Results 6,001-6,020 of 18,761 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Court Staff: Court Staff (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: The former Judge Brian Curtin resigned as a Judge of the Circuit Court on 13 November, 2006. The matter of his pension entitlements is being finalised.

Written Answers — Prison Drug Treatment Services: Prison Drug Treatment Services (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: The Irish Prison Service expended almost €3 million excluding staff costs on the provision of medical services to the prisoner population in 2005 but it is not possible to disaggregate, with any degree of accuracy, from this total, the element that related solely to the treatment of prisoners with drug problems. The new Irish Prison Service Drugs Policy & Strategy — Keeping Drugs Out of...

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

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 66, 133 and 136 together. I am informed by the Garda authorities that, for operational reasons, it is inappropriate to categorise proceedings as being linked to any particular, identifiable criminal groupings. I am further informed by Garda management that, as part of its contribution to the Europol Organised Crime Report which was recently refined to become...

Written Answers — Mental Health Policy: Mental Health Policy (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am aware that under the auspices of the Department of Health and Children, the Report of the Expert Group on Mental Health Policy entitled "A Vision for Change" contains certain recommendations in this area. In March 2006, the Minister of State at that Department, Mr. Tim O'Malley, T.D., with special responsibility for mental health, established an Independent Monitoring Group to monitor...

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

Michael McDowell: I recently announced my intention to ask the Government to sign the Council of Europe Convention on action against trafficking in human beings. I also stated that it is intended, as part of the new immigration policy framework, to provide a clear policy statement setting out how these cases will be managed once it is established that trafficking has taken place. I would reiterate, however,...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I wish to inform the Deputy that advertisements inviting applications for renewal of permission to remain in the State, granted under the IBC/05 scheme, were placed in National Newspapers on 31 January, 2007. Applications from non-national parents of Irish born children, born before 1 January 2005, for renewal of their permission to remain in the State under the IBC/05 Scheme, must be made...

Written Answers — Garda Disciplinary Proceedings: Garda Disciplinary Proceedings (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: The Garda Síochána Act, in 2005, made detailed provisions for the making of Disciplinary Regulations for the Garda Síochána. In its report earlier this year, the Garda Síochána Act Implementation Group, chaired by Senator Maurice Hayes, acknowledged the requirement for changes to the Garda disciplinary regulations to coincide with the coming into operation of the Garda Ombudsman...

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

Michael McDowell: I have not yet received the report from Mr Michael Mellet in relation to this matter. The Deputy will be aware that in my reply on this matter to Deputy Kenny on the 7th December 2006, I indicated that Mr Mellet was still in the process of obtaining certain material of particular relevance to this inquiry. I now understand that this material has been obtained and that the report is in the...

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

Michael McDowell: The Garda authorities inform me that there were two so-called 'tiger' robberies in 2005 and three such robberies in 2006. To date in 2007 there have been two such robberies. An Garda Síochána continue to investigate these robberies. Naturally I cannot go into any details about these as to do so might risk prejudicing these investigations or subsequent prosecutions. The Deputy will be...

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

Michael McDowell: I am aware of the expressed views of Privacy International and the American Civil Liberties Union on the Passenger Name Records Agreement between the European Union and the United States. However, as this Agreement falls outside the remit of my Department, but rather, within the remit of the Department of Transport. I am not in a position to assist the Deputy.

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

Michael McDowell: I can assure the Deputy that I am in regular contact with the Garda Commissioner on a range of important issues, including the problems caused by organised crime and criminal gangs. In order to disrupt such criminality, Garda operations are regularly put in place to target individuals and gangs suspected of involvement in criminal activity and such operations, for example initiatives under...

Written Answers — Juvenile Offenders: Juvenile Offenders (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: Responsibility for the management of four children detention schools — Finglas Child and Adolescent Centre, Oberstown Boys School, Oberstown Girls School and Trinity House School — will transfer to the Irish Youth Justice Service of my Department on 1 March 2007. This will follow the commencement of the relevant provisions of the Children Act 2001, as amended by the Criminal Justice Act...

Written Answers — Juvenile Offenders: Juvenile Offenders (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: While there have been some studies on this issue they have been sample based rather than longitudinal in nature. As the Deputy may be aware, the Government decided, in December 2005, to establish the Irish Youth Justice Service to take responsibility for the management and development of all services relating to young people who offend. This responsibility includes the management of the...

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

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda Síochána that its code of practice in respect of covert human intelligence sources (CHIS) came into effect in April 2006. The Deputy will understand that it is not the practice and it would not be in the public interest to comment on the specifics of the operation of this system, as to do so could potentially adversely affect ongoing and future Garda operations....

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

Michael McDowell: I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities. I will be in contact with the Deputy when this information is to hand.

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

Michael McDowell: Considerable progress has been made since 2000 in relation to the operation of the asylum determination process in the State. The progress achieved has been the result of a combination of factors including increased investment in the asylum determination agencies, the strengthening of the legislative framework for asylum and immigration generally, increased co-operation between Government...

Written Answers — Deportation Orders: Deportation Orders (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: The total number of cases considered for deportation under Section 3 (6) of the Immigration Act, 1999 (as amended), for the five year period 2002-2006 and the results thereof are shown in Table A as follows: Table A — Deportation orders made and effected — 2002 to 2006 Year Number of deportation orders made Number of deportation orders effected 2002 2,430 521 2003 2,411 591 2004...

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

Michael McDowell: I can inform the Deputy that comprehensive services are in place for persons who apply for refugee status in the State. Insofar as my Department is concerned, applicants for asylum are entitled to have their applications processed at first instance by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner and, as appropriate, at appeals stage by the Refugee Appeals Tribunal. Applicants also...

Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: The legislation for which I have responsibility in my Department is as contained in the Government's Legislative Programme announced by the Chief Whip on 30 January 2007. The ordering of the legislation that is before the House and any other measures I may bring forward is a matter for the Government Chief Whip in consultation with other Whips.

Written Answers — Missing Persons: Missing Persons (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: It has not been possible in the time available for the Garda authorities to supply the details requested by the Deputy. I will be in contact with the Deputy when the information is to hand.