Results 5,981-6,000 of 18,761 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Garda Recruitment: Garda Recruitment (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: The combined strength of both attested Gardaí and recruits in training as at the 31 December 2006 was 14,068. Furthermore, in December, 2006 as part of a package of anti-crime measures, the Government approved the continuation of the existing Garda recruitment programme to achieve a total Garda strength of 15,000. Additional resources are coming on stream all the time, with an accelerated...

Written Answers — Prison Committals: Prison Committals (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: The study referred to by the Deputy was undertaken in 2003 by a team from the Central Mental Hospital. The Irish Prison Service was pleased to facilitate and part-fund this study. I welcome the findings which clarify for the first time the actual level of various mental health problems among the Irish prison population. The findings of the study confirm that the rates of diagnosed mental...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 44 and 73 together. I am informed by the Garda authorities that the table shows the numbers of murder offences recorded where a firearm was used and the numbers of detections, proceedings commenced and convictions in respect of those murders between the years 1998 and 2006 and in 2007 up to 19 February. It is anticipated that the number of convictions...

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: The work of the Expert Group to which the Deputy refers is ongoing and there was never a specific formal time limit placed by me on its important deliberations. However I can say that there is regular and ongoing contact between the Group and officials from my Department. In that context the Group has, with my agreement, taken the time to allow it to comprehend the detention module of the...

Written Answers — Property Management Companies: Property Management Companies (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: Issues relating to multi-unit developments and the operation of property management companies were discussed at a Conference organised by my Department and the Law Reform Commission on 25 January. The Conference provided an opportunity for a preliminary discussion of the wide range of policy issues identified in the Law Reform Commission's Consultation Paper on Multi-Unit Developments. A...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: As I outlined in my address of 27 January 2007 at a public interest seminar in the Law Society on the soon to be published Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill 2007, I am considering including in this Bill provisions for detaining certain protection claimants, with a view to processing their claims quickly and efficiently to finality. Processing certain categories of protection...

Written Answers — Prison Accommodation: Prison Accommodation (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy may be aware that on 1 September, 2006 I directed that Wheatfield Prison and the Midlands Prison operate as committal prisons for certain male adult prisoners sentenced by courts in designated counties. The effect is that Mountjoy's committal responsibility was reduced to Dublin City and County. Following this designation the number of new committals to Mountjoy has reduced...

Written Answers — Closed Circuit Television Systems: Closed Circuit Television Systems (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that Garda Town Centre CCTV Systems have been installed in the following locations: Dublin North Central — 44 cameras — monitored at the Garda Office, O'Connell Street; Dublin South Central — 25 cameras — monitored at Pearse Street Garda Station; Cork City — 29 cameras — monitored at Anglesea Street Garda Station; Tralee — 24 cameras —...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: As I indicated in my reply to a similar Question (No. 16) on 7 December last, work on the Scheme of the Judicial Council Bill is at an advanced stage of development in my Department. I expect to be in a position to bring it to Government for approval in the reasonably near future. The Bill will build on the Report of the Committee on Judicial Conduct and Ethics chaired by the former Chief...

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources that the personnel strength of An Garda Síochána increased to a record 13,000 following the attestation of 299 new members on Thursday, 16 November, 2006. This compares with a total strength of 10,702 as at 30 June, 1997 and represents an increase of 2,298 (or 21.5%) in the personnel...

Written Answers — Commissions of Investigation: Commissions of Investigation (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: The Order establishing the Commission of Investigation which specified the matter to be investigated was approved by resolution of both Houses of the Oireachtas on 30 November 2005 and 1 December 2005 respectively. When I published the Commission's Report on 1 September 2006, I sent a copy to the Expert Group which I established in the light of concerns arising from the Dean Lyons case. The...

Written Answers — Anti-Racism Measures: Anti-Racism Measures (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: My Department is responsible for co-ordinating the implementation of the National Action Plan Against Racism (NPAR). The plan, which provides strategic direction to combat racism and to develop a more inclusive, intercultural society in Ireland, was launched in 2005 and will run until the end of 2008. It is based on five pillars: protection, inclusion, provision, recognition and...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: The information requested by the Deputy is as follows: In 2006 there were 4,314 applications for refugee status in the State which was a slight decrease on the 2005 figure and the lowest annual total since 1997. The 2006 figure represents a 63% reduction on the 2002 high of 11,634 asylum applications. In 2006 there were 397 recommendations to grant refugee status at first instance by the...

Written Answers — State Airports: State Airports (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: My Department has no role in conducting searches, random or otherwise, in the circumstances outlined in the Deputy's question. As the Deputy is aware, the Garda Síochána is responsible for the investigation of the commission, alleged or otherwise, of offences. Where the Garda Síochána reasonably suspects that an offence is being committed, statutory powers of entry and arrest are...

Written Answers — Courts Service: Courts Service (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that Section 8 of the Enforcement of Courts Orders Act 1940 as amended by the Family Law (Maintenance of Spouses and Children) Act 1976 provides that where the maintenance debtor is in arrears on payments, a District Judge may, if he thinks proper, direct that the sums payable be levied by distress, i.e. seizure and sale of his goods. Also a maintenance...

Written Answers — Tribunals of Inquiry: Tribunals of Inquiry (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 59 and 130 together. There are currently two sitting Tribunals which come under the aegis of my Department; the Morris Tribunal and the Smithwick Tribunal. In so far as the Morris Tribunal of Inquiry is concerned, I can inform the Deputies that the revised fees were to be introduced from October 2006. However, following consideration of a request from the...

Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my reply to PQ Nos. 422, 464 and 465 of 31 January 2007.

Written Answers — Garda Code: Garda Code (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities that the Garda Code is published in two volumes. Volume I relates to managing a modern police service. The most recent edition of Volume I was issued in August, 2005. Volume II relates to financial matters. The most recent edition of Volume II was issued in December, 1994. Updates of the Garda Code are circulated by way of H.Q. Directives, as the...

Written Answers — International Treaties: International Treaties (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: Due to other urgent official commitments, I was not in a position to attend the EU Justice and Home Affairs Council in Brussels on 15 February 2007. One of the items considered at the recent Council meeting was a proposed Council Decision for the integration of some of the elements of the Prum Treaty into the EU legislative framework. In the course of the discussion on this item, the Irish...

Written Answers — Competition Authority Report: Competition Authority Report (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I understand that the Deputy is referring to the Competition Authority report on Competition in Legal Services — Solicitors and Barristers, which was published on 11 December 2006. The Report makes twenty-nine recommendations, the key ones being that: the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform should bring forward legislation to establish a Legal Services Commission, which would...