Results 6,781-6,800 of 18,761 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (31 Jan 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am advised by the Garda authorities that the guidelines in relation to members of An Garda Síochána serving at certain stations are set out in An Garda Síochána Code. In the above regard, the position is that a member is not permitted to serve at any Station which is within 32 kilometres of any place where the member, or the member's spouse/partner, has relatives permanently residing;...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (31 Jan 2007)

Michael McDowell: I have requested a report from the Garda Commissioner in the matter and I will be in contact with the Deputy when this is to hand.

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (31 Jan 2007)

Michael McDowell: I would refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 5 of Thursday 7th December 2006 (ref 42178/06). I can add that the final report of the pilot project was received by my Department on Thursday 25th January 2007. Officials of my Department had a meeting with representatives of the NDVIA on 29th January 2007 and explained to the NDVIA that, in accordance with customary...

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (31 Jan 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 — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (31 Jan 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 — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (31 Jan 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 — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (31 Jan 2007)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that on 31 December, 2006 the total number of persons recruited to An Garda Síochána reached an all-time high of 14,068. Following the attestation of 299 new members on 16 November, 2006., the attested strength reached a record 13,000. This compares with a total...

Written Answers — Garda Ethics: Garda Ethics (31 Jan 2007)

Michael McDowell: The Garda Commissioner is preparing a draft code of ethics, that includes standards of conduct and practice for members of the Garda Síochána, for submission to me under section 17 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005. As part of this preparation, the Commissioner will consult with the bodies specified in that section before submitting the draft to me. It is my intention to establish the code...

Written Answers — Garda Communications: Garda Communications (31 Jan 2007)

Michael McDowell: The information required to respond to the Deputy is being compiled by the Garda authorities and I will communicate with him as soon as the information comes to hand.

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (31 Jan 2007)

Michael McDowell: The statutory requirements for naturalisation are set out in the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. This provides that applicants for naturalisation, other than spouses of Irish citizens, must have been resident for five years of the nine year period prior to the date of application. Resident in this context means residence for which the applicant had the permission of...

Written Answers — Prison Accommodation: Prison Accommodation (31 Jan 2007)

Michael McDowell: The illegal use of mobile phones in prisons and places of detention has the capacity to compromise the security of the institution and the safety of the staff and other prisoners. I am advised that mobile phones have been used by prisoners to continue some of their illegal activities including organising the smuggling of contraband into prisons. The Irish Prison Service, in common with...

Written Answers — Illegal Immigrants: Illegal Immigrants (31 Jan 2007)

Michael McDowell: Persons in the State considered to be illegal immigrants, have come from a range of different circumstances, including: failing to present to an Immigration Officer at the time of arrival in the State, for the purposes of seeking permission to enter and remain in the State; obtaining a permission to enter the State by deception, through the production of bogus travel documents and/or the...

Written Answers — Drug Seizures: Drug Seizures (31 Jan 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the following tables show the number of arrests made, proceedings commenced and convictions for the offences of cultivating or manufacturing of drugs, possession of drugs for sale or supply and simple possession in the Cork West Garda Division for the years 2001 to 2006. I should mention that the figure for convictions is likely to increase as...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (31 Jan 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 — Drugs in Prisons: Drugs in Prisons (31 Jan 2007)

Michael McDowell: The absence of mandatory drug testing made it impossible to accurately estimate the level of drug misuse within our prison system. The Deputy will, of course, be aware of the mandatory drug testing of prisoners initiative which will, for the first time, provide empirical evidence as to the extent of the problem and also provide information on trends in drug misuse. In addition, it will...

Written Answers — Firearms Offences: Firearms Offences (31 Jan 2007)

Michael McDowell: Section 29 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2006 inserts a new section 2B into the Firearms Act, 1925 which provides that I may, in the interests of public safety and security, by order declare specific firearms and ammunition as "restricted firearms" by reference to their category, calibre, working mechanism, muzzle energy and description. Officials of my Department are currently in discussions...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (31 Jan 2007)

Michael McDowell: The figures for headline offences recorded for each Garda Division for the year 2002 are available in the relevant Garda Annual Report, a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas library. Following the submission to me in 2004 of a report and recommendations by an expert group on crime statistics, I decided that the compilation and publication of crime statistics should be taken over by...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (31 Jan 2007)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 460 to 462, inclusive, together. I have been informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the personnel strength (all ranks) 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...

Written Answers — Explosive Substances: Explosive Substances (31 Jan 2007)

Michael McDowell: Under Section 104 of the Explosives Act, 1875 I may by order deem any substance, which appears to be specially dangerous by reason either of its explosive properties or of any process in its manufacture being liable to explosion, to be an explosive within the meaning of the Act. All of the restrictions relating to importation, storage, manufacture sale, etc., which apply to explosives apply...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (31 Jan 2007)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 467 and 468 together. I am informed by the Immigration Division of my Department that the person in question made a Family Reunification application in February 2005 by means of two visa applications. The application was forwarded to the Refugee Applications Commissioner for investigation as required under Section 18 of the Refugee Act 1996. This investigation...