Results 9,641-9,660 of 18,729 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (13 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: An application for a certificate of naturalisation by the person referred to by the Deputy was received in the Citizenship Section of my Department on 28 February 2006. Officials in Citizenship Section are currently processing applications for naturalisation received in the first half of 2004 and, at the present time, there are over 8,000 applications awaiting processing before that of the...

Written Answers — Sexual Offences: Sexual Offences (13 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: Child sexual abuse is a heinous offence which cannot be tolerated in any civilised society. As far as I, and the Government are concerned, there will be no hiding place for those who are responsible for such vile crimes. In terms of specific action, the Government established the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse to afford victims of abuse in childhood an opportunity to tell of the abuse...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (13 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I wish to inform the Deputy that letters advising the persons concerned that residency had been granted to them were issued on 11 November 2005.

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (13 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006 amends, inter alia, the Gaming and Lotteries Acts 1956-86 to insert new values for the minimum stake and prize amounts allowed for gaming machines. Provision is also made to allow the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to vary the amount in stake and prize money in the future. As I indicated in the Adjournment Debate on 10th May, I...

Written Answers — Prison Committals: Prison Committals (13 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following tables. It should be noted that 11% (946) of all persons who entered the prison system in 2004 were immigration detainees, the corresponding percentage for 2005 was 9% (860). 2004 A total of 8,820 persons accounted for the 10,657 committals to prison in 2004. The breakdown by nationality was as follows: Nationality Total...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (13 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the Road Traffic (Construction, Equipment and Use of Vehicles) (Amendment) (No. 3) Regulations, 1991 provide an exemption from the requirement to wear a seat belt for the drivers of vehicles which carry eight or more passengers. Consequently the question of convictions does not arise.

Written Answers — Garda Remuneration: Garda Remuneration (13 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: This officer was discharged from the Garda Síochána on the grounds of ill-health on 14 November, 2004 and was awarded an ordinary ill-health pension and retirement gratuity. Under the Garda Síochána Pension Regulations a special pension is awarded only where a member is discharged on ill-health grounds as a result of an injury received in the execution of his duties. The Garda...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (13 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the personnel strength (all ranks) of An Garda Síochána rose to a record 12,641 on 8 June 2006 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 have been further...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (13 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the personnel strength (all ranks) of An Garda Síochána rose to a record 12,641 on 8 June 2006 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 have been further...

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (13 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: There are currently no plans to establish a Garda Sub-Station in the ward three area of Waterford City. The Garda authorities point out that the opening of any new Garda station would necessitate the deployment of additional Garda personnel to indoor administrative duties. Such personnel can be utilised more effectively in providing a visible Garda presence on outdoor policing duties.

Written Answers — Criminal Prosecutions: Criminal Prosecutions (13 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Government places a high priority on putting into place measures aimed at tackling crimes of rape, sexual assault and other crimes of a sexual nature. All sexual offence cases are the subject of rigorous investigation by the Gardaí. All available resources are employed in respect of all sex offence cases to bring these investigations to a successful conclusion. Investigation files are...

Written Answers — Ministerial Responsibilities: Ministerial Responsibilities (13 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Irish criminal justice system has served the people well since the foundation of the State. In particular, our criminal justice system has acted down the years as a vital bulwark, protecting our citizens from the very real threat posed to the State from subversion and terrorism. Political accountability for the criminal justice system is vested in the Minister for Justice. As the current...

Written Answers — Prison Therapeutic Services: Prison Therapeutic Services (13 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: There are three forms of direct therapeutic intervention for sex offenders currently operating within the Irish prison system. These are as follows: individual counselling from the Irish Prison Service's Psychology Service and from the Probation and Welfare Service; the Sex Offender Programme which has been in operation since 1994; and one-to-one interventions by visiting psychiatrists who...

Written Answers — Garda Equipment: Garda Equipment (13 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I presume that the Deputy is in fact referring to my reply to Parliamentary Question no. 531 of 30 May 2006. In response I can confirm that 21 Garda stations in the Sligo/Leitrim Division do not have fax machines.

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (13 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: The parents of the persons in question were granted permission to remain in the State in accordance with the revised arrangements for parents of an Irish child born before 1 January 2005, commonly referred to as the IBC/05 scheme. The persons concerned have applied for permission to remain in the State on the basis that they are dependents of people granted residency under the IBC/05 scheme....

Written Answers — Drugs in Prisons: Drugs in Prisons (13 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: As I have repeatedly stated, no level of illegal drug consumption in a prison setting is acceptable to me or to the prison authorities. It is my intention and that of the Irish Prison Service to take all necessary measures to eliminate drug misuse among prisoners. There are currently a range of measures employed in the Irish Prison Service with the aim of eliminating both the supply of and...

Written Answers — Drugs in Prisons: Drugs in Prisons (13 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: The new Irish Prison Service Policy and Strategy, entitled Keeping Drugs out of Prisons fulfils the commitment in the Programme for Government to publish a plan to end all heroin use in Irish prisons as well as my own commitment to achieving a drug-free prison system. The new Policy and Strategy provides, for the first time, a coordinated and consistent national approach to eliminating the...

Written Answers — Drugs in Prisons: Drugs in Prisons (13 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I can advise the Deputy that the Irish Prison Service is currently drafting a document which will provide detailed instruction and guidance on the implementation of Mandatory Drug Testing.

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (13 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: On 28 April, 2006 I made the European Communities (Free Movement of Persons) Regulations 2006 which transposed into Irish law the European Directive on the right of citizens of the Union and their family members to move and reside freely within the territory of the Member States. The Directive replaced nine previous Directives and amended one European Regulation, No. 1612/68, on the freedom...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (13 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: In line with international practice I introduced a fee for immigration registration certificates with effect from May 27 2006. The introduction of such a fee had been flagged both in the Immigration Act 2004, and in the discussion document containing the outline policy proposals for an Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill. Non-EEA nationals who register with an immigration registration...