Results 9,721-9,740 of 18,761 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Anti-Social Behaviour: Anti-Social Behaviour (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I share the concerns expressed about anti-social behaviour and its effects on people. In many such incidents, vulnerable people, often the elderly, are subjected to serious nuisance and forms of harassment which cause significant and persistent distress and interfere fundamentally with their capacity to enjoy quiet and peaceful lives. Often such people are simply too frightened to stand up to...

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

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that an investigation file has been referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in this matter and that a response is awaited. I am further informed that additional Garda enquiries are currently being undertaken, including by way of mutual legal assistance, with another jurisdiction. The outcome of these enquiries will be referred to the DPP in...

Written Answers — State Airports: State Airports (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I understand that, pursuant to Article 29 of the 1944 Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation, all aircraft, if engaged in international air navigation and carrying cargo, must carry a manifest and detailed declarations of the cargo, in conformity with the conditions prescribed in the Convention. Accordingly, it would appear that the scenario envisaged by the Deputy is not one that...

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

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to the details of my reply to Question No. 15 of 27 April 2006. I have nothing further to add to that reply other than to indicate that I expect the Privacy Bill to be published within the next few weeks.

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

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 31 and 34 together. The Deputies can be assured that there is an enormous work programme in place to progress the refurbishment or replacement of specific Garda stations in order to bring them up to the highest standard. Between the start of 2005 to the end of 2007, the Office of Public Works will have spent approximately €112 million on a wide range of...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (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 the personnel strength (all ranks) of An Garda Síochána is set to rise to a record 12,641 today following 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...

Written Answers — Drug Seizures: Drug Seizures (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: One of the Government's key policing priorities for 2006 is to continue to target organised crime, including drug trafficking. Efforts under the National Drugs Strategy to tackle cocaine use in particular are broadly based to include measures aimed at both supply and demand reduction, including awareness initiatives. This increasing use of cocaine is, of course, a matter of great concern and...

Written Answers — Civil Partnerships: Civil Partnerships (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Questions Nos. 392 to 394 of 23 May 2006. My view is that many same-sex couples may not want to commit to an institution which imposes on them all the rights and duties of marriage. I am aware that many opposite-sex couples are equally reluctant to make this commitment. I also acknowledge that many same-sex couples are seeking full equal status with...

Written Answers — Immigration Procedures: Immigration Procedures (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am aware of the Chambers Ireland Study on Immigration Procedures which was published on 25 May 2006 and the recommendations made therein. The question of the most appropriate terminology for classifying persons as not being of Irish nationality is one which I intend to consider in the context of the forthcoming Immigration and Residence Bill. The Deputy will be cognisant of the predicament...

Written Answers — Garda Ombudsman Commission: Garda Ombudsman Commission (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commissioners were appointed by the President on the 10th February 2006, following nomination by the Government and recommendations by both Houses of the Oireachtas. The Commission is in a preparatory stage at present. I understand that the initial work of the Commission has involved study visits to their counterparts in Northern Ireland and the UK and initial...

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

Michael McDowell: I do not accept that the Prison Service as a whole is a failure. Over 3,000 people are provided with safe, secure and humane custody on a daily basis. I agree that there are aspects of the service which require improvement, and this has already been recognised by me and the Government. In this regard, work has already commenced on replacing approximately 40% of the entire prison estate. This...

Written Answers — Garda Ombudsman Commission: Garda Ombudsman Commission (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Garda Siochána Ombudsman Commissioners were appointed by the President on the 10th February 2006, following nomination by the Government and recommendations by both Houses of the Oireachtas. Given the complex and serious nature of the role of the Commission it is important that they be given time to plan and develop their systems before commencing operations. I understand that the...

Written Answers — Victim Support Services: Victim Support Services (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy may be aware that I had a meeting with the family of the victim in the case to which the Deputy refers. The discussions conducted at that meeting were held in private at the request of the family. It may also be of general assistance to know that the Health Service Executive is inviting the families directly affected by the recent Supreme Court decision to contact the National...

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

Michael McDowell: Operation Anvil commenced in the Dublin Metropolitan Region on 17 May, 2005. It is an intelligence led policing initiative, the focus of which is the targeting of active criminals and their associates involved in serious crime by preventing and disrupting this criminal activity through extensive additional overt patrolling and static check points by uniform, mobile and foot patrols supported...

Written Answers — Ministerial Appointments: Ministerial Appointments (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: The current Inspector of Prisons and Places of Detention, Mr. Justice Dermot Kinlen, was appointed to the post on a non-statutory basis with effect from 24 April, 2002. His appointment was for a period of five years and, as such, is due to expire on 23 April, 2007. In regard to my future plans for the post itself, I wish to advise the Deputy that I intend to establish the Office of the...

Written Answers — Deportation Orders: Deportation Orders (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: Between the period end 2001 to 1 June 2006 no persons have been deported to Afghanistan. However, during the period 1st January 2002 to 1st June 2006, 10 persons have been transferred to other EU States under the Dublin II Regulation.

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

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 45 and 75 together. The Sex Offenders Act, 2001 which commenced on 27 September 2001 sets out the obligations on persons convicted of a range of sexual offences. A convicted sex offender must notify his/her name(s), date of birth and current home address to the Garda Síochána within seven days of the conviction for the sexual offence concerned or, where the...

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

Michael McDowell: In July 2005, as part of a submission on the future resourcing requirements of the Garda Síochána, the Garda Commissioner proposed the recruitment of up to 4,000 reserve members as provided for in the Garda Síochána Act 2005. In response, and in the context of identifying policing priorities for inclusion in the Garda policing plan for 2006, I set the objective of the recruitment of 900...

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

Michael McDowell: The Criminal Justice (Trafficking in Persons and Sexual Offences) Bill is at an advanced stage of preparation and should be published later this year and enacted in the lifetime of this Dáil.

Written Answers — Tribunals of Inquiry: Tribunals of Inquiry (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: The resolution which led to the establishment of the Morris Tribunal was passed by both Houses of the Oireachtas on 28 March 2002. It requires the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, within 14 days of receipt of any report from the Tribunal, either to apply to the High Court for directions regarding its publication or arrange to have it laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas. The...