Results 12,461-12,480 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — State Memorials: State Memorials (28 May 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that there are no plans to erect memorials to Gardaí killed in the line of duty at the scene of their deaths. However a working group, established by the Commissioner, is examining the commemoration of members of An Garda Síochána who died in active service. I have been informed by the Commissioner that he is considering a proposal to construct a...

Written Answers — Garda Ombudsman: Garda Ombudsman (28 May 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The Garda Ombudsman Commission has a budget this year of over €11.6 million and an approved staff complement of just over 100. For a number of months now my Department has been in discussion with the Ombudsman Commission on proposals for legislative change which the Commission believes would make it more efficient and effective in managing its workload of complaints. I expect to bring...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (28 May 2008)

Dermot Ahern: When a case of speeding is detected, the registered owner of the vehicle involved receives a fixed charge notice. This notice informs the owner that he or she may during the period of 28 days pay a specified fixed charge and that in the following period of 28 days they may pay the specified fixed charge, increased by 50%. In either case the driver receives a certain number of penalty...

Written Answers — Firearms Licences: Firearms Licences (28 May 2008)

Dermot Ahern: 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. The following table shows the number of such firearms licensed each year since 2004. Year Total (cumulative number) 2007/08* 1,787...

Written Answers — Departmental Statistics: Departmental Statistics (28 May 2008)

Dermot Ahern: Following the submission of a report and recommendations by an expert group on crime statistics, it was decided that the compilation and publication of crime statistics should be taken over by the Central Statistics Office, as the national statistical agency, from the Garda Síochána. The Garda Síochána Act 2005 consequently makes provision for this, and the CSO has established a...

Written Answers — Sexual Offences: Sexual Offences (28 May 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 102 and 188 together. Every effort is made to assist sex offenders in custody who are willing to participate at any level in rehabilitation and relapse prevention. There are three main forms of direct therapeutic intervention for sex offenders currently operating within the Irish prison system. These are as follows: An intensive sex offender programme which...

Written Answers — Electronic Monitoring: Electronic Monitoring (28 May 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 103 and 200 together. I wish to advise the Deputy that enabling provisions are already in place in the Criminal Justice Acts, 2006 and 2007, in relation to Electronic Monitoring. As the House will appreciate the merits of Electronic Monitoring require careful consideration not least from a cost effectiveness perspective developments in technology, most...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (28 May 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 104 and 168 together. I can inform the Deputy that more than 30 additional posts have been sanctioned for the Forensic Science Laboratory since December 2006, representing an increase of approximately 40% in approved staffing. This substantial extension of the Laboratory's capacity takes into account the findings of Professor Kopp as to current demands on the...

Written Answers — Prison Education Service: Prison Education Service (28 May 2008)

Dermot Ahern: Responsibility for managing the children detention schools transferred to my Department from 1st March 2007. It is, however, the responsibility of the Department of Education and Science, in accordance with the provisions of section 159A of the Children Act 2001, as amended, to provide the education service within the children detention schools, through the relevant Vocational Education...

Written Answers — Restorative Justice: Restorative Justice (28 May 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 106 and 202 together. The concept of Restorative Justice does have a place in how we deal with offending behaviour. To date we have two such projects funded by my Department, through the Probation Service. We must, of course, learn from the experience of how restorative justice has worked both here in Ireland and in other jurisdictions so that future...

Written Answers — Community Policing: Community Policing (28 May 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I am informed by Garda authorities that the Commissioner established an internal working group to develop a model of community policing for both urban and rural community policing. The report is now at final draft stage and it is anticipated that it will be completed shortly. Engagement with the community is a key priority of An Garda Síochána. Community policing is constantly being...

Written Answers — Restorative Justice: Restorative Justice (28 May 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The concept of Restorative Justice does have a place in how we deal with offending behaviour. To date we have two such projects funded by my Department, through the Probation Service. We must, of course, learn from the experience of how restorative justice has worked both here in Ireland and in other jurisdictions so that future expansion of the restorative justice model will be guided by...

Written Answers — Victims Commission: Victims Commission (28 May 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The Commission for the Support of Victims of Crime (CSVC) were appointed by the then Minister for Justice Equality and Law Reform for a three year period with effect from March, 2005. The Commission was tasked with disbursing funding for victim support measures and devising an appropriate support framework for victims into the future. In this regard, the Commission has over the past three...

Written Answers — Missing Persons: Missing Persons (28 May 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 110, 159 and 196 together. Operation Trace was established in October, 1998. The original objectives of the investigation team under this dedicated initiative were to trace, review and collate all evidence pertaining to the separate Garda investigations into the disappearance of six women in the Leinster area. Subsequently the investigations into the...

Written Answers — Data Protection: Data Protection (28 May 2008)

Dermot Ahern: My Department is not responsible for the development of general guidelines for the public service on this issue and a very small number only of data storage devices have been lost or stolen from my Department. The Department will however be participating on an inter-Departmental working group chaired by the Department of Finance which will develop guidelines in relation to protecting the...

Written Answers — Garda Divisional Boundaries: Garda Divisional Boundaries (28 May 2008)

Dermot Ahern: In accordance with the provisions of the Garda Síochána Acts 2005 to 2007 proposals, inter alia, to alter the boundaries of a divisional geographical area are a matter in the first instance for the Garda Commissioner in the context of the Annual Policing Plan. The 2008 Policing Plan, which was laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas, contains the Commissioner's proposals to realign Garda...

Written Answers — Garda Recruitment: Garda Recruitment (28 May 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 113, 154 and 156 together. I believe that the establishment of the Garda Reserve, with the support of the vast majority of the members of this House, is one of the most important innovations in policing in Ireland in recent years. It has strengthened the links with local communities and is a source of local support and knowledge. It brings new life to the...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (28 May 2008)

Dermot Ahern: As I stated in my reply to Question No. 402 of 27 May 2008, I expect to bring proposals for a Scheme of a Civil Partnership Bill to Government shortly.

Written Answers — Community Policing: Community Policing (28 May 2008)

Dermot Ahern: As previously indicated to the Deputy in my answer to PQ No. 8 of 17th April 2008, engagement with the rural community and rural policing are key priorities of An Garda Síochána. Rural Policing is continually being reviewed and developed and the enhanced liaison structures between Garda Management and Local Authorities through Joint Policing Committees and Community Policing Fora will be of...

Written Answers — Commissions of Investigation: Commissions of Investigation (28 May 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The Report of the Commission of Investigation into the Dean Lyons case offered a thorough independent analysis of the facts surrounding the false confession made by Dean Lyons based on the evidence of all relevant witnesses. It concluded that there was no deliberate attempt to undermine the rights of Dean Lyons. At page 12 of his Report Mr Birmingham (now Judge Birmingham) makes it clear that...