Results 61-80 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Departmental Staff (12 Jan 2011)

Dermot Ahern: Brostaigh ort.

Criminal Justice (Public Order) Bill 2010: Order for Report Stage (12 Jan 2011)

Dermot Ahern: I move: "That Report Stage be taken now."

Criminal Justice (Public Order) Bill 2010: Report and Final Stages (12 Jan 2011)

Dermot Ahern: I move amendment No. 1: In page 4, lines 4 and 5, to delete "a fine not exceeding €400" and substitute "a class E fine". These amendments arise from the new classification system introduced by Part 2 of the Fines Act 2010 in the case of fines for summary offences. Henceforth, fines will no longer be expressed in monetary amounts in the case of summary offences but will instead be referred...

Criminal Justice (Public Order) Bill 2010: Report and Final Stages (12 Jan 2011)

Dermot Ahern: The reason this Bill was mentioned in the Chief Whip's press release is that it is one of the Bills which is nearing completion in the House. Equally so, it is a fairly simply Bill but one with an important effect. Given the High Court decision in the Dillon case some years ago, which set down the parameters for the law and for the constitutional constraints that exist in this regard, the...

Criminal Justice (Public Order) Bill 2010: Report and Final Stages (12 Jan 2011)

Dermot Ahern: During the Christmas period I heard Joe Duffy claiming credit for the legislation on head shops. I and this House also had something to do with that.

Criminal Justice (Public Order) Bill 2010: Report and Final Stages (12 Jan 2011)

Dermot Ahern: Yes, that is what I said.

Criminal Justice (Public Order) Bill 2010: Report and Final Stages (12 Jan 2011)

Dermot Ahern: I move amendment No. 2: In page 4, lines 39 and 40, to delete "a fine not exceeding €300" and substitute "a class E fine".

Criminal Justice (Public Order) Bill 2010: Report and Final Stages (12 Jan 2011)

Dermot Ahern: I move amendment No. 3: In page 6, lines 1 and 2, to delete "a fine not exceeding €200" and substitute "a class E fine".

Criminal Justice (Public Order) Bill 2010: Report and Final Stages (12 Jan 2011)

Dermot Ahern: I move amendment No. 4: In page 6, to delete lines 19 to 21 and substitute the following: "(a) on summary conviction to a class A fine or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or both, or". These amendments increase the penalties for offences under section 5, which creates an offence of organised begging. Persons being prosecuted under the section may be proceeded against summarily...

Criminal Justice (Public Order) Bill 2010: Report and Final Stages (12 Jan 2011)

Dermot Ahern: In principle, I am in favour of changing the law regarding prostitution and of moving in the direction recently indicated. I have stated this in reply to parliamentary questions. I was encouraging of the visit by the Dignity Project. Some officials from our human trafficking unit also visited Sweden to review its experience since changing the law more than one decade ago. However, there...

Criminal Justice (Public Order) Bill 2010: Report and Final Stages (12 Jan 2011)

Dermot Ahern: I accept there is anger and there are none more angry than members of the Cabinet who have had to deal with this issue over the past two and a half years. I do not accept that the laws are inadequate. The problem, as always, is to obtain proof on the offences on the Statute Book. Last May I requested the Garda Commissioner, in light of the investigations into Anglo Irish Bank and...

Criminal Justice (Public Order) Bill 2010: Report and Final Stages (12 Jan 2011)

Dermot Ahern: I move amendment No. 5: In page 6, line 23, to delete "€50,000" and substitute "€200,000".

Criminal Justice (Public Order) Bill 2010: Report and Final Stages (12 Jan 2011)

Dermot Ahern: I move amendment No. 6: In page 6, line 29, to delete "a fine not exceeding €5,000" and substitute "a class A fine".

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (12 Jan 2011)

Dermot Ahern: The person in question retired from my Department on 31 March 2009 under the Cost Neutral Early Retirement Scheme. Under the terms of this Scheme, there is no condition preventing an individual returning to work. Any re-employment in the public service must be through normal recruitment/selection procedures and would be subject to the relevant superannuation scheme and pension abatement rules.

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (12 Jan 2011)

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 March 2008 and I decided in my absolute discretion not to grant a certificate of naturalisation, based on all of the information available to me. The person concerned was informed of this decision in a letter issued to her...

Written Answers — Crime Prevention: Crime Prevention (12 Jan 2011)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 497, 502, 514 and 572 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. The prevalence of this trade would appear to be linked to the high price that gold now commands on international markets, and the 'cash for gold' concept would appear to be...

Written Answers — Garda Recruitment: Garda Recruitment (12 Jan 2011)

Dermot Ahern: I am reviewing the current entry requirements into An Garda Síochána in consultation with the Commissioner. This review will of course take into account the recommendations of the Report referred to by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Firearms Licences: Firearms Licences (12 Jan 2011)

Dermot Ahern: I can inform the Deputy that in the region of 175 judicial reviews have been lodged arising from refusals to grant firearms licences by designated persons within An Garda Síochána. As the matter is currently before the Courts, I cannot comment in any substantive way but I understand that a small number of representative test cases will be heard. As the Deputy will appreciate firearms...

Written Answers — Garda Remuneration: Garda Remuneration (12 Jan 2011)

Dermot Ahern: The information sought by the Deputy is currently being collated by the Garda authorities and I will write to the Deputy directly when this information is to hand.

Written Answers — Garda Training: Garda Training (12 Jan 2011)

Dermot Ahern: The new B.A. Programme (Applied Policing) currently being developed is a 104 week (2 year) degree level programme which will be accredited by H.E.T.A.C. The 104 week training and education programme will be followed by a 12 month probationary period. The programme is consistent with the recommendations set out in the Training and Development Review Group Report which is available on the...