Results 6,061-6,080 of 18,761 for speaker:Michael McDowell

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

Michael McDowell: The information requested by the Deputy is currently being researched. I will contact the Deputy again when the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: The disability group concerned applied to my Department for funding of €99,945 under the Independent Living Support Programme to purchase and convert for accessible use two Renault Master vehicles. This application was appraised by an independent evaluation committee which recommended that they receive 50% of the funding sought, 90% of which (€44,975) to be paid on agreement of contract...

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

Michael McDowell: An application for a certificate of naturalisation on behalf of the person in question, who is a minor, was received in the Citizenship Section of my Department on 6 October 2006. Due to the fact that applications on behalf of minors generally require less processing than standard adult applications, it is usually possible to finalise them more quickly. Based on current processing trends, it...

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

Michael McDowell: An application for a certificate of naturalisation on behalf of the person in question, who is a minor, was received in the Citizenship Section of my Department on 6 October 2006. Due to the fact that applications on behalf of minors generally require less processing than standard adult applications, it is usually possible to finalise them more quickly. Based on current processing trends, it...

Criminal Assets Bureau. (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: The Criminal Assets Bureau has been at the forefront of the fight against organised crime including drug trafficking in this jurisdiction since its inception in 1996. In that 11 year period the manner in which the bureau operates has come to be viewed, both domestically and internationally, as a successful model for targeting persons seeking to derive profits from criminal activities. In...

Criminal Assets Bureau. (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I have a good deal of sympathy with the point Deputy Gregory made. From recent accounts given to me of places to which the Garda has gone where crime has been committed or where people have fled following crimes, I have been surprised by the accumulation of physical possessions such as flat-screen televisions in various bedrooms where there does not seem to be a support base for it. I take...

Criminal Assets Bureau. (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I take the Deputy's point.

Garda Training. (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: The Garda Síochána has a range of facilities available to it for firearms training and plans are well under way for the provision of dedicated and improved facilities for the force. Currently the Garda makes use of military ranges; the Garda specialist training units have access to 12 of these ranges countrywide. In addition, the Garda Síochána last year procured three virtual firearms...

Garda Training. (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: A number of gardaí have given me a first-hand account of the simulated ranges and they all spoke very highly of them.

Garda Training. (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: It is not child's play or a computer game. The gardaí say the training is far more effective than pointing one's rifle——

Garda Training. (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: ——or pistol at static targets. The Deputy should acquaint himself with these facilities.

Garda Training. (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I have had first-hand accounts from a number of gardaí.

Garda Training. (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I have not but I do not have to see every facility myself. The Deputy is obviously a doubting Thomas.

Garda Training. (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: When gardaí tell me they are very happy with this new facility and when those I know and trust tell me how good it is, I am inclined to believe them. I do not deride them, belittle them or accuse them of playing computer games. The facility is nothing of the kind.

Garda Training. (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: Sending gardaí to the North for firearms training would not be practicable. It is not reasonable to send them on day trips to Belfast for this purpose. There are outdoor ranges in this jurisdiction. The indoor range constructed at the Phoenix Park, with which the Deputy's party was involved when in government, turned out to be dangerous.

Garda Training. (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: Although it is a comparatively modern facility, I am now in a position to build a dedicated indoor range in the park.

Garda Training. (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: They are not grand plans. I just have to do things, while the Deputy just makes a mess of them; that is the problem.

Garda Training. (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: If I were the Deputy, I would stick to broadcasting.

Garda Operations. (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I refer to my answer to Questions Nos. 422, 464 and 465 of 31 January. The House will appreciate that the granting of bail is a matter for the courts and that the Director of Public Prosecutions who is independent in the performance of his functions represents the State for the purpose of dealing with such applications.

Garda Operations. (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: Moreover, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on the circumstances in which bail may have been granted, or refused, in particular cases. I can confirm, however, that I was made aware by the Garda authorities of their concern that in a substantial number of cases involving operations they had launched against gun and drugs criminals, bail had been granted despite Garda objections....