Results 1,621-1,640 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — Departmental Appointments: Departmental Appointments (29 Sep 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The position of Legal Services Ombudsman will be filled by an open competition conducted by the Public Appointments Service. I expect that the competition will be advertised shortly.

Written Answers — Registration of Title: Registration of Title (29 Sep 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I can inform the Deputy that under the Registration of Deeds and Title Act 2006, the Property Registration Authority (PRA) was established as and from 4 November, 2006. The PRA replaces the Registrar of Deeds and Titles as the registering authority in relation to property registration in Ireland and, subject to the above Act, is independent in the performance of its functions. The Deputy will...

Written Answers — Departmental Investigations: Departmental Investigations (29 Sep 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I have no information to support the assertion set out in the Deputy's Question. My Department did not provide information to the author in question from any files retained by my Department.

Written Answers — Deaths in Garda Custody: Deaths in Garda Custody (29 Sep 2010)

Dermot Ahern: Death in Garda Custody refers to a death which takes place after a person comes into the custody and control of a Garda and before leaving the custody and control of a Garda. Thus it includes, for example, a death at any time from the time of arrest, including the handing of a person into the care of a hospital for treatment, or prison while under the control of a Garda. The Deputy should be...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (29 Sep 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The amount spent on mobile phones in my Department was as follows, 2007 €283,444; 2008 €211,156; 2009 €74,522; and to the end of June 2010 €26,308. The most recent data indicates that there are currently 141 mobile phones in use by staff of my Department. The current contract for supply of this service is with Vodafone. Following an EU procurement exercise, a Mobile Framework has...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (29 Sep 2010)

Dermot Ahern: A valid application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to in the Deputy's Question was first received in the Citizenship Division of my Department in August 2007 and I decided in my absolute discretion not to grant a certificate of naturalisation. The person concerned was informed of this decision and the reasons for it in a letter issued to him via his legal...

Written Answers — Closed Circuit Television Systems: Closed Circuit Television Systems (29 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 Tramore, Co. Waterford has been received. Any further plans for...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (29 Sep 2010)

Dermot Ahern: There are 17 agencies and executive offices of my Department that are funded from Vote 19 (Office of the Minister for Justice and Law Reform) and staffed by my Department. Staff of these agencies and executive offices are, with the exception of technical and professional grades, interchangeble with staff of the Department and their staffing numbers can go up or down at any given time...

Written Answers — Child Abduction: Child Abduction (29 Sep 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I am unable to be of assistance in this matter. My Department does not comment on individual cases that may be the subject of an application to the Central Authority for Child Abduction that operates in the Department for the purposes of international arrangements in the matter. However, I can say that a function of the Central Authority is to keep a parent informed of the progress of his or...

Written Answers — Courts Service: Courts Service (29 Sep 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The Coroner is an independent office holder with responsibility under the law for the medicolegal investigation into the circumstances of sudden, unexplained, violent and unnatural deaths. The Dublin County Coroner currently avails of certain hotel facilities when conducting formal inquests. The Coroner has advised my Department that he endeavours to ensure that the set-up is appropriate in...

Written Answers — Prison Building Programme: Prison Building Programme (29 Sep 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The Development of a new prison facility at Kilworth Co. Cork to serve the Munster region is a key element of the prisons modernisation programme. It is accepted that conditions at Cork prison are less than ideal and the new facilities at Kilworth will, when complete, allow for the decommissioning of the accommodation at Cork Prison and its replacement with new modern prison facilities. It...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (29 Sep 2010)

Dermot Ahern: A valid application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to in the Deputy's Question was received in the Citizenship Division of my Department in February 2008. All valid applications are dealt with in chronological order as this is deemed to be the fairest to all applicants.The average processing time from application to decision is now at 26 months. More complicated...

Written Answers — Private Security Authority: Private Security Authority (29 Sep 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The Private Security Services Act 2004, which established the Private Security Authority, provides the legislative background under which the Authority operates and under which private security licences are granted. The vetting of applicants by an Garda Síochána is an integral part of the licensing process and since the Authority commenced licensing in 2006 over 37,000 persons have been...

Written Answers — Multi-Unit Developments Bill 2009: Multi-Unit Developments Bill 2009 (29 Sep 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The purpose of the Multi-Unit Developments Bill 2009 is to amend the law relating to the ownership and management of the common areas of multi-unit developments and to facilitate the fair, efficient and effective management of bodies responsible for the management of those common areas. As regards existing multi-unit developments, section 2(5) of the Bill provides that except where otherwise...

Written Answers — Juvenile Offenders: Juvenile Offenders (29 Sep 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the number of Juvenile Liaison Officers assigned to the Dublin Metropolitan Northern Region is 11 and, of this figure, 3 are assigned to Coolock Garda Station. Responsibility for the allocation of resources, including personnel, within the Force rests with the Garda Commissioner, in consultation with his senior management team. Resource levels are...

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (29 Sep 2010)

Dermot Ahern: Proposals in relation to the opening of Garda stations are a matter, in the first instance, for the Garda Commissioner in accordance with section 22 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005. I have been informed by the Garda authorities that the area referred to by the Deputy is patrolled by both uniform and plain-clothes personnel, including the District Detective and Drug Units, the Divisional...

Written Answers — Ombudsman for Children: Ombudsman for Children (29 Sep 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The Guidelines for the test purchasing scheme were drawn up by a working group comprising representatives of the Gardaí, Office of the Minister for Children, Office of Tobacco Control and the Departments of Health and Children, and Justice and Law Reform. The primary concern of the group in drafting the guidelines has been to ensure the welfare of children. For this purpose, it drew on test...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (29 Sep 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1181 and 1182 together. The Garda Síochána Act 2005 makes provision for the compilation and publication of crime statistics by the Central Statistics Office, as the national statistical agency, and the CSO has established a dedicated unit for this purpose. The CSO recorded crime statistics, which are published quarterly and annually, provide figures on...

Written Answers — Crime Prevention: Crime Prevention (29 Sep 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I am informed by the Garda authorities that all acts of a criminal nature are dealt with appropriately under the relevant legislation. Strong provisions are in place to combat anti-social behaviour. The Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994 modernised the law in this regard. A range of provisions including the Intoxicating Liquor Acts 2003 and 2008 and the Criminal Justice (Public Order)...

Written Answers — Crime Prevention: Crime Prevention (29 Sep 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the area referred to is within the Clontarf Garda Sub-District. Local Garda management is aware of two incidents of the type referred to by the Deputy at the location referred to in the past six months. The investigations into the incidents are ongoing. No direct link has been established between these incidents and the type of activity referred...