LATEST DUBLIN CITY NEWS

• “Proposed changes to retail guidelines will cost jobs, compromise main streets and cause more dereliction - An Taisce”

  03-01-2012

  Jobs will be lost and main streets will suffer if Forfas gets its way on Retail Planning  according to a recent An Taisce  Press Release

• Rejuvenating Dublin's Tourism Product

  23-12-2011

  Dublin City Business Association commissioned Jerome Casey and Felim O’Rourke to undertake a study of tourism in Dublin and to make least-cost recommendations for its rejuvenation. The World Tourism Organisation concluded (in relation to Ireland) that "there appears to be very little correlation between marketing spending by National Tourism Organisations and international arrivals". 
  

  Within Ireland, there is a mismatch between the Irish tourism market and the public resources devoted to it. 

  33 existing tourist attractions in Dublin were reviewed, and low-cost initiatives suggested for their improvement.

  From 2000 – 2010 Ireland’s share of world tourism visitors has fallen sharply. In 2004, Ireland changed from being a destination country for incoming tourists to an origin country for Irish, outgoing tourists.

  Dublin must move from passive approval of tourist activities to an active development of tourism as a priority industry in regenerating the city’s economy. 

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

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Minister for Justice on Gangland Crime

Thursday the 14th of December 2006

We have passed through a dreadful week of murders. There is no other way of describing it. Every violent ending of a person's life represents a tragedy, but some of the killings we have recently witnessed are especially tragic. I would like to offer my personal sympathy in particular to the families and friends in Alan Cunniffe, Anthony Campbell and Aidan Myers. These victims were engaged in earning a living or going about their lawful business when their lives were so brutally cut short. Any words we say here will offer small consolation to the relatives and friends of the victims, but I believe, not least out of respect for those people, that it behoves us all in this House to show unity of purpose as the democratically elected representatives of the of the people in confronting the challenges posed by these armed and ruthless gangs.

I have made it consistently clear that irrespective of the circumstances murder is murder. The fact that people may have put themselves in the way of it by their criminal behaviour-including involvement in the killing of others-does not alter that fact. But the idea that the Gardaí can give round the clock protection to all those that may be at risk because of their involvement in drugs and crimes is simply unsustainable. There would be understandable outrage if that was the manner in which the Gardaí were deployed. People are entitled to be assured, however, that all steps that can be reasonably taken to deal with this matter are taken.

In relation to bail, our legislative provisions for the granting of bail are very stringent. The Sixteenth Amendment of the Constitution provides for the refusal of bail to a person charged with a serious offence where it is reasonably considered necessary to prevent the commission of a serious crime by that person. The Bail Act 1997 gave effect to the Amendment and tightened up the bail regime generally.

The granting of bail in accordance with the Act, the amount of bail and sentencing are of course matters for the courts which are, subject only to the Constitution and the law, independent in the exercise of their judicial functions. However, I believe it is the view of all Deputies that these provisions should be applied to the greatest extent possible consonant with the provisions of our Constitution. It is a matter of common sense that the ability of An Garda Siochana to deal with persons involved in serious crimes is seriously hampered when persons charged with firearms or drugs offences are freed on bail to commit further offences. That is why I am exploring and taking advice as to further measures that might be taken to address the issues which arise in terms of dealing with bail applications in such cases.

The House should also know that I have this evening signed the Custody Regulations approved by the Oireachtas earlier today, extending the maximum period of detention available to the Gardaí, provided for under the Criminal Justice Act 1984, from twelve hours to twenty four hours.

As we speak, the Gardaí, in light of recent developments, have begun an intensified campaign aimed at the disruption of the activities of the persons involved. Deputies will appreciate that it would be counterproductive for me to give precise details of what is involved. What I can say is this; the Gardaí must, of course, act at all stages within the law but if action they have been forced to take to disrupt the activities of these people are represented by the persons affected as harassment or persecution then in my view so be it.

The commissioner has announced that in order to augment existing operations, he is taking a number of further actions.

I want to dispel the impression that might have been given that the Drugs Unit of the Garda Siochana comprises of just 35 members. There are, in fact, some 328 Gardaí attached to drugs units nationally, with some 48 of these playing a central coordinating role at national level, with the balance attached to Divisions across the country. These officers are in the front line in the fight against the drugs menace and they work closely with other specialised units, including the Organised Crime Unit, the Special Detective Unit and other units within the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation.

Furthermore, additional resources will be deployed to provide a significant increase in armed Garda patrols and checkpoints, to be undertaken by the Special Detective Unit/ Emergency Response Unit, in key targeted areas, including those where shooting incidents have occurred.

Moreover, this is not my last word on the development of resources and development of ideas in tackling crime. There are some further options that I will be exploring over the coming days, and which I will make public following consultation with my Government colleagues.