Results 9,701-9,720 of 18,761 for speaker:Michael McDowell

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

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 344 to 347, inclusive, together. Headline crime statistics for 2002 to 2005 for the Garda Division of North Cork, which includes the Garda District of Fermoy, are contained in the relevant Garda Annual Reports which are available in the Oireachtas Library.

Death of Former Taoiseach: Expressions of Sympathy. (13 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: On behalf of the Progressive Democrats, I join other speakers in remembering and doing honour to the memory of Charles Haughey who died this morning after battling bravely with a relentless and mortal illness. I convey on behalf of all my party colleagues to his son Seán, our parliamentary colleague, our fondest and heartfelt sympathy on the passing of his father. Although circumstances of...

Mental Health Services. (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I thank Deputy Wall for raising the issue and I assure him I will bring his remarks to the attention of the Tánaiste. The management and delivery of services at Clonree House is primarily a matter for the Health Service Executive. The HSE has informed the Department of Health and Children that Clonree House opened in December 2005 to facilitate the refurbishment of another residential...

Graffiti Offences. (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am standing in for my colleague the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Roche, but I agree with every word the Deputy stated. Our response to graffiti has not been adequate to date and serious action must be taken on it. The constituency Deputy Gormley and I share has been under sustained attack in recent times. It seems to be spreading everywhere. I will...

Written Answers — Criminal Sentences: Criminal Sentences (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: Under the Courts Service Act 1998, the Courts Service — which is responsible for the day to day management of the courts — is independent in the performance of its functions. I am responsible for ensuring that the Service is adequately funded and resourced and, in this regard, €111.8m is provided for that organisation in 2006. Having regard to the compilation of a database of...

Written Answers — Garda Training: Garda Training (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: The inter-departmental group which is examining Irish language training for Garda recruits has met formally on two occasions. However, its members have also been in continuing informal contact on the issues under discussion. The Garda Commissioner had also established a working group to examine the teaching of Irish in the Garda College. I am advised that the two groups have liaised closely...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy will appreciate that policing operations and the deployment of Garda resources are matters for the Garda authorities. It is the responsibility of Garda management to allocate personnel to and within divisions on a priority basis in accordance with overall policing requirements. However, I am, of course, in regular contact with the Garda Commissioner in order to keep the measures...

Written Answers — Missing Persons: Missing Persons (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: In March 2005, I established a new Commission for the Support of Victims of Crime to devise an appropriate support framework for victims of crime into the future and to disburse funding for victim support measures. The Commission is entirely independent in its decision making and examines each application on its merits. The Commission received an application from the Missing in Ireland...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: On 9 May 2006, my Government colleague, Mr. Batt O'Keeffe, T.D. Minister for State at the Department of the Environment and Local Government responded on my behalf to an Adjournment matter by the Deputy in relation to this case. The response is on the record of this House. In that response, I explained that the processing time was primarily as a result of the increase in the volume of...

Written Answers — State Pathologist's Office: State Pathologist's Office (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: As the Deputy may be aware, I have already signalled the fact that I am exploring a number of possibilities aimed at further enhancing the services provided by the State Pathologist's Office. This exercise, which is taking place in consultation with the Chief State Pathologist, is in train at the moment and until such time as I have made a decision in this matter it would be premature to say...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I can inform the Deputy that I share the view expressed by the Chief Justice in April last that hastily-prepared legislation can sometimes lead to difficulties, among them the fact adverted to by the Chief Justice on the same occasion that it may be necessary for the Courts to interpret such legislation. It is one of the aims of the process of developing legislation within my Department in...

Written Answers — Legal Protection Measures: Legal Protection Measures (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: As the Deputy is aware, sections 18 and 20 of the Non-Fatal Offences against the Person Act 1997 make statutory provision in relation to the justifiable use of force in order to protect a person or property or to prevent a crime. Section 18 sets out the various purposes for which justifiable force may be lawfully used and not constitute an offence. The force used must be reasonable by...

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: In August 2005, I received a submission from the Garda Commissioner on the resourcing requirements of An Garda Síochána. The submission was based on the Commissioner's analysis of the policing challenges facing An Garda Síochána in the medium and longer term, including the implications of demographic change, the need to continue to combat crime and terrorist threats, and the requirements...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: In my reply to Priority Question No. 4 on 27 April 2006, I provided a comprehensive update on the significant progress being made in relation to civilianisation. I am pleased to inform the Deputy, that in the short time since that reply was given, further significant progress has been made. There are now almost 100 staff either working or in training at the Garda Information Service Centre...

Written Answers — Sexual Offences: Sexual Offences (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 20, 22, 37 and 48 together. There is no doubt that recent events have highlighted communications issues between my Department and the Offices of the Attorney General and the Chief State Solicitor. An examination of communications within the Office of the Attorney General took place some years ago that resulted in some administrative changes in that Office and...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I understand that on 24 May 2006, the Chief Whip's office received two separate draft private Members Bills by e-mail from the Bills Office with the request that they forward same to my Department. One of these was the Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill 2006 and the other was the Courts (Register of Sentences) Bill 2006. The message accompanying the Bills was that Deputy Jim O'Keeffe would be...

Written Answers — Asylum Policy: Asylum Policy (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have noted the very brief comments on asylum seekers contained in the section on Ireland in Amnesty International's 2006 Report. I am strongly of the view that the State has a comprehensive asylum system in place which is both fair and transparent and compares well with other EU States. Indeed this fact was recently acknowledged by a former UNHCR Representative to Ireland who is quoted as...

Written Answers — Residency Rights: Residency Rights (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: EU Directive 2004/38/EC on the right of citizens of the Union and their family members to move and reside freely within the territory of the Member States was transposed into Irish law on 28 April 2006. I am aware that this has resulted in the granting of more favourable conditions in certain circumstances to such persons than are presently granted to spouses/partners/family members of Irish...

Written Answers — Juvenile Offenders: Juvenile Offenders (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that as at 31 March, 2006 there were 95 Juvenile Liaison Officers (JLOs) working in the various Divisions throughout the country. JLOs are responsible for implementing the Garda Juvenile Diversion Programme, which provides an opportunity to divert juvenile...

Written Answers — Prison Education Service: Prison Education Service (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: Education units offering a substantial and varied curriculum are in full operation in all prisons and places of detention, with the exception of Cloverhill Remand Prison where the education unit is now expected to open in the near future. Education for prisoners at these units is provided by a cohort of teachers comprising 210 full-time equivalents, mainly employed by Vocational Education...