Results 13,581-13,600 of 16,537 for speaker:Brian Lenihan Jnr

Written Answers — Illegal Immigrants: Illegal Immigrants (9 Oct 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Members of An Garda Siochana from Swinford Garda District are deployed on immigration duty at Ireland West Airport every day and local Garda Management has arrangements in place to ensure that Immigration Officers monitor all flights into the airport and the situation remains under constant review. In deciding the number of personnel to be assigned to immigration control duties at Ports of...

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (9 Oct 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: A report on the matter referred to by the Deputy was received by my Department from the Garda Síochána. Following consideration of the report and submissions made by legal representatives of a person concerned, my predecessor as Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform appointed a Senior Counsel to conduct an independent review and thorough examination of the Garda Síochána papers...

Written Answers — Prison Staff: Prison Staff (9 Oct 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Deputy will be aware that the Comptroller and Auditor General, whilst outlining his concerns about the level of sick leave in the Prison Service over the period 2002 -2006, has acknowledged that the figures provided by the Prison Service for January to April 2007 show an overall reduction of 10% in per capita sick leave days and that this would represent the first major reversal of the...

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (9 Oct 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Government is well aware of the increased prevalence of cocaine usage in Ireland in recent times and as the Deputy points out the United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime Annual Drug Report 2007 identifies that the consumption of cocaine grew in Europe including in Ireland last year. Of course the Government views with concern such global developments and any potential rise in the level...

Written Answers — Victims Commission: Victims Commission (9 Oct 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I propose to take Questions Nos. 178 and 197 together. As the Deputy will appreciate, the question of how offenders might best compensate their victims is not a straightforward one. The Courts may on occasion make orders requiring that compensation be paid to a victim and a civil action for damages can also in principle be taken. The reality, however, is that it will rarely be...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (9 Oct 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Irish Human Rights Commission Annual Report for 2006 greatly welcomed the developments happening with the Garda Síochána, such as the Garda Inspectorate and the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission introduced as a result of the Garda Síochána Act 2005. It noted that the degree and quality of Garda Síochána communication on human rights matters has vastly improved. It acknowledged...

Written Answers — Commemorative Events: Commemorative Events (9 Oct 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Council of Europe has recently decided to declare 10 October to be ''European Day against the Death Penalty". This is a development Ireland has supported and we will continue to work to achieve the abolition of capital punishment internationally. In that regard, I believe it is very encouraging that all of the Member States of the Council of Europe have either abolished the death penalty...

Written Answers — Illegal Immigrants: Illegal Immigrants (9 Oct 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: An Garda Síochána has put in place a number of initiatives designed to prevent and detect a range of criminal activity, including human trafficking, at the frontiers of the State. Robust immigration controls have been adopted at ports of entry to the State, two of which, Operations 'Gull' and 'Sonnett', were commenced to target criminality which has a cross-border dimension. Both...

Written Answers — Commissions of Investigation: Commissions of Investigation (9 Oct 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I wish to advise the House that the report in question relates to an inquiry by Mr Michael Mellett into the circumstances surrounding the tragic death of Mr Gary Douch while in custody in Mountjoy Prison. The report was submitted to my predecessor in March, 2007 and was carried out in a totally independent manner. As with the case of all deaths in custody, the Garda Síochána were called...

Written Answers — Equality Issues: Equality Issues (9 Oct 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Latest data show a very significant decrease in the gender pay gap in Ireland in recent years with a gap of 11 per cent in 2004 and 9 per cent in 2005. These figures compare favourably with a gender pay gap of 22 per cent in Ireland only five years earlier and indicate that steady progress is being made towards the abolition of the gender pay gap. However, as these are new data series,...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (9 Oct 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The latest figures available from the Central Statistics Office, which now has responsibility for compiling crime statistics, cover the 12 month period ending 30 June 2007. They show a drop in headline crime of just over 1% on the previous 12 months. The number of murders and cases of manslaughter have remained stable, with an increase of two in the number of murders and an increase of one...

Written Answers — Prison Accommodation: Prison Accommodation (9 Oct 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Government decided earlier this year to assign a site owned by the Minister of Defence to the Prison Service as the location for the development of a prison facility to replace Cork Prison and serve the Munster region. A preliminary site suitability report has been carried out on the site and this has confirmed that there are no significant constraints to the development of this site. I...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (9 Oct 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Questions Nos. 212 and 213 of Thursday, 28 June 2007. Cosc — The National Office for the Prevention of Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence was established on 25 June 2007. I am aware that some concern was expressed about the remit of the newly established Cosc office. I would like to reiterate that as announced on 18 April, 2007 and on several...

Written Answers — Garda Disciplinary Proceedings: Garda Disciplinary Proceedings (9 Oct 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The information requested by the Deputy concerning the amounts paid out in Court awards and out of court settlements in relation to actions taken against members of An Garda Síochána in respect of assault, unlawful arrest or other breaches of citizens' rights is set out in the table below. Claims by Civilians following actions by Gardaí in the performance of their duties Year Total...

Written Answers — Witness Intimidation: Witness Intimidation (9 Oct 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Witness Security Programme was established in 1997 under the direct operational control and administration of the Garda Commissioner in response to attempts by criminal and other groups to prevent the normal functioning of the criminal justice system, including threats of violence and systematic intimidation of witnesses. The Programme has been demonstrably successful and it has withstood...

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (9 Oct 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: There is a significant ongoing programme of replacement and refurbishment of Garda stations and other Garda accommodation around the country. The Garda Building Programme is based on agreed priorities which are established by An Garda Síochána. The programme is progressed by the Garda authorities working in close co-operation with the Office of Public Works, which has responsibility for...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (9 Oct 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that my Department's Decentralisation Programme is firmly on target. Under the Programme, over 900 posts from my Department and its agencies are scheduled to relocate to seven provincial locations. To date, over 400 assignments have been made and it is anticipated that close to 500 posts will have moved out of Dublin by the end of this year. With over two...

Written Answers — Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal: Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal (9 Oct 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I propose to take Questions Nos. 193 and 439 together. I can inform the Deputies that I have recently appointed a new Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal for the period ending 30 April 2010. The membership of the new tribunal is as follows: Ms. Sinéad Behan, BL (Chairperson); Mr. Conor Bowman, BL; Ms. Fiona Gallagher, BL; Mr. Michael Gilvarry, BL; Ms. Rosemary Healy Rae, BL; Mr. Eamon...

Written Answers — Anti-Social Behaviour: Anti-Social Behaviour (9 Oct 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Strong provisions are already in place to combat anti-social behaviour. The Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994 modernised the law in this regard. The Intoxicating Liquor Act 2003 contains provisions to deal with alcohol abuse and its effect on public order. The Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 2003 provides the Garda with powers to deal with late night street violence and...

Written Answers — Inspector of Prisons: Inspector of Prisons (9 Oct 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The appointment of a new Inspector of Prisons is under active consideration and an announcement will be made in due course.