Results 6,941-6,960 of 18,761 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (12 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: The application referred to by the Deputy was received in the Dublin Visa Office on 30th November, 2006. A decision in respect of the application in question will be made in the coming weeks.

Written Answers — Prison Staff: Prison Staff (12 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am advised that the Irish Prison Service (IPS) currently has 31 people in the Information Technology Directorate in its headquarters in Clondalkin. The grades are 1 Assistant Principal Officer, 7 Higher Executive Officers, 3 Executive Officers and 1 Clerical Officer. In addition there are currently 19 IT contract staff working in the IT Section on foot of a contract which was awarded to...

Written Answers — Freedom of Information: Freedom of Information (12 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: Section 40 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 provides that the Secretary General of my Department can request information, including documentation, from the Garda Commissioner as part of the process whereby the Garda Commissioner accounts to me as Minister and to the Government for his functions. The circumstances surrounding the Deputy's question arise from a Freedom of Information request to...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (12 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that there has been no discernible increase in the number of anti-social/public disorder incidents in the Fethard area and the number remains small. I am also informed that one Sergeant and one Garda are currently allocated to the Garda sub-district of Fethard. I am further informed that local Garda management has an initiative to address the issue of...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (12 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 209 and 210 together. The information requested by the Deputy is set out as follows: Civil Servants Private Office Constituency Office 1 Private Secretary 2 Executive Officers 2 Executive Officers 3 Clerical Officers 1 Clerical Officer Political Appointees Private Office Constituency Office 2 Special Advisers 1 Personal Assistant 1 Personal...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (12 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: The application referred to by the Deputy was received in the Dublin Visa Office on 11th December, 2006. A decision in respect of the application in question will be made in the coming weeks.

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (12 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: The position in relation to granting long term residency is as follows: Persons who have been legally resident in the State for over five years on the basis of work permit/work authorisation/work visa conditions may apply to the Immigration Division of my Department for a five year residency extension. In that context they may also apply to be exempt from employment permit requirements. The...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (12 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: An application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to in the Deputy's question was received in the Citizenship Division of my Department in June 2004. Processing of the application has commenced and it has been determined that although the applicant did not satisfy the residency requirements for Citizenship at the date of application, she now fulfils that...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (12 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: An application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to in the Deputy's question was received in the Citizenship Division of my Department on 3 May 2006. The average processing time for such applications is approximately 24 months. If her application is successful, the applicant may then apply for an Irish passport. In the meanwhile, it is her responsibility to ensure...

Written Answers — Prison Committals: Prison Committals (12 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: I would like to inform the Deputy that there are a number of legislative, operational and administrative changes under way which will see the transfer of responsibility for the detention of young offenders under 18 years of age, ordered to be detained by the Courts, from the Department of Education and Science and the Irish Prison Service to the Irish Youth Justice Service in my Department....

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (12 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: The procurement process for a service provider to provide and operate safety cameras throughout the State is taking place under national and EU rules. On 24 November a Request for Information, seeking Candidates interested in providing the service, issued on the government and public procurement website www.etenders.gov.ie and a notice was published in the Official Journal of the EU. The...

Written Answers — Airport Security: Airport Security (7 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 and 51 together. Aviation security arrangements at Irish airports are kept under continuous review by both the Department of Transport and the National Civil Aviation Security Committee. That Committee is chaired by the Department of Transport, and both my Department and the Garda Síochána are represented on it, together with a range of other key...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (7 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: Published crime figures provide information on the number of homicide offences committed each year. I am informed by the Garda authorities that there have been 20 murders with firearms since the beginning of this year to 6 December. There were 19 murders with firearms recorded for the same period in 2005. All killings, regardless of the circumstances involved, are the subject of a rigorous...

Written Answers — Garda Reserve: Garda Reserve (7 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: I refer to my earlier answer to Priority Question number 3 of today's date (Ref. 42179/06).

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (7 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: 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 on Thursday, 16 November, 2006, following the attestation of 299 new members. This compares with a total strength of 10,702 (all ranks) as at 30 June, 1997 and represents an...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (7 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 14 and 30 together. The Options Paper on Domestic Partnership prepared by a Working Group established by me in March 2006 was published on 28 November 2006. The Options paper focuses on three distinct types of non-married cohabiting relationships: opposite-sex couples, same-sex couples, and non-conjugal relationships. The Paper presents various options for...

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (7 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am advised by the Garda authorities that of the 167 Garda Stations which have detention facilities and custody arrangements for the questioning of suspects, some 131 are currently equipped for the video recording of interviews with suspects. This represents 78% of the Garda stations with detention facilities. Where a Garda station is not equipped with an audio/video system, a person to...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (7 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 and 29 together. Work on the Scheme of the Judicial Council Bill is at an advanced stage of development in my Department and I expect to be in a position to bring it to Government for approval in early 2007. The Bill will build on the Report of the Committee on Judicial Conduct and Ethics chaired by the former Chief Justice Ronan Keane. That Report...

Written Answers — Civilianisation Programme: Civilianisation Programme (7 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am pleased to be able to continue to report significant progress with regard to the implementation of the programme of civilianisation in An Garda Síochána. I have provided this House with updates on Garda civilianisation on a number of occasions this year and propose to take this opportunity to recap and elaborate on some particularly noteworthy developments in this regard. A key...

Written Answers — Sentencing Policy: Sentencing Policy (7 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 18 and 74 together. The question of consistency in sentencing and the appropriateness of sentences in particular cases is undoubtedly an issue which raises concerns from time to time. It is common in some courts for a Judge to publicly state the reasons for his/her choice of sentence but I would accept that this practice is not universal. I would certainly...