Results 1,341-1,360 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — Departmental Contracts: Departmental Contracts (5 Oct 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I can inform the Deputy that the contracts listed below were awarded after a tendering process which was carried out under EU procurement rules and in accordance with established public sector guidelines. 1. "Complete Integrated Title Registration Information System (ITRIS)". The contract runs from 2004 to 2010. The contract was awarded to a Danish company, BlomInfo AG with subcontractors...

Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (5 Oct 2010)

Dermot Ahern: As set out in the aforementioned PQ reply, I am informed by the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) that the rules and procedures for RIA accommodation centres, which includes a complaints mechanism, were recently revised arising from a report from a Working Party, the membership of which included the Refugee Information Service and the Irish Refugee Council. The House Rules document...

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (5 Oct 2010)

Dermot Ahern: In the time available it has not been possible to obtain information from the Garda authorities in relation to the issues raised by the Deputy. I will be in contact with the Deputy further concerning the matter.

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (5 Oct 2010)

Dermot Ahern: There are currently approximately 21,500 applications for naturalisation with the Citizenship Division of my Department that are still awaiting a decision. This is primarily due to the significant increase in the volume of applications received in the last number of years. Approximately 5,000 (23%) of applications are on hand for more than 2 years. Circa 16,500 (77%) are on hand from a...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (5 Oct 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I have been informed by the Garda National Immigration Bureau that the following table shows the number of people who have been refused leave to land pursuant to the provisions of the Immigration Act, 2004 at Ports of Entry to the State for 2005 to 2010. 2005 4893 2006 5885 2007 6991 2008 5394 2009 3857 2010 1244 (to 31st May)

Written Answers — Illegal Immigrants: Illegal Immigrants (5 Oct 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The information sought by the Deputy is being compiled and will be conveyed to him at the earliest possible date.

Written Answers — Public Order Offences: Public Order Offences (5 Oct 2010)

Dermot Ahern: Uncivil and antisocial behaviour can have a negative effect on a person's quality of life, particularly for older persons. If an older person, or any other person, considers that they have been the victim of criminal behaviour, they should report it to their local Garda station, and their complaint will be fully investigated. The Garda Commissioner and I recently launched An Garda...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (5 Oct 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The Deputy will be aware from previous replies that I initiated a major review of gambling with the objective of providing me, in the first instance, and then the Government, with options for a new policy to inform our gambling architecture. It is a matter of record that Governments of different hues have shied away from attempting any significant reform of our gambling laws since our...

Written Answers — Prison Service: Prison Service (5 Oct 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I wish to inform the Deputy that the Irish Prison Service are currently conducting a tender competition for the purchase of three tractors. It also plans to purchase a fourth tractor from an existing National Procurement Service contract for the supply of tractors. The tractors are being purchased to replace existing tractors which require constant repair and maintenance due to their age....

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (5 Oct 2010)

Dermot Ahern: My Department has responsibility for four EU Directives which are awaiting transposition into law. Three of these are overdue, namely: Council Directive 2005/85/EC of 01 December 2005 on minimum standards on procedures in Member States for granting and withdrawing refugee status. On 1 September 2010, the European Commission instigated further infringement proceedings against Ireland for...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (5 Oct 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The length of time taken to process each application should not be classified as a delay, as the length of time taken for any application to be decided is purely a function of the time taken to carry out necessary checks. The average processing time from application to decision for the generality of valid applications for a certificate of naturalisation is currently 26 months and this has...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (5 Oct 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The granting of Irish Citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour and not an entitlement. The Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act, 1956, as amended, provides that the Minister may, in his absolute discretion, grant an application for a certificate of naturalisation provided certain statutory conditions are fulfilled. One such condition is that the Minister must be...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (5 Oct 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I am informed by the Citizenship Division of my Department that statistics are not compiled in such a manner as to provide the information sought by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Commercial Rent Reviews: Commercial Rent Reviews (5 Oct 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I have undertaken to progress the recommendations of the Working Group on transparency in commercial rent reviews contained in the report which was published in August. The Working Group recommended the establishment of a public database containing relevant details of letting arrangements and rent reviews in the commercial property market. An appropriate amendment is being developed within...

Written Answers — Official Engagements: Official Engagements (5 Oct 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I met with Northern Ireland Minister of Justice David Ford MLA and Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Justice Kenny MacAskill MSP on 27 September 2010 at Stephenstown Pond in Co. Louth. The genesis of this meeting lies in discussions in bilateral meetings I had previously held with both Ministers. I met with Mr MacAskill in April 2010, to build on contact at official level and with a view to...

Order of Business (30 Sep 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I hope so.

Written Answers — Guardianship Rights: Guardianship Rights (30 Sep 2010)

Dermot Ahern: Under the law as it stands, in section 11B of the Guardianship of Infants Act 1964, as inserted by section 9 of the Children Act 1997, a grandparent, not being a testamentary guardian, may apply to the court to obtain an order of access to his or her grandchild. Certain conditions apply to the right to apply for and to obtain the access order. As part of its Third Programme of Law Reform...

Written Answers — Deportation Orders: Deportation Orders (30 Sep 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The person concerned is the subject of a Deportation Order since 2003 and has been evading his deportation for most of the intervening period. On 7 May 2010, an application to have the Deportation Order revoked, pursuant to the provisions of Section 3 (11) of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended), was received from the legal representative of the person concerned. This application is under...

Written Answers — Closed Circuit Television Systems: Closed Circuit Television Systems (30 Sep 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The Community-based CCTV Scheme was launched in 2005 to provide financial assistance towards the capital costs of establishing a community CCTV system. To date two major rounds of this Scheme have been advertised, in 2005 and 2007. I am advised by Pobal, who administer the Scheme on behalf of my Department, that no application for Ballinrobe, Co. Mayo has been received. Any further plans...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (30 Sep 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I am informed by the Immigration Division of my Department that the person concerned made an application for residence in the State based on his marriage to a British national on 30 April, 2010. Applications based on EU Treaty Rights are processed within a six month time frame. A decision will issue to the applicant in due course.