13 Dec 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The position is that Part III of the Landlord and Tenant (Ground Rents) (No. 2) Act 1978 already contains a statutory scheme whereby any individual may, at reasonable cost, acquire the fee simple in their dwelling house. The scheme is operated by the Property Registration Authority. A legal challenge to the constitutionality of certain provisions of existing ground rents legislation was...

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (13 Dec 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: It is the responsibility of the Garda Commissioner to assign members of the Force throughout the country. In doing this he takes into account all relevant factors, including of course population but also including other factors such as crime rates and trends as well as operational priorities. The attested strength of An Garda Síochána as at the 30 November 2007, the latest date for which...

Written Answers — International Terrorism: International Terrorism (13 Dec 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I assume the Deputy is referring to a series of proposals tabled by the European Commission last month in relation to counter terrorism. As the Deputy may be aware, the current EU Counter-Terrorism Strategy constitutes a wide-ranging and interlinked approach across EU Member States to tackle the common threat posed by international terrorism. Progress in the ongoing implementing of this...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (13 Dec 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: It is important to note that marriage to an Irish national does not grant any automatic right to enter or reside in the State solely on the basis of the marriage. A person, who is visa-required, wishing to come to Ireland to reside in the State with his/her spouse, must apply for a "Join Spouse" visa. Where all the required documentation/evidence has been furnished and the Visa Officer is...

Written Answers — Public Order Offences: Public Order Offences (13 Dec 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Part 11 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006, which provides for civil proceedings in relation to anti-social behaviour by adults, was commenced on 1 January, 2007. Part 13 of the Act, relating to anti-social behaviour by children, was commenced on 1 March, 2007. These provisions set out an incremental procedure for addressing anti-social behaviour by adults and children. With regard to...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (13 Dec 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The personnel strength of the Garda National Drugs Unit and each Divisional Drugs Unit, as at 31st December, 1998-2006 and as at 11th December 2007, is as set out in the table I am circulating with this answer. The Deputy should be aware that the numbers in any unit will fluctuate from time to time due to transfers, retirements, resignations etc. Division 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004...

Written Answers — Juvenile Offenders: Juvenile Offenders (13 Dec 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: It is only fair to point out that the Chaplains' Report commends the recent efforts by the prison management at St. Patrick's Institution to improve conditions there, including the improved educational facilities and the provision of separate accommodation and education units there for those under 18 years and those over 18 years. Literacy work has been a strong element of the Prison...

Written Answers — Prisoner Rehabilitation: Prisoner Rehabilitation (13 Dec 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I can inform the Deputy that my Department, through the Probation Service, provides funding to 63 voluntary bodies which provide a range of services to offenders in local communities, e.g. pre-industrial training and education, offender management programmes, residential accommodation, drug and alcohol abuse treatment / intervention / awareness programmes and sex offender programmes. These...

Written Answers — Liquor Licensing Laws: Liquor Licensing Laws (13 Dec 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Licensing Acts contain a comprehensive set of legislative provisions designed to tackle the problem of underage drinking. The main provisions dealing with this matter are set out in Part IV of the Intoxicating Liquor Act 1988 (as amended by the Intoxicating Liquor Acts of 2000, 2003 and 2004). Section 31 of the 1988 Act (as amended by the 2003 Act) provides that it is an offence for a...

Written Answers — Drug Seizures: Drug Seizures (13 Dec 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Under the National Drugs Strategy, the Customs Service of the Revenue Commissioners has primary responsibility for the prevention, detection, interception and seizure of controlled drugs intended to be smuggled into the State. I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that as part of its enforcement resources, the Customs Service currently deploys 13 detector dog teams. These teams are...