Results 13,041-13,060 of 16,537 for speaker:Brian Lenihan Jnr

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (7 Nov 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The opening hours of Garda Stations is a matter for the Garda Commissioner but a general point which should be borne in mind is that an extension in the opening hours of any particular Garda Station would necessitate the employment of additional Garda personnel on indoor administrative duties who might be far more effectively employed on outdoor policing duties.

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (7 Nov 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I propose to take Questions Nos. 251 to 253, inclusive, together. Following the submission in 2004 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...

Written Answers — Criminal Assets Seizures: Criminal Assets Seizures (7 Nov 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I have been informed by the Garda authorities that the only instance in which the Criminal Assets Bureau has attempted to seize the assets of those involved in crime without success in the past five years is as a result of the Supreme Court decision in 2004 in the FMcK v GWD case. In this case, the Criminal Assets Bureau was hindered in applying the Proceeds of Crime Act, 1996 to assets in...

Written Answers — Crime Prevention: Crime Prevention (7 Nov 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I would like to assure the Deputy that I am committed to implementing all appropriate measures to deal with prisoners who may be engaging in criminal activities from inside prison cells. One of the major challenges in prisons worldwide lies in preventing access to contraband items, primarily mobile phones and drugs, which for obvious reasons, are viewed as highly valuable commodities which...

Written Answers — Crime Prevention: Crime Prevention (7 Nov 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am informed by the Garda authorities that while some Irish criminal groups have extensive links to kindred groups in other jurisdictions, it is not possible to quantify the extent to which Irish nationals based abroad are involved in criminal activity. An Garda Síochána work closely with International law enforcement agencies in targeting the activities of Irish criminals operating...

Written Answers — Criminal Assets Seizures: Criminal Assets Seizures (7 Nov 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Criminal Assets Bureau has been at the forefront of the fight against organised crime, including drug trafficking, in this jurisdiction since its inception in 1996. The significant successes that the Bureau continues to achieve by its operations demonstrates the effectiveness of its approach in pursuing illegally gotten gains. The manner in which the Bureau operates has, in the...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (7 Nov 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that for security and operational reasons, it is Garda policy not to disclose the number or percentage of personnel on duty at any specific area or over any given period of time.

Written Answers — Garda Equipment: Garda Equipment (7 Nov 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Garda Síochána already has available to it and makes active use of various forms of covert surveillance against suspects, including against suspected members of organised crime gangs. For obvious reasons of security, however, it would not be appropriate for me to detail the kinds of covert surveillance techniques used and the circumstances under which they may be deployed. Apart from...

Written Answers — Bail Applications: Bail Applications (7 Nov 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am informed by the Garda authorities that An Garda Síochána does not collate statistics on the basis of the roles which offenders may have, either as individuals or as group members, when participating in criminal activity. Statistics in relation to the granting of bail by the Courts is a matter for the Courts Service which is independent in the performance of its functions. With regard...

Written Answers — Crime Prevention: Crime Prevention (7 Nov 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am informed by the Garda authorities that intelligence-led operations, primarily undertaken by specialist units of An Garda Síochána, under the remit of the Assistant Commissioner, National Support Services, including the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Garda National Drugs Unit, and the Organised Crime Unit are regularly undertaken, targeting those suspected of being...

Written Answers — Organised Crime: Organised Crime (7 Nov 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: An Garda Síochána, as part of its contribution to the Europol Organised Crime Report which was refined to become the Organised Crime Threat Assessment (OCTA), undertakes an annual assessment of organised crime in Ireland. The most recent assessment was completed in November 2006. The analysis carried out for this report concludes that the nature of organised crime gangs continues to be...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (7 Nov 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Immigration Division of my Department requested documentation from the representatives of the person referred to by the Deputy in September 2007. On receipt of this documentation, the case will be further processed.

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (7 Nov 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Officials in the Citizenship Section of my Department inform me that there is no record of an application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to in the Deputy's Question.

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (7 Nov 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Applications for both long-term residency and naturalisation are generally dealt with in chronological order as this method is deemed to be fairest to all applicants. Any backlogs and delays in processing such applications are primarily due to the significant increase in the volume of applications received in the last number of years and this upward trend appears set to continue in 2007. In...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (7 Nov 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Permission to remain granted under the IBC/05 Scheme for the parents of Irish born children born before 1/1/2005, is granted and renewed subject to the express condition that the granting of permission to remain in the State does not in any way confer any entitlement or legitimate expectation on any other person, whether related to the applicant or not, to enter the State. Single parents...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (7 Nov 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Long term residency was introduced by way of an administrative scheme in May 2004. 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...

Asylum Applications. (7 Nov 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I do not accept the whole thing is a sham or that we do not know. We are part of a common travel area with Great Britain and because of that there is a substantial amount of movement between both jurisdictions on which we are doing much study at present. It is clear that quite a number of the unaccounted for asylum seekers are in other jurisdictions. The Deputy is aware that trafficking...

Garda Investigations. (7 Nov 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the investigation into the murders referred to is ongoing. A dedicated investigation team of 40 officers is being assisted by specialist units from Garda national support services, including the national bureau of criminal investigation and the Garda technical bureau. The investigation includes taking statements from witnesses, viewing CCTV...

Garda Investigations. (7 Nov 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Deputy has asked a number of questions. Of course it is a matter of concern that detection rates are not higher in crimes of the character to which he referred. However, it is the case and the Garda intelligence suggests that a number of those involved in the commission of these crimes have been apprehended, charged and convicted on other charges and are now in detention. If we are to...

Garda Investigations. (7 Nov 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: It raises major operational questions because, of course, when such evidence and the method of obtaining it is disclosed in court the investigative authorities are exposed and the criminals are advised how they can be located and caught. A fine judgment needs to be made about the use of such evidence. It is not quite as straightforward a matter as it can be represented to be.