Results 181-200 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — Prisoner Releases: Prisoner Releases (12 Jan 2011)

Dermot Ahern: I can advise the Deputy that on the 10 January, 2011 there were 4,369 prisoners in custody as compared to a bed capacity of 4,430. This represents an occupancy level of 99%. I can also inform the Deputy that 134 prisoners were granted varying periods of temporary release for Christmas 2010 under the Criminal Justice Act 1960. This figure represented approximately 2.5% of the prisoner...

Order of Business (16 Dec 2010)

Dermot Ahern: She has obviously been reading this morning's Phoenix.

Written Answers — Commercial Rent Review: Commercial Rent Review (16 Dec 2010)

Dermot Ahern: One of the Action Points listed in the National Recovery Plan 2011-2014 refers explicitly to the implementation of the proposals of the Working Group on Transparency in Commercial Rent Reviews. The responsibility for addressing this Action Point lies with my Department and I am fully committed to progressing the proposals of the Group in a timely manner.

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (16 Dec 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I abhor this particularly sinister type of criminality where an employee's family become unwitting players in such acts. In relation to the particular case referred to by the Deputy, I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that the incident remains the subject of an active and ongoing investigation. I am also informed that a local Detective Sergeant has been appointed to liaise with the...

Written Answers — Prison Committals: Prison Committals (16 Dec 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I can inform the Deputy that the Irish Prison Service does not collect statistics on the children of prisoners. As part of its overall strategy in relation to the rehabilitation of prisoners, the Irish Prison Service pursues a service-wide approach aimed at sustaining and maintaining prisoners' relationships with their families, in as normal a manner as possible. The Service continues to...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (16 Dec 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 252 and 257 together. The Deputy will be aware that there has been a significant increase in the number of outlets offering to buy gold for cash in towns and cities in the State. I understand that some established jewellers also offer to buy gold and jewellery for cash. In addition it is understood that many kiosks are situated in hotels or shopping centres...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (16 Dec 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the location referred is in Raheny Garda Sub-District. Local Garda management is aware of difficulties being experienced at the location. The member of the local Community Policing Unit allocated to the area has been in contact with local residents and the management of educational facilities nearby. The Garda authorities understand that the...

Written Answers — Deportation Orders: Deportation Orders (16 Dec 2010)

Dermot Ahern: In reply to the Deputy's question on the number of applications to revoke a Deportation Order, these statistics are not recorded in my Department in a manner as would enable me to readily provide the Deputy with the requested information. Any piece of correspondence submitted on behalf of an applicant after a Deportation Order is made against them is potentially an application to revoke the...

Written Answers — Refugee Status: Refugee Status (16 Dec 2010)

Dermot Ahern: In 2009, twenty eight letters proposing to revoke refugee status were issued. In eleven of those cases status was revoked. To date, in 2010, thirty two letters proposing to revoke refugee status have been issued and status has been revoked in twenty four cases.

Written Answers — Illegal Immigrants: Illegal Immigrants (16 Dec 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The following table shows the total number of persons refused Leave to Land, pursuant to the provisions of Immigration Act, 2004, for each year between 2005 – 2010: 2010 2,811 (to 30 November 2010) 2009 3,857 2008 5,390 2007 5,854 2006 5,556 2005 4,714 ------------ Total 28,182 However, a number of those persons who had been refused Leave to Land were subsequently...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (16 Dec 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The staffing numbers of my Department and agencies staffed by it have declined by in excess of 300 since the Moratorium on recruitment and promotion in the public service was introduced at the end of March 2009. The Department of Finance has sanctioned the filling of a limited number of priority posts as exceptions to the Moratorium, which has led to a small number of promotions over the...

Written Answers — Prison Staff: Prison Staff (16 Dec 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The Deputy will be aware that in accordance with Government Decisions on the implementation of savings measures on public service numbers, more generally referred to as the moratorium on public sector recruitment, filling of vacancies in the Irish Prison Service is subject to the approval of the Minister for Finance. I am pleased to advise the Deputy that sanction has been granted by the...

Written Answers — Garda Recruitment: Garda Recruitment (16 Dec 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The moratorium on recruitment and appointments continues to apply to An Garda Síochána with provisions for exceptions following agreement with the Minister for Finance. The purpose of organising a recruitment campaign earlier this year was to begin the process of establishing a panel of potential applicants who could go on to be recruited as members of An Garda Síochána. Since that...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (16 Dec 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The Public Service Agreement 2010-2014 contains a commitment to significantly improve performance management across all Public Service areas with promotion and incremental progression linked in all cases to performance and the implementation of appropriate systems to address under-performance, including, where appropriate, training or, where necessary, through disciplinary procedures....

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (16 Dec 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I would refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Question No 273 for answer on 9 November, 2010, in which I provided information on the salary costs for 2008 and 2009 for staff employed on fixed term contracts. In 2010 the Department employed a total of 22 staff on temporary fixed term contracts at a total salary cost of approximately €1 million. These figures do not include...

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (16 Dec 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the personnel strength of the Community Policing Unit Blanchardstown Garda Station, as at the latest date for which figures are readily available was 23. The Deputy will appreciate that, as with any large organisation, the numbers in any unit will fluctuate from time to time due to, for example, transfers, retirements, resignations etc.

Written Answers — Child Maintenance Orders: Child Maintenance Orders (16 Dec 2010)

Dermot Ahern: My proposals for the better enforcement of maintenance orders are contained in section 22 of the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2010 which is before the House.

Written Answers — Censorship Measures: Censorship Measures (16 Dec 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I can inform the Deputy that any person may make a complaint regarding a publication to the independent Censorship of Publications Board in accordance with the provisions of the Censorship of Publications legislation, and in particular the Censorship of Publications Regulations, 1980. The Board's only function is to decide whether or not to prohibit a publication. In the event that a...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (16 Dec 2010)

Dermot Ahern: The Criminal Justice (Public Order) Bill 2010, when enacted, will provide a basis for dealing with the public order aspects of begging. The Bill has completed Committee Stage in the Dáil and is awaiting Report Stage. It will then be presented to the Seanad. The Bill is in response to the High Court's judgement in Dillon v. The DPP. The Court held that the legislation previously used,...

Multi-Unit Developments Bill 2009 (Seanad): Report and Final Stages (15 Dec 2010)

Dermot Ahern: I thank you, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle and Members on the other side of the House for their work on this legislation. It was difficult legislation, from my point of view. While I was the sponsoring Minister, it crossed over a number of Departments, particularly the Departments of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and Enterprise, Trade and Innovation. We had a number of meetings...