Results 13,681-13,700 of 16,537 for speaker:Brian Lenihan Jnr

Garda Investigations. (9 Oct 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Níl an Teachta anseo, I will proceed nevertheless.

Garda Investigations. (9 Oct 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the allegations referred to were the subject of a comprehensive investigation by An Garda Síochána. An investigation file in this matter has been submitted to the law officers and directions are awaited. As the file is under consideration by the law officers, it would be inappropriate for me to comment further at this time.

Garda Investigations. (9 Oct 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: As I understand the position, the investigation has not yet concluded and a file remains to be submitted to the law officers. That is the factual position. It is the responsibility of the Garda to investigate criminal complaints, to gather whatever evidence may be available and, where appropriate, to submit the file to the DPP, who then decides whether a person should be prosecuted on the...

Garda Investigations. (9 Oct 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: On completion of the investigation, a file will be submitted to the law officers. As the Garda investigation is ongoing, it would be inappropriate for me to comment further at this time.

Garda Investigations. (9 Oct 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am sorry. I have inadvertently misled the House because I read the reply to a previous question. The Deputy is correct. The investigation file has been submitted to the law officers and we are at the stage where directions are required. I apologise to the Deputy.

Proposed Legislation. (9 Oct 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: It would be useful to clarify the terminology used in this area. Terms such as "spent conviction", "expunging of convictions" and "clean slate" are regularly used. A "clean slate" is considered to mean a wiping away of a criminal record. "Expunge" is similarly used to indicate the deletion of old convictions. "Spent conviction", however, indicates that the law allows people to decline to...

Proposed Legislation. (9 Oct 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I agree with the Deputy that the matter requires attention. In the case of young persons under the age of 18, the Oireachtas has provided a regime of protection but, in the case of adults, a system of protection requires to be put in place. It is of particular importance because the Garda PULSE system has been in operation for a number of years and it provides more accurate criminal records...

Proposed Legislation. (9 Oct 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: That issue can be examined. The LRC report is still under examination in my Department and no final decision has been taken on the detail of legislation. However, I acknowledge the problem in this area, which requires to be addressed.

Drugs in Prisons. (9 Oct 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: In May 2006, my predecessor launched the Irish Prison Service drugs policy and strategy, entitled Keeping Drugs out of Prison. The implementation of this policy and strategy has seen an intensification of efforts to eliminate the availability of illicit drugs within prisons. A key part of these efforts is the introduction of mandatory drug testing, which is provided for under the prison...

Drugs in Prisons. (9 Oct 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: There is also a detox programme in operation in Mountjoy. In addition, the training unit in Arbour Hill, Loughan House and Shelton Abbey are regarded as drug-free institutions.

Drugs in Prisons. (9 Oct 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Deputy appears to be under a misapprehension. I have received no such professional advice. One of the first matters I brought to the Government as Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform was a comprehensive programme of measures to prevent the smuggling of drugs into prisons. Under the pilot drug detection dogs scheme, searching has been concentrated on visitors, but limited...

Drugs in Prisons. (9 Oct 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: As a respected general practitioner, I am sure Deputy Reilly is aware of the concept of a willing patient. We are investing substantial resources throughout the prison system in the types of services to which the Deputy referred. However, it requires a willing patient to avail of them.

Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second Stage (4 Oct 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am very pleased to have the opportunity to introduce the Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Bill 2006 in this House. At the outset, I want to put on record, and pay tribute to, the significant contribution made to the process of statute law reform in this country by my predecessor in office, Michael McDowell. This Bill is but one of many initiatives he took during his period as Minister for...

Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second Stage (4 Oct 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: They will make sure the next generation of text books is accurate.

Visa Applications. (4 Oct 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am, of course, very conscious that the matter raised by Deputy Shatter gives rise to serious issues. On the one hand we all have the responsibility to ensure that those freedoms which we cherish so dearly, such as the right to peaceful assembly and the right to voice one's opinions, are upheld. These rights must undoubtedly be accompanied by a corresponding obligation to respect the...

Building Regulations. (4 Oct 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am not briefed with the reply to the Deputy's statement.

Building Regulations. (4 Oct 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Minister is in the precincts of the House.

Written Answers — Departmental Investigations: Departmental Investigations (4 Oct 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I understand that Mr. John Gallagher, SC, who is the independent person carrying out an examination of the case presented by the Stardust Victims Committee, is engaged on preliminary aspects of the examination and making the necessary preparations in advance of hearing the presentations on behalf of the Committee. Direct expenditure to date amounts to €200,000 advanced to the Committee in...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (4 Oct 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I propose to take Questions Nos. 119 and 121 together. The details requested by the Deputy in relation to the processing of asylum and leave to remain applications are set out below, as far as they are available, under the headings of the organisations involved. It is not possible to provide a breakdown of average timescales for the processing of successful and unsuccessful applications....

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (4 Oct 2007)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am advised by the Citizenship Section of my Department that the number of applications for naturalisation which have yet to be processed to a conclusion is approximately 17,000. The processing time is, on average, 30 months and this is primarily due to the significant increase in the volume of applications received in the last number of years. The table below shows the total number of...