Results 9,761-9,780 of 18,761 for speaker:Michael McDowell

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

Michael McDowell: I am advised by the Garda authorities that 131 Garda stations out of a total of 703 stations have video interview recording facilities — almost 19% of the total. In its Third Report dated September, 2004, the Steering Committee on Audio Video Recording of Garda Questioning of Detained Persons reported that there was a total of 167 Garda stations with detention facilities that are used to...

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

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 73 and 210 together. Title IV of the Treaty establishing the European Community (inserted by the Treaty of Amsterdam) provides, inter alia, that the Council shall within a period of five years from the entry into force of the Amsterdam Treaty (1 May 1999), adopt certain minimum standards for asylum in EU Member States. The objective of the relevant provisions...

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

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda Authorities that plans to refurbish the Garda indoor firing range at Garda Headquarters are being advanced. A specification of requirements has been prepared with the assistance of an external company which has expertise in this area. In the interim, miliary ranges are being utilised to provide the requisite training for Garda personnel.

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

Michael McDowell: A Garda Superintendent from outside the relevant Garda Division has been appointed to examine the circumstances surrounding the arrest, charging and subsequent acquittal of the person in question. That report has not yet been received. I do not propose to publish the report when it is received but it may be possible to provide the House with further information at that time.

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

Michael McDowell: A Detective Superintendent from outside the relevant Garda Division was appointed immediately after the incident to carry out a detailed investigation into all the circumstances surrounding the person in question's arrest, detention and removal to hospital. The Garda authorities submitted a file to the Director of Public Prosecutions on the matter and furnished a copy to me also. The Director...

Written Answers — Traveller Community: Traveller Community (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: The question of recognition of Travellers as an ethnic group has been raised by some Traveller Organisations in the context of a number of international conventions notably the UN Convention for the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD). The CERD defines "racial discrimination" as any distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference based on race, colour, descent, or...

Written Answers — Departmental Transport: Departmental Transport (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: Car purchases for Government Departments and Agencies are generally organised by the Government Supplies Agency (GSA). Factors such as fuel efficiency and safety are taken into account in making such purchases.

Written Answers — Community Policing Fora: Community Policing Fora (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: Currently funding is made available via the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs to a number of Community Policing Fora which have been established in the context of the Government's National Drugs Strategy. There are two such fora operating on a pilot basis under the aegis of the North Inner City and Finglas/Cabra Local Drugs Task Forces respectively. A Community Policing...

Written Answers — Vehicle Regulations: Vehicle Regulations (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the complainant in respect of allegations of non-compliance with public service vehicles regulations in Athlone was interviewed but declined to make a written statement. I am further informed that the allegations have nevertheless been investigated by the Garda Síochána, and no evidence was uncovered to support these allegations.

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

Michael McDowell: The only correspondence which it has been possible to find in my Department which argued for the introduction of a defence of reasonable mistake as to age were in the context of the views invited from the public to the issues addressed in the Discussion Paper on the Law on Sexual Offences published by my Department in 1998. The Discussion Paper quoted the Law Reform Commission's...

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

Michael McDowell: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that permission to remain in the State has been granted to both of the persons in question and a letter notifying them of the decision has already issued.

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that both local and Dublin Metropolitan Region Traffic Division personnel are actively enforcing the three-tonne limit on Kennelsfort Road on a daily basis. From March to date fifty four summonses have been applied for in relation to this breach and eleven fixed charge penalty notices have also been issued. I am further informed that eight convictions...

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

Michael McDowell: Neighbourhood Watch was established in 1985 as a crime prevention measure for urban areas and there are approximately 2,600 Neighbourhood Watch schemes in operation nation-wide. Since its establishment, the Garda authorities have sought to encourage the active participation of the public in Neighbourhood Watch by encouraging and supporting communities to establish and maintain such...

Written Answers — Sexual Offences: Sexual Offences (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 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 response from the...

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

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 166 and 168 together. Whenever my Department becomes aware that legislation might be required, I would be informed and, depending on the issue, its importance and urgency, I would agree policy with officials from the Criminal or Civil Law Reform Divisions. Again, depending on the issue and its legal complexity, the Attorney General's Office and the Office of...

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

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 167 and 172 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 as...

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

Michael McDowell: I have made enquiries with the Garda authorities and the statistics relating to the number of convictions recorded for an offence under Section 1(1) of the Criminal Law Amendment Act 1935 for the years 2000 to 2006 to date are set out in the following table. Figures prior to the introduction of the computerised crime recording system are not readily available, and it would require a...

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

Michael McDowell: I have been advised by my officials that documents were removed from the family in question in December 2005 for further examination. I understand that one of the documents referred to by the Deputy is in the process of being returned to the family. An issue has arisen in respect of the other document referred to by the Deputy and further enquiries are being made by my officials. It is hoped...

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

Michael McDowell: I requested a further report from the Garda authorities in respect of the matter raised by the Deputy. I am now informed by the Garda authorities that when the person in question appeared in court on 3 January 2006 an adjournment until 7 February 2006, rather than a remand on bail, was granted in the case concerned. At a subsequent hearing on 17 February, the person in question was released...

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

Michael McDowell: An application for certificates of naturalisation on behalf of the two persons in question, who are both minors, was submitted by their mother, a naturalised Irish citizen, to the Citizenship Section of my Department on 14 November 2005. Due to the fact that applications on behalf of minors generally require less processing than standard adult applications, it is usually possible to finalise...