Results 15,461-15,480 of 16,537 for speaker:Brian Lenihan Jnr

Crime Prevention. (23 Jun 2005)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Deputy Jim O'Keeffe is gilding the lily somewhat when he suggests that the establishment of the Criminal Assets Bureau was a major success of the rainbow Government. As I understand it, the Bill that led to the bureau's establishment was initiated by Deputy O'Donoghue when he was in opposition.

Crime Prevention. (23 Jun 2005)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The then Government displayed a generous and constructive spirit by agreeing with the recommendation made by Fianna Fáil, which was then in opposition.

Crime Prevention. (23 Jun 2005)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The drawing up of the legislation that established the Criminal Assets Bureau involved a detailed compromise of conflicting interests in the constitutional sense. It would not be easy to revise that sensitive legislation. I understand that the Department has just completed an exercise of revision of it.

Crime Prevention. (23 Jun 2005)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I refer to the revising legislation that was recently enacted by the House.

Garda Vetting Procedures. (23 Jun 2005)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 and 43 together. I am informed by the Garda authorities that the Garda central vetting unit comprises a Garda inspector, two Garda sergeants, a staff officer, eight clerical officers and three temporarily assigned clerical officers. The unit carries out criminal record vetting in respect of, among other things, prospective full-time employees of the Health...

Garda Vetting Procedures. (23 Jun 2005)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Regarding the Deputy's core question, the new vetting unit in Thurles will be made available to everyone who has substantial unsupervised access to children. That includes a great range of persons in the education sector. It also encompasses many of the voluntary bodies. It has been decided in principle in the Department that there will be no charge to volunteer groups for vetting they seek....

Garda Vetting Procedures. (23 Jun 2005)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: That arises under the wider legislative issues but clearly the vetting we will do in Thurles, and which is already being done, is based on the Garda information base and not on the databases of other jurisdictions. However, there are arrangements in operation for the exchange of information with the United Kingdom on that database. I do not have the precise details.

Garda Vetting Procedures. (23 Jun 2005)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I would prefer if the Deputy tabled a separate question on that issue because I have not got the information at this point.

Garda Traffic Corps. (23 Jun 2005)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: As the Deputy is aware, the Minister announced the establishment within the Garda Síochána of the traffic corps on 23 November 2004. The Government subsequently approved the appointment of Eddie Rock as assistant commissioner, with the Commissioner appointing him to take charge of the traffic corps. Never before has the enforcement of road traffic law been given this level of priority...

Garda Traffic Corps. (23 Jun 2005)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: It follows that the planned reduction in public service numbers does not apply to the Garda Síochána. As each cycle of recruit training is completed, the Garda Commissioner will assign these new members to the areas of greatest need with particular regard to certain priorities, including the traffic corps. All personnel assigned to the new traffic corps will have completed the standard...

Garda Traffic Corps. (23 Jun 2005)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The deployment of gardaí is a matter for the Commissioner and his staff, but I assure the Deputy that she is correct in assuming what will happen, and that there will be a benchmarking of accident locations and those prone to have greater numbers of accidents. In the location of the traffic corps personnel that benchmarking exercise will be taken into account.

Community Support Services. (22 Jun 2005)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am speaking on this Adjournment debate on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney. I thank Deputy Costello for raising this matter and giving me the opportunity to outline the position of the Department. The Carmichael centre for voluntary groups is a centre for small national voluntary organisations working in the areas of health, education, the arts,...

Written Answers — Rights of the Child: Rights of the Child (22 Jun 2005)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: This is a most complex and highly sensitive case. The Government is actively engaged in seeking to find a solution. At all times the best interests of the child have been and will remain the primary consideration. High Court proceedings against the adoptive parents of this child have been instigated by the Attorney General in his role as protector of the unprotected. As the matter is before...

Written Answers — National Children's Advisory Council: National Children's Advisory Council (22 Jun 2005)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The membership of the National Children's Advisory Council for the period 2005-08 is as follows: Chairperson Mr. Peter O'Brien Vice Chairperson Mr. Paul Gilligan — ISPCC Youth Representatives Mr. Dennis Drought Ms Méabh Healy Mr. Anthony Keigher Ms Sheila O'Donnell Statutory Sector Mr. PJ Breen — Department of Education and Science Mr. Ger...

Morris Tribunal: Motion (Resumed). (22 Jun 2005)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I have listened to what Deputies have said in the course of this debate, but nothing I have heard has convinced me that we should establish a policing commission. Essentially it would look at many of the issues which are addressed in the Bill before the House. There is no doubt, following the publication of the second report of the Morris tribunal, that now is the time to take action with...

Morris Tribunal: Motion (Resumed). (22 Jun 2005)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: As the Deputy is aware, those issues have been addressed. Reform is necessary now. It is necessary to rebuild the confidence of the public in the force. The Government does not object to the principle or process of consultation. It published the heads of the Garda Síochána Bill in July 2003, when it initiated a public consultation process. It received and took into consideration a report on...

Morris Tribunal: Motion (Resumed). (22 Jun 2005)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: It is a tribute to the open-mindedness of the Minister that he was prepared to take on board many of the suggestions for improvements to the Bill which were made throughout the legislative process.

Morris Tribunal: Motion (Resumed). (22 Jun 2005)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: When the Bill was sent to this House from the Seanad——

Morris Tribunal: Motion (Resumed). (22 Jun 2005)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I understand that the Minister must make an important announcement about child care.

Morris Tribunal: Motion (Resumed). (22 Jun 2005)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: This Bill was initiated in the Seanad and passed by that House before being the subject of one of the longest Second Stage debates in this House since the foundation of the State. That is a tribute to the Members of the House who have demonstrated a passionate concern for the future of the Garda Síochána.