Results 7,521-7,540 of 18,729 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Garda Equipment: Garda Equipment (22 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that following a tender competition, which was advertised in the E.U. Journal, a 3 year contract for the supply of motor bike equipment, to include the provision of helmets, leather suits, rain suits, boots, gloves and polo shirts was awarded on the 20th February 2006. The company awarded this contract is 'A.T. Uniform' and the estimated cost over the...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (22 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: The information conveyed to me by the Garda Authorities relates solely to this jurisdiction and I am informed that seventeen individuals have been prosecuted in the past five years for money-laundering offences. In addition, a number of 'money-laundering' schemes have been uncovered during Garda investigations into serious and organised criminal groupings. The Money Laundering Investigation...

Written Answers — : (22 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda Authorities that approximately €13 million in respect of payment cards was lost to the financial institutions in 2005. Of this, €4 million related to Automated Teller Machines (ATMs). Up to 2002, this type of fraud had been increasing by approximately thirty per cent annually but there have been slight decreases since then. It is anticipated that the...

Written Answers — Data Protection: Data Protection (22 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: The position is that sections 2(7) and 2(8) of the Data Protection Act 1988 (as amended by section 3 of the Data Protection (Amendment) Act 2003) contain provisions directly related to direct marketing. Section 2(7) provides that where personal data are kept for the purpose of direct marketing, any individual may request the data controller (the person who controls the content and use of that...

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (22 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 173 to 177, inclusive, together. As outlined in my replies to Parliamentary Question No.'s 205 and 208 of 14th November, there are plans under the Garda Building Programme to build smaller standard stations at Kilconnell, Athleague, Ballyforan, Cootehall and Drumshambo stations. Projects are progressed under the various Garda Building Programmes on the basis...

Written Answers — Sexual Offences: Sexual Offences (22 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that 988 persons were subject to the notification requirements of Part 2 of the Sex Offenders Act, 2001, as of 20 November, 2006.

Written Answers — Public Inquiries: Public Inquiries (22 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: Examination of the submission made by the Stardust Victim's Committee calling for a new public inquiry is at an advanced stage. It is expected that a detailed response will issue within the next three weeks. I can also inform the Deputy that my Department has advised the Committee that it will initiate and oversee a process intended to lead to the identification of the five unidentified...

Written Answers — Criminal Assets Bureau: Criminal Assets Bureau (22 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by An Garda Síochána that details of the activities of the Criminal Assets Bureau are contained in the Annual Reports of the Criminal Assets Bureau since its establishment in 1996. These reports are quite comprehensive and include details of the number of cases commenced, money frozen under the Proceeds of Crime Acts and details of money collected by the Bureau under...

Written Answers — Drug Seizures: Drug Seizures (22 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 181 to 184, inclusive, together. I have been informed by the Garda authorities that the number and estimated value of seizures of heroin and cocaine in the Dublin Metropolitan Region, North Division, which includes the Garda Districts of Santry, Coolock and Raheny for the years 2001 to 2005 are as shown in Tables 1 and 2. I am further informed by the Garda...

Written Answers — Drug Seizures: Drug Seizures (22 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 185 to 188, inclusive, together. I have been informed by An Garda Síochána that table 1 below shows the number and estimated value of seizures of heroin in the Garda District of Coolock, which includes Coolock, Malahide and Swords Garda stations, for the years 2001 to 2005. I am further informed by the Garda authorities that the number of proceedings...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (22 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: I assume the information sought by the Deputy refers to cases before the Courts under section 15A of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977. According to figures made available to me from the Courts Service, during 2005 80 persons were convicted under section 15A of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977 as inserted by section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1999. Of these 10 (or 12.5%) received a sentence of...

Written Answers — Tribunals of Inquiry: Tribunals of Inquiry (22 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: The issue to which the Deputy refers is still being checked and I will inform the Deputy of the results as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Court Procedures: Court Procedures (22 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: Section 40 of the Civil Liability and Courts Act 2004 provides for a relaxation of the in camera rule while continuing to respect the confidential nature of family law cases. The section also provides that nothing in a relevant enactment shall operate to prohibit the preparation of a report of proceedings in family law cases or the publication of the decision of the court in those...

Written Answers — Irish Prison Service: Irish Prison Service (22 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 192 and 196 together. Section 37 of the Prisons Bill 2006 allows the Minister to provide for charges to be made to prisoners for goods or services that are not generally available to prisoners or are not available on an unlimited basis. This would include telephone calls, access to electronic devices, private medical treatment or escorts provided outside the...

Written Answers — Prison Staff: Prison Staff (22 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: While Part II of the Prisons Bill 2006 provides for an option to outsource prisoner escorts should it become necessary at some future date, I have no plans in the current circumstances to pursue that course. The Deputy will be aware that agreement was reached with the Prison Officers' Association last year on a comprehensive Proposal for Organisational Change in the Irish Prison Service. A...

Written Answers — Irish Prison Service: Irish Prison Service (22 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: As part of the Project Management Structure for the Thornton Hall Development a sub committee of the Project Board was established to consider design issues. As part of the design process a delegation from the committee looked at prison systems in other countries. The terms of reference for this delegation was to inform the Thornton Hall Design committee of developments in penology,...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (22 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: The person in question made an application for family reunification under Section 18 of the Refugee Act 1996 on behalf of his wife in February 2006. I expect that a decision will be reached in this matter in the early part of 2007.

Written Answers — Radon Gas Levels: Radon Gas Levels (22 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: I can inform the Deputy that my Department is at an advanced point in a programme of works to relocate and enhance its Head Office accommodation in Dublin. It is intended, with the assistance of the Office of the Public Works, to take and follow best practice advice regarding radon testing of that and its other accommodation.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (22 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: I can inform the Deputy that the figure paid for energy costs for the year ending December, 2005 by my Department was €118,734.72. Data in relation to the quantity of energy supplied is not readily available. The suppliers of energy to my Department are the ESB, An Bord Gáis and Energia. I wish to further inform the Deputy that my Department is at an advanced point in a programme of...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (22 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: I can inform the Deputy that expenditure on water supplies, which includes bottle and filtered/chilled tap water, by my Department for the year ending December, 2005 was €16,860.24. Data in relation to the quantity of water supplied is not readily available. The suppliers of water to my Department during the period in question were Tipperary Water and Glenpatrick Spring Water.