Results 1,961-1,980 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Civil Partnership Bill 2010: Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I thank him for his co-operation in the last two years and I wish him well in his new post. Deputy Howlin quoted an academic who said it was unfortunate that these two issues are being dealt with in the one Bill. I would say it is fortunate that we are dealing with the two issues in the one Bill. Part 15 refers to the possible provision of a safety net for cohabiting same sex and opposite...

Civil Partnership Bill 2010: Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Deputy Ciarán Cuffe, said the Bill does not go far enough. The Bill is a fine balance, as is required by the Constitution, between the constitutional provisions that people be equal in the eyes of the law and that marriage be protected. Without a referendum, we must frame our law to meet the fine balance between those two, supposedly,...

Civil Partnership Bill 2010: Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2010)

Dermot Ahern: Absolutely. It is a republic. I return to the statement my party issued in our manifesto when we proposed what we would do, based on our republican ethos and building on the agenda of equality to which we are committed. We said we would address these issues and that is what we did. I say, resolutely, to people who suggest there should be a freedom of conscience clause, that if we pass laws...

Civil Partnership Bill 2010: Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The obligations are as per mandated by the court under the redress scheme. When people apply to court they will have obligations to each other, as ordered by the court. The obligations will be based on the orders of the court.

Civil Partnership Bill 2010: Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2010)

Dermot Ahern: No.

Civil Partnership Bill 2010: Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2010)

Dermot Ahern: Deputy Howlin is right to say that a Pandora's box has been opened on this issue. Perhaps it is no harm that we get all these things out of the way, because we have a relatively small amount of time. It reminds me a bit of the Bill on stag hunting, when there was much debate about things that were not in the Bill. Exactly the same happened during the debate on the Criminal Justice...

Written Answers — Prison Committals: Prison Committals (30 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The Irish Prison Service publishes the average cost of an available, staffed prison space under three headings - Open Prisons, Closed Prisons and High Security Prisons. St. Patrick's Institution is a Closed Prison. The average cost of an available, staffed prison space during the calendar year 2009 will be published in the Irish Prison Service Annual Report for 2009 which is due to be...

Written Answers — Sexual Offences: Sexual Offences (30 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I am informed by the Garda authorities that they monitor websites of the kind referred to by the Deputy, particularly as part of Operation Quest, which is aimed particularly at the involvement of organised crime in prostitution. I should mention also that section 23 of the Act created the offence of publishing or distributing an advertisement for a brothel or the services of a prostitute in...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (30 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The provisions of the Guardianship of Children Act 1964 in relation to guardianship, custody of and access to children have been the subject of significant updating, both in 1987 and 1997. Under section 6 of the 1964 Act both the mother and father of children born within marriage are the joint guardians of their children. In relation to children born outside marriage, the mother is the sole...

Written Answers — Probation and Welfare Service: Probation and Welfare Service (30 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The Probation Service of my Department is the lead agency in the assessment and management of offenders in our communities. In common with the rest of the Civil Service the Probation Service is subject to the Government's moratorium on recruitment and promotion and its staff also have access to the Incentivised Career Break Scheme and the Incentivised Scheme of Early Retirement. Where...

Written Answers — Interpretation Services: Interpretation Services (30 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The provision of interpretation for the Garda Síochána is primarily an operational matter for the Garda Commissioner. I have been informed by the Commissioner that a range of interpretation services is available to the Force in accordance with contracts that have been put in place. These services operate where persons have been detained and in other circumstances, as required, and the...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (30 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: What has become known colloquially as 'an application for leave to remain' is the submission of written representations to the Minister against the making of a Deportation Order. In all such cases, I, as Minister, must decide whether a Deportation Order should be made or leave to remain in the State should be granted. This process is founded on the provisions of Section 3 of the Immigration...

Written Answers — Domestic Violence: Domestic Violence (30 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The Government is very committed to tackling the scourge of domestic violence in this country. It is a very complex issue and a broad range of action is being taken across the country by many State and Non-State organisations to prevent and respond effectively to this often hidden crime. A clear signal of government concern and commitment to this matter was the establishment in June 2007 of...

Written Answers — Sexual Offences: Sexual Offences (30 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: It should be noted that under the criminal law as it stands at present, it is not an offence, in itself, to sell sex. In general, it is not an offence, to purchase sex either. Consequently, neither party to the transaction is currently criminalised. In this jurisdiction, the criminal law governing prostitution is aimed at protecting society from the more intrusive aspects of such activity...

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (30 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I am informed by the Garda authorities that there is no investigation being carried out at present into the particular reports mentioned in the Deputy's question. I am further informed that no complaint has been received by the Gardaí in respect of the alleged photographing of crew members of the ship Rachel Corrie. Nevertheless, if any person has credible information that any alleged...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (30 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I am informed by the Garda authorities that in 2010, up to 24 June, ten gang related murders were recorded. In addition, the House will be aware of the two appalling killings in Ronanstown last Monday evening. I deplore all such killings. They are further evidence of the callous disregard for human life and community safety shown by members of criminal gangs. The Gardaí are carrying out...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (30 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 44 and 54 together. The Deputy will be aware from my replies to previous Questions that the consultation phase of the major review of gambling, initiated by me, has drawn to a close. I was pleased that over 70 organisations and groups considered the topic important enough to submit written submissions, and that many followed up those submissions with...

Written Answers — Prison Committals: Prison Committals (30 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I wish to advise the Deputy that prisoners in custody in the Dóchas Centre are generally granted temporary release, for the duration of their hospital stay, under the Criminal Justice Act 1960, as amended by the Criminal Justice (Temporary Release of Prisoners) Act 2003. This discretionary instrument makes provision for the Minister to approve the temporary release of a sentenced prisoner in...

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (30 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: As the Deputy is aware, the Commission of Investigation's report on the Catholic Archdiocese of Dublin was published last November in accordance with directions of the High Court. The Commission is at present examining the Diocese of Cloyne, and the Government has extended its term to 31 October to allow this work to be completed. I am informed by the Garda authorities that the Assistant...

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (30 Jun 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The programme of replacement and refurbishment of Garda accommodation around the country is based on agreed priorities established by An Garda Síochána and it is progressed in close co-operation with the Office of Public Works, who have responsibility for the provision and maintenance of Garda accommodation. I have been advised by the Garda authorities that significant refurbishment work...