Results 9,561-9,580 of 18,761 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (21 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the table. 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 Grade PO 0 0 0 0 0 AP 0 0 0 0 0 HEO 0 0 1 0 0 EO 7 8 12 6 0 SO 0 0 0 0 0 CO 37 50 66 33 18 Total 44 58 79 39 18 * The method of recording this data changed in 2003. The figures for 2002 refer to the Head Office and Asylum Divisions of the...

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (21 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the personnel strength of An Garda Síochána increased to a record 12,641 (all ranks) on Thursday 8 June with the attestation of 273 new members. This compares with a total strength of 10,702 (all ranks) as at 30 June 1997 and represents an increase of 1,939 (or 18.1%) in the personnel strength of the Force during that period. I am further...

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (21 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I requested a report from the Garda authorities in respect of the issues raised by the Deputy. The person referred to attended District Court 53 on 31 May, 2006 following summons for an alleged offence of careless driving on 30 August, 2004. This prosecution was directed by the Director of Public Prosecutions. The summons was adjourned to the 28 November, 2006. However, the person referred to...

Written Answers — Garda Complaints Procedures: Garda Complaints Procedures (21 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: At the outset I should say that the tragic deaths to which the Deputy refers are unrelated save for the fact that both occurred following detention in Garda custody. The circumstances of the first case are quite different from those of the second case. In the first case, unlike the second case, all are agreed that the young man in question suffered serious injuries in a Garda Station. In so...

Written Answers — Prison Staff: Prison Staff (20 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Irish Prison Service is bound by the guidelines for the award of added years for pension purposes as provided by the Department of Finance. I have been informed that information was sought by the Irish Prison Service, in the first instance, from the Public Appointments Service in relation to the terms of recruitment of the officer concerned in order to ascertain whether he is eligible to...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (20 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: My colleague, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, on 13 June, gave the House a detailed account of the matter referred to by the Deputy. This followed a meeting with the US Ambassador on 12 June, at which the Ambassador conveyed his deep regret for the breach of procedures, and confirmed his authorities' determination that the use of Irish airspace and airports by the US be completely...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (20 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Land Registry is scheduled to decentralise two hundred and thirty posts to Roscommon and the organisation is actively pursuing its decentralisation implementation programme. I understand that negotiations by the Office of Public Works on the acquisition of a site for the permanent accommodation are at an advanced stage and construction is scheduled to be completed in mid-2009....

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (20 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that they were not advised in advance of a planned bomb attack on the Sinn Féin offices in Monaghan in March 1997.

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (20 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 386 and 387 together. Article 18 of the EC Treaty lays down the right of every citizen of the Union to move freely within the territory of the Member States, subject to the limitations and conditions laid down in the EC Treaty and by measures adopted to give it effect. The rights of Union citizens and their family members to move and reside freely within the...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (20 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: In order to avail of the Free Movement of Persons Directive a national of a non Member State married to a citizen of the Union must be lawfully resident in a Member State when he moves to another member State to which the citizen of the Union is migrating or has migrated. This principle has been established by the European Court of Justice in a ruling dated 23 September, 2003. The person...

Written Answers — Prisoner Transfers: Prisoner Transfers (20 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: The person referred to is serving cumulative sentences totalling 22 months for assault causing harm and handling stolen property. He was committed to custody on 22 September, 2005 and is due for release on 17 February, 2007. I am advised that this person has been subject to numerous disciplinary reports since his committal to prison custody for incidents such as fighting, assaulting...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (20 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Gaming and Lotteries Act 1956 prohibits casino-type operations, and I am strongly of the view that there should be no departure from settled policy in this area. As I already indicated in an earlier Parliamentary Question (No. 409 on 4 April 2006) I have concerns about the enforceability of the present law as it applies to casino-style operations and the scope for use of such operations...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (20 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Immigration Division of my Department has recently been in contact with the person concerned requesting particular documentation. On receipt of this documentation, a decision will be made on his case.

Written Answers — Closed Circuit Television Systems: Closed Circuit Television Systems (20 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: As the Deputy is aware Kilkenny is one of the 11 remaining locations nationwide which form part of the Garda CCTV programme. Following recommendations from the Garda authorities, I have approved the implementation of six new Garda CCTV systems. With the addition of these 6 new locations a total of 17 Garda Town Centre CCTV Systems, including Kilkenny, will be implemented in the following...

Written Answers — Sentencing Policy: Sentencing Policy (20 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: In general, prisoners are entitled to remission totalling one quarter of the sentence imposed by the Courts. There are exceptions to this rule, for example, life sentenced prisoners and persons serving sentences of less than one month, which do not attract any remission. The Courts are aware of the statutory entitlement to remission when passing sentence.

Written Answers — Sentencing Policy: Sentencing Policy (20 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Courts are, subject only to the Constitution and the law, independent in the exercise of their judicial functions. The traditional approach to sentencing is for the Oireachtas to lay down the maximum penalty and for a court having considered all the circumstances of the case to impose an appropriate penalty up to that maximum. This approach reflects the doctrine of the separation of...

Written Answers — Anti-Social Behaviour: Anti-Social Behaviour (20 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: As the Deputy will be aware the Criminal Justice Bill 2004 which is awaiting Report Stage in this House contains provisions to deal with anti-social behaviour. The Bill, as agreed by the Select Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights on 14 June 2006, empowers a senior member of the Gardaí to apply to the District Court by way of a civil procedure for an order which will...

Written Answers — Garda Equipment: Garda Equipment (20 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that there are sixty four evidential breath testing instruments (intoxilysers) in use by An Garda Síochána. The location of each is set out in the following table. Station Ashbourne Athlone Ballina Baltinglass Bandon Bantry Belmullet Birr Blanchardstown Bray Bridewell, Cork Bruff Buncrana Cahirciveen Carlow Carrick on...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (20 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I refer to my reply of 9th March 2006 to Parliamentary Question No. 195 and advise the Deputy that the case of the person in question is still under consideration. Officials from my Department have recently corresponded with the legal representatives of the person concerned to further process the residency application. On receipt of a reply to that request for information further...

Written Answers — Deportation Orders: Deportation Orders (20 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: The person in question arrived in the State on 18 January, 2001 and applied for asylum. Her application was refused following consideration of her case by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner and, on appeal by the Refugee Appeals Tribunal. Subsequently, in accordance with the Immigration Act, 1999, as amended, she was informed by letter dated 31 December, 2003, that it was...