Results 7,561-7,580 of 18,761 for speaker:Michael McDowell

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.

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

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 240 of Thursday, 25th May, 2006; 440 of Wednesday, 27th September, 2006; and 93 of Thursday 9th November, 2006, and the written replies to those Questions. The position is unchanged.

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

Michael McDowell: The arrangements for the payment of Gaeltacht allowances are among the issues being examined at present by an Interdepartmental Group on the use and promotion of the Irish language in An Garda Síochána. This Group was established following the Government decision of 7 September, 2005 which approved changes in the eligibility criteria for entry to An Garda Síochána, including the...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (22 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that all members of An Garda Síochána are tasked with enforcing road traffic legislation, and the Divisional Traffic Corps in Galway supplement local mobile units in this task. I am also informed that a system which focuses on collision prone zones was piloted in Galway West Division and has proved successful in encouraging a compliance culture by all...

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

Michael McDowell: I can inform the Deputy that my Department has provided funding to the project, in question, since November, 1993. A grant of €180,000 was provided to the project in the current year. I can also inform the Deputy that the contracts for purchase of a site from Kildare County Council are executed, having been signed by a senior official of my Department in June, 2006. However, I am...

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

Michael McDowell: I have written to the Deputy today providing the detailed information sought in Parliamentary Question No. 283 of 24 October 2006.

Seanad: Prisons Bill 2006: Second Stage (22 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: We will put them on the register for Senator Quinn's panel.