Results 9,741-9,760 of 18,761 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 50 and 59 together. I am informed by the Garda authorities that the table shows the figures available for murder offences recorded, detected, proceedings commenced and convictions, where a firearm was used for the years 1998 to 2005 and in 2006 up to 7 June. While no level of murder is acceptable, I would advise the Deputy that Ireland has one of the lowest...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the number of homicides and serious assaults recorded and detected in each year from 2000 in which knives were used are as outlined in the table. Offence Rec/Det Murder Manslaughter Assault Total 2000 Recorded 9 7 105 121 Detected 9 7 77 93 2001 Recorded 17 5 91 113 Detected 17 5 64 86 2002 Recorded 21 3 86...

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

Michael McDowell: In recent months, there have been several events of the kind referred to by the Deputy in O'Connell Street, Dublin, culminating with vigils at the GPO. I am informed by the Garda authorities that, in order to ensure disruption of traffic and of the general public is kept to a minimum, the Garda Síochána enters into discussion with the organisers of these marches to establish assembly...

Written Answers — Constitutional Challenges: Constitutional Challenges (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: As the Tánaiste has told this House, on 29 November 2002 my Department was informed in writing by the Chief State Solicitor's Office of an application seeking judicial review by the High Court to challenge certain provisions of the Criminal Law Amendment Act 1935, (The "C.C." proceedings). An official promptly phoned the Chief State Solicitor's Office to ascertain whether they needed any...

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

Michael McDowell: Following the enactment of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 in July 2005, the Secretary General of my Department requested the Public Appointments Service (PAS) to advise on the most appropriate recruitment process to source the best possible candidates for the members of the Garda Síochána Inspectorate. The PAS proposed a model which involved using a private sector partner with experience in...

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 as at 6th June 2006 was 12,375. This compares with a total strength of 10,702 (all ranks) as at 30 June 1997 and represents an increase of 1,673 (or 16%) in the personnel strength of the Force during...

Written Answers — Human Trafficking: Human Trafficking (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 56, 58 and 214 together. By its very nature, human trafficking is a clandestine activity and, owing to the intimidation associated with it, victims are often reluctant to come forward to the authorities. This is the experience internationally and, for these reasons, it is impossible to be precise about the extent of human trafficking into Ireland. In common...

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

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that Broadband internet facilities are available at Garda Headquarters, Harcourt Square, Store Street and the Garda College, Templemore. I am further informed by the Garda Authorities that broadband to provide telecommunications and Garda Intranet services has been deployed to 159 Garda Stations and has been ordered for a further 38 stations. In all, it...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my answer to Parliamentary Question No. 5 for today.

Written Answers — Refugee Appeals Tribunal: Refugee Appeals Tribunal (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: As the Deputy will be aware, the Refugee Appeals Tribunal (RAT) was established under the Refugee Act, 1996 in order to deal with appeals arising from negative recommendations in respect of applications for refugee status issued by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner (ORAC). The Tribunal has been in operation since November 2000 and is comprised, at the present time, of a full...

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

Michael McDowell: For many years the individual named in the Deputy's question has frequently contacted me on a personal basis on a very wide range of issues which are of interest to him. These contacts are sometimes made by phone and sometimes by writing. In relation to the specific encounter raised by the Deputy, the person in question had contacted me in the preceding week and had indicated that he was...

Written Answers — Gender Discrimination: Gender Discrimination (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: While there is a number of factors involved in the gender pay gap, it is generally agreed that the biggest factor is the difference between women and men in accumulated work experience, and women taking time-out of the labour force for child rearing and caring duties. Other factors include occupational segregation, educational and training differences, promotion policies within firms, the...

Written Answers — Garda Disciplinary Code: Garda Disciplinary Code (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: Work is currently under way in my Department in relation to the preparation of draft new Garda disciplinary regulations on the lines recommended by the Morris Tribunal. These new Regulations will completely replace the existing disciplinary procedures. It will be recalled that the Morris Tribunal, in its latest reports, was critical of those procedures, pointing out that because of the...

Written Answers — Law Reform Commission: Law Reform Commission (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I can inform the Deputy that a full list of the Reports of the Law Reform Commission since 1985 is on the Commission's website together with the text of each Report, and that an indicative list of the Reports which have been implemented, in one form or another, is also on the Commission's website.

Written Answers — Constitutional Challenges: Constitutional Challenges (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I can inform the Deputy that I was never made aware of a High Court constitutional challenge to the Criminal Law Amendment Act 1935. As the Tánaiste has told this House, on 29 November 2002 my Department was informed in writing by the Chief State Solicitor's Office of an application seeking judicial review to challenge certain provisions of the Criminal Law Amendment Act 1935, (The "C.C."...

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

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities that the murder of the person referred to is under active investigation by the Gardaí at Coolock Garda Station. A number of persons have been arrested and the investigation is progressing. To date a file has not been submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions and no person has been charged in connection with this incident. As this is an...

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

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner 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 18.1%) in the personnel strength of the Force during that period. The Deputy will...

Written Answers — Prison Drug Treatment Services: Prison Drug Treatment Services (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: On 2nd May 2006, I launched the new Irish Prison Service Drugs Policy & Strategy, entitled Keeping Drugs out of Prison. This new policy fulfils the commitment in the Programme for Government to publish the plan to end all heroin use in Irish prisons as well as my own commitment to achieve a drug-free prison system. The implementation of this Policy & Strategy has seen an intensification of...

Written Answers — Garda Vetting Services: Garda Vetting Services (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Garda Central Vetting Unit (GCVU), established in January 2002, currently processes vetting requests in respect of, inter alia, the following: prospective employees of the Health Service Executive (HSE); prospective employees of certain agencies funded by the HSE; childcare places funded by the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme; special education facilities; special needs assistants...

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...