Results 12,521-12,540 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — Inquiries into Garda Activities: Inquiries into Garda Activities (28 May 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The sixth report of the Morris tribunal deals with the arrest and treatment in custody of twelve persons arrested in connection with the death of Richard Barron in 1996. It finds that those persons were unlawfully arrested and detained, and that some were mistreated in custody, through verbal and, in some cases, physical abuse. These arrests followed directly or indirectly from the...

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

Dermot Ahern: There is no information available to me, either from the Garda authorities or the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, to support the allegation contained in the Deputy's Question. I am informed that the search which gave rise to the allegation was authorised in accordance with Section 99(1) of the Garda Síochána Act 2005. The intention to search was signalled in advance to senior Garda...

Written Answers — Crime Prevention: Crime Prevention (28 May 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The NDVIA is a non governmental organisation which has been campaigning for Government funding for its operations for some years past. Despite its title, the NDVIA does not actually exercise a nationwide co-ordination role on this matter. Prior to the establishment of Cosc, the National Office for the Prevention of Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence, responsibility for matters related...

Written Answers — Alcohol Policy: Alcohol Policy (28 May 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The Government Alcohol Advisory Group submitted its Report on 31 March. It contains 31 recommendations for legislative and other reforms in areas covered by its terms of reference. On 22 April, the Government approved the drafting of the Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2008 which contains proposals for urgent reforms to licensing law and public order legislation in response to certain...

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

Dermot Ahern: I have been advised by the Garda authorities that the introduction of Divisional Property Stores is being overseen by an Implementation Group, established to progress the Property and Exhibits Management System (PEMS) in the Garda Síochána. The purpose of the Property and Exhibits Management System is to establish a Divisional Property Store in each Garda Division which will manage all...

Written Answers — Regulation of Legal Profession: Regulation of Legal Profession (28 May 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I refer the Deputy to the replies to questions 86 of 17 April 2008 and 89 of 13 December 2007. I have nothing further to add to the details of those replies other than to say that the Legal Services Ombudsman Bill 2008 is scheduled to commence Dáil Second Stage today.

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

Dermot Ahern: Following the recommendations contained in the Garda Inspectorate's report into barricade incidents, the Garda Commissioner is establishing Regional Support Units (RSU's) in the Garda regions outside Dublin to act as a primary response to critical incidents, pending the arrival of the Emergency Response Unit. The operational procedures for the Units are matters for the Garda Commissioner. I...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (28 May 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 530 of Tuesday, 20 May 2008 which sets out the position in relation to this question and other matters concerning asylum applications which have been deemed withdrawn.

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (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 the Houses of the Oireachtas, contains the Commissioner's proposals to realign Garda...

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

Dermot Ahern: As the Deputy will be aware, bench warrants are issued when a defendant or witness fails to appear in court. I am informed that the Garda authorities are committed to strengthening the warrants enforcement process. The Commissioner has raised the issue of the execution of warrants, particularly bench warrants, with each Regional Assistant Commissioner and a range of measures have been...

Written Answers — Prison Building Programme: Prison Building Programme (28 May 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The development of the prison facility centred at Thornton Hall will be the single biggest step in improving standards for prisoners since the foundation of the State. Its main purpose is to replace existing sub standard accommodation and allow greater capacity to avoid overcrowding. It will do away with the practice of slopping out and other conditions that have been criticised severely...

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

Dermot Ahern: One of the strategic goals set out in the Garda Síochána Corporate Strategy 2007-2009 is to significantly reduce the incidence of fatal and serious injuries and improve road safety. One of the actions identified in the Garda Policing Plan 2008 in support of this goal is targeted intelligence-led operations against offending young drivers. I am informed by the Garda authorities that specific...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (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 contains the Commissioner's proposals to realign Garda boundaries in a number of areas around the country to...

Written Answers — Deportation Orders: Deportation Orders (28 May 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I have noted the judgment of the Supreme Court in the case to which the Deputy refers. The Court has set out useful guidelines on how the position of an Irish citizen child, whose parents are being considered for deportation, should be considered. As it happens, my Department's current practices in this area are broadly in line with the guidelines set out by the Court. Accordingly, the...

Written Answers — Equal Opportunities Employment: Equal Opportunities Employment (28 May 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The Employment Equality Acts 1998 to 2007 and the Equal Status Acts 2000 to 2004 provide a legislative and administrative framework for equality in Ireland. There is no legal obligation on local authorities under these Acts to have equality policies in place. The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform has no statutory powers or obligation to check whether such policies exist. Such...

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

Dermot Ahern: The formulation of proposals in relation to the opening and closing of Garda stations is a matter, in the first instance, for the Garda Commissioner in the context of the annual policing plan, as provided for in section 22 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005. The 2008 Annual Policing Plan includes the Commissioner's proposal to merge Watercourse Road and the Mallow Road Garda Stations as a new...

Written Answers — Sentencing Policy: Sentencing Policy (28 May 2008)

Dermot Ahern: Sentence management processes have operated in the prison system for many years to the benefit of prisoners and the community. I am advised that as a result of new regulatory, organisational and working arrangements, together with the ongoing programme of modernisation of the prison estate and the addition of new programmes and services, the Irish Prison Service will be in a position to...

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

Dermot Ahern: I have been informed by the Garda authorities that a Working Group has been established to examine the use of incapacitant sprays. The Group is chaired by the Assistant Commissioner in charge of Crime & Security and is researching: the effectiveness of incapacitant sprays; the medical implications involved; the development of a policy for the use of such devices and its implications; and...

Written Answers — Liquor Licensing Laws: Liquor Licensing Laws (28 May 2008)

Dermot Ahern: Under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform has the power to set policing priorities for An Garda Síochána. One of the priorities set for 2008 is to combat, in cooperation with other agencies and the community generally, the problems of public disorder with particular emphasis on alcohol related behaviour (including under age drinking) and socially...

Written Answers — Prison Searches: Prison Searches (28 May 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I am informed by the Director General of the Irish Prison Service that a number of flat-screen televisions were removed from cells during a planned search operation at Portlaoise Prison in May, 2007. At that time, an incident at the prison was under investigation at the request of the then Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform and a review of security at the jail had been initiated....