Results 13,341-13,360 of 16,537 for speaker:Brian Lenihan Jnr

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (23 Oct 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I refer the Deputy to my answer to Parliamentary Question 355 of the 17 October 2007, in which I listed the reasons why a visa had not been approved in this case. The decision of the Visa Officer may be appealed within two months of the date of the original decision — in this case before 11 December, 2007. An appeal should be submitted to the Visa Appeals Officer and should address all...

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (23 Oct 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Deputy will be aware that in August, 2006, the Government agreed to the proposal of my predecessor for the establishment of a Committee (the Casino Regulation Committee) to report on the possibilities for a legislative basis for the strict regulation of casino-style operations in the State. The Casino Regulation Committee completed their Report in April of this year. It is a lengthy...

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (23 Oct 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I have been informed by the Garda authorities that plans for the new Garda station in Buncrana are well advanced. Contracts for additional land for the new station are being processed by the Chief State Solicitors Office and tenders for the provision of the new building are currently being evaluated by the Office of Public Works. It is expected that work will commence as soon as contracts...

Written Answers — Prison Building Programme: Prison Building Programme (23 Oct 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Allowing for the steps still to be taken, including the tendering process as well as the design and construction phase, it is unlikely that a new prison facility to replace Cork prison will be completed at Kilworth before 2011. In relation to the approximate cost, the Deputy will appreciate that the terms and scope of the project have not yet been finalised. In addition, this project will...

Written Answers — Ground Rents: Ground Rents (23 Oct 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: In relation to ground rents in general, the law already provides for a statutory scheme for the acquisition of the fee simple in dwelling houses which is set out in the Landlord and Tenant (Ground Rents) (No. 2) Act 1978. Part III of that Act provides a special procedure, operated by the Property Registration Authority, whereby a person may acquire the fee simple in their dwelling house....

Written Answers — Parental Leave Provisions: Parental Leave Provisions (23 Oct 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The development of work life balance policies in Ireland is addressed on two fronts. Firstly, appropriate legislative measures provide for statutory entitlements such as maternity leave, adoptive leave, carer's leave, parental leave, maximum working hours, rest periods, annual leave and public holiday entitlements. In accordance with section 28 of the Parental Leave Act 1998 and a Government...

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (23 Oct 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am informed by the Garda Authorities that the Garda Information System (GIS) which includes access to PULSE, the Garda National Immigration Bureau Systems, is also used to deliver external Email and internet access on a user by user basis as operational needs dictate. Internet access is currently availed of in all District and Divisional Headquarters. External email is available to all...

Written Answers — Garda Training: Garda Training (23 Oct 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda Commissioner. I will write to the Deputy directly when this information is to hand.

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (23 Oct 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The application for a "Join Spouse" visa referred to by the Deputy was received in the Visa Office, Dublin on 31 July 2007. It was refused on 14 August 2007 because the Visa Officer was not provided with satisfactory evidence of a pre-existing relationship. As no appeal was received within two months of the refusal decision being communicated to the applicant, no further review of the...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (23 Oct 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Marriage to an Irish national does not grant any automatic right to enter or reside in the State solely on that basis. Non-EEA nationals who have no current permission to remain within the State are required to make an application for residence on the basis of marriage to an Irish national to the Immigration Division of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service of my Department. Such...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (23 Oct 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Marriage to an Irish national does not grant any automatic right to enter or reside in the State solely on that basis. Non-EEA nationals who have no current permission to remain within the State are required to make an application for residence on the basis of marriage to an Irish national to the Immigration Division of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service of my Department....

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (23 Oct 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 on the 12 May 2007. Officials in that Section are currently processing applications received in the beginning of 2005 and have approximately 12,800 applications on hand to be dealt with before that of the person concerned. These...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (23 Oct 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: As the Deputy will be aware, primary responsibility for the removal and cleaning of graffiti rest with Local Authorities under the Litter Pollution Act, 1997. This Department in association with the Departments of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs has over the past year been operating a pilot Graffiti Removal scheme, in...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (23 Oct 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: As the Deputy will appreciate, policing operations and the deployment of Garda resources are matters for the Garda Commissioner. It is and must remain the responsibility of Garda management to allocate personnel within the Garda organisation on a priority basis in accordance with overall policing requirements. Since the publication of the Government's National Drugs Strategy 2001-2008, Garda...

Written Answers — Courts Service: Courts Service (23 Oct 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Deputy will be aware that evidence in relation to the likelihood of an accused person absconding whilst on bail is one of the factors which may be taken into account by a court in refusing bail. Section 13 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 (as amended) provides that if a person who has been released on bail in criminal proceedings fails to appears before a court in accordance with his...

Written Answers — Joint Policing Committees: Joint Policing Committees (23 Oct 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I propose to take Questions Nos. 573 and 575 together. Officials from my Department and the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government are currently engaged in organising a consultation seminar on Joint Policing Committees to be held before the end of November. My colleague the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and I will participate in the...

Written Answers — Statutory Inquiries: Statutory Inquiries (23 Oct 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The report was submitted to me on 3 October last. At present my officials are in consultation with the office of the Attorney General regarding the legal implications of the report's contents for any further course of action that might be adopted by me. While it is my intention to publish the report, I am unable to be definitive about a date at this stage.

Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill 2007: Second Stage (23 Oct 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am glad all speakers welcome the principle of the legislation. The poor old peace commissioner vanished under the earlier Act and is being restored as part of this legislative measure. I share Deputy Rabbitte's view that my predecessor had enormous energy. He has an impressive legislative record and he put much fine legislation in place. Deputies Ring and Rabbitte asked about the...

Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 Oct 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: That is a fair question. The provisions of the Bill apply to existing peace commissioners. However, for any particular commissioner, or class of commissioners, to be able to exercise this function, there must be a designation either of the class or the particular commissioner. I inserted this provision on the advice of the Attorney General. There have been certain difficulties in regard...

Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 Oct 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: On the Deputy's specific question, the recognisances in question have been entered into and the bond has been made or the cash paid. We have not been advised by the Attorney General of any identified difficulty in respect of those recognisances accepted before 11 October.