Results 13,061-13,080 of 16,537 for speaker:Brian Lenihan Jnr

Garda Investigations. (7 Nov 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am surprised that the Deputy has difficulty grappling with any concept. Of course the range and sophistication of equipment that can be used to exercise surveillance has been increased dramatically in recent years. A parallel inquiry into these matters is taking place in the United Kingdom at present where similar concerns have been raised that the disclosure of the techniques of...

Garda Investigations. (7 Nov 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am glad the Deputy has had an opportunity to ask the question because I was not refusing to answer it. The constraints of time that the Ceann Comhairle must properly implement prevented me from dealing with the question. As it is, the Director of Public Prosecutions can have recourse and can determine that a prosecution should take place in the Special Criminal Court. The Taoiseach did...

Joint Policing Committees. (7 Nov 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Joint policing committees provide a forum where a local authority and the senior Garda officers responsible for the policing of that local authority's area, with the participation of Oireachtas members and community interests, can consult, discuss and make recommendations on matters affecting the policing of the area. The establishment of these committees has great potential to ensure that...

Joint Policing Committees. (7 Nov 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I agree with the sentiments expressed by the Deputy. In replying to Deputy Rabbitte earlier about one of a number of cases he instanced of difficulties which vulnerable individuals in the Tallaght area have with anti-social behaviour targeted at them, I stated that the operation of these committees could be of great value in ensuring effective community policing on the ground to address such...

Joint Policing Committees. (7 Nov 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: It is clear from my reply that the scheme will be rolled out next year. The harmonisation of Garda divisional boundaries is an important issue to be addressed, but it will not delay the roll-out.

Joint Policing Committees. (7 Nov 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am open to constructive suggestions on the guidelines. One of the first steps I took at my initial meeting with the Commissioner was to ask him to initiate a review of Garda boundaries to ensure individual policing areas correspond with the remit of the policing committees because that is a major difficulty in servicing the committees from the Garda's perspective and in the context of the...

Joint Policing Committees. (7 Nov 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Again, arrangements are in place, in the legislation and in the system, for community and voluntary representation. I understand some of the community pillars have continued to operate under the current system.

Prison Building Programme. (7 Nov 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Negotiations are under way with a preferred bidder, who was selected following an EU tender procedure, for the design, construction, finance and maintenance of the proposed prison facilities at Thornton Hall, north County Dublin. The project aims to replace the prison facilities currently located at the Mountjoy complex which, as is widely acknowledged, is in urgent need of replacement with...

Prison Building Programme. (7 Nov 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The roadway will provide a dedicated access route to this particular prison complex from the old Ashbourne-Finglas road. That is the former main road that existed before the recent complex got under way.

Prison Building Programme. (7 Nov 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: There was access through the existing network of country roads which led to the complex, but the position was that extensive works would have been required on these roads that would have been more expensive than the option of a dedicated access road. The acquisition of the access road has been in ease of the project. As regards the valuation which Deputy Rabbitte puts on the land——

Prison Building Programme. (7 Nov 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: That is all very much part of a dispute which has been discussed in this House before. The reality I am faced with as Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform is that the acquisition of this site was completed——

Prison Building Programme. (7 Nov 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The site has been acquired and I certainly do not intend to throw away millions of euro in taxpayers' money which has been invested in what is a very fine site. It is a site which will provide a fine location for the establishment of this complex.

Prison Building Programme. (7 Nov 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: As regards professional fees, I am sure the Accounting Officer can be questioned about these matters at the Committee of Public Accounts, as he was as regards the site acquisition, in respect of which he gave an extremely good account of the management of this issue by the Department. As regards consultants' fees and various other fees expended to date, this is a major project. It is the...

Prison Building Programme. (7 Nov 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I have the honour of representing this local community in Dáil Éireann and it gave me very substantial support notwithstanding the fact that I was the only candidate in the constituency who refused to oppose the project. On the question raised by the Deputy about what other projects will be located here, there will be a Garda station, as there is at every prison complex.

Prison Building Programme. (7 Nov 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: There will be a Garda station at this prison complex as there was at Mountjoy. The question of a forensic science laboratory and the Garda Technical Bureau being located at a secure location of this type has also been considered. It is considered that the location in question would be suitable for such a facility. The present phase of the development relates exclusively to the development...

Prison Building Programme. (7 Nov 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Given the time available, I would prefer if the Deputy tabled a separate question. The question of redeveloping the forensic science laboratory on the site of the Garda depot in the Phoenix Park was examined. However, because of the presence of the underground railway tunnel beneath the park and the depot, the site was found to be unsuitable. The opportunity was taken by the Government to...

Prison Building Programme. (7 Nov 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am happy to make myself accountable here.

Criminal Prosecutions. (7 Nov 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The information requested by the Deputy concerning the numbers of cases of murder recorded in which firearms were used in each year from 1998 to date in 2007, prosecutions initiated and convictions secured is set out in the following table. Figures provided for 2007 are provisional, operational and liable to change. The table shows that, in the relevant period, there were 142 murders in...

Criminal Prosecutions. (7 Nov 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I thank Deputy Rabbitte for wishing well the Garda. The Government conveyed such wishes to the force after its meeting yesterday. The Garda is as organised as the Deputy desires. Incredible patience is often required in operations that seek the conclusion we witnessed last week. While the Garda has a great deal of information and intelligence at its disposal, the question of how one...

Criminal Prosecutions. (7 Nov 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: In response to Deputy D'Arcy's question, Operation Anvil was extended to the entire country in 2006. However, I take his point that there is a particular need to keep an eye on the very large new suburbs that have developed in the Leinster area, cognate areas in Munster outside Cork and Limerick and in areas outside Galway. I certainly will bring this to the attention of the Garda...