Results 9,781-9,800 of 18,761 for speaker:Michael McDowell

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

Michael McDowell: I can inform the Deputy that Expenditure under the main I.T. Capital and Current subheads of the votes under my Department's aegis (Justice, Courts, Prisons, Garda, Land Registry) for the years 2000 to 2004 amounted to €172.933m (1.7% of total accumulated expenditure). Figures relating to 2005 are not yet available for publication. As the Deputy will appreciate, this expenditure relates to...

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

Michael McDowell: The Public Appointments Service (PAS) is responsible for the administration of the application process as well as Stage 1 (aptitude testing) and Stage 2 (interview) of the Garda recruitment process. I have been informed by the PAS that there was a total of 8,462 applications for the current Garda recruitment competition, 4,926 of whom sat the entrance exam. 2,872 (or 58.3%) of these...

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

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the figures relating to robberies involving hostages are not readily available and are currently being researched. They will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as they are available. I am further informed, however, that there were 51 incidents of false imprisonment offences recorded in 2005 and 46 in 2004. These figures relate to incidences where a...

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 — Garda Equipment: Garda Equipment (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I assume the Deputy is referring to the Forensic Science Laboratory which, although located in the Garda Headquarters complex at Phoenix Park, is in fact a civilian organisation coming under the aegis of my Department and not part of the Garda Síochána. The Laboratory staff both at leadership and subordinate levels are superbly well qualified and do a magnificent job in supporting crime...

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

Michael McDowell: In relation to the treatment of returnees to their homelands, it should be borne in mind that before a decision to deport is made in any individual case, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform must have regard to the eleven factors contained in Section 3 (6) of the Immigration Act, 1999 (as amended) and the provisions of Section 5 of the Refugee Act, 1996 (as amended) on the...

Written Answers — Courts Service: Courts Service (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: Statistics on community service orders are provided in the Annual Reports of the Courts Service, which are available in the Oireachtas Library. At present, figures are given for the Dublin and Limerick Courts only. The most recent report covers the year 2004.

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

Michael McDowell: The following table sets out the information sought by the Deputy:

Written Answers — Prison Accommodation: Prison Accommodation (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table. Institution Cells with accommodation for more than one person Mountjoy Prison 75 double cells, 15 four man cells and 1 six man cell. St. Patrick's Institution One triple cell Castlerea Prison Four 4 man cells and 20 double cells Cork Prison 109 double cells. Limerick Prison (Male) 104...

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

Michael McDowell: Statistics for the offences of unauthorised taking/theft of a mechanically propelled vehicle, recorded and detected for the years in question, are available in the relevant Annual Reports of An Garda Síochána, which are available in the Oireachtas library.

Written Answers — Courts Service: Courts Service (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: As the Deputy will be aware, the Bail Act 1997 amended the bail regime generally and gave effect to the terms of the Sixteenth Amendment of the Constitution. Section 2(1) of the Act provides for the refusal of bail to a person charged with a serious offence where it is reasonably considered necessary to prevent the commission of a serious offence by that person. For this purpose a serious...

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

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 185, 187, 193, 200 and 201 together. Let me say at the outset that the Gardaí are, in fact, conducting a major crackdown on organised crime, including drug trafficking and other types of organised criminality. The Deputy will appreciate that policing operations and the deployment of Garda resources are matters for the Garda authorities. It is the...

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

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 186 and 191 together. There is a particular overriding necessity, in view of the recent increase in violent crime involving firearms, to ensure that public safety and security concerns are given priority in any review of policy and legislation in relation to firearms. With this in mind I have brought forward a wide range of amendments to the Firearms Acts...

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

Michael McDowell: Statistics for offences under the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act, 1994 are available in the relevant Annual Reports of An Garda Síochána, which are available in the Oireachtas library.

Written Answers — Public Order Offences: Public Order Offences (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that no Garda District or Districts correspond to County Kildare. A number of Garda Districts include parts of County Kildare in their area. Accordingly, there are no figures available in respect of the county specifically.

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

Michael McDowell: As the House will appreciate, the deployment of Garda resources and the investigative methods used in murder cases are operational matters for the Garda Commissioner. In this regard, I am informed by the Commissioner that a number of National Support Units have been established, working under an Assistant Commissioner. These Units include the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation which...

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

Michael McDowell: Since 2002, the total number of ordinary judges of the High, Circuit and District Courts has increased from 101 to 118, an increase of 17 judges. The number of High Court judges has increased from 25 to 31, the number of Circuit Court judges has increased from 25 to 33 and the number of District Court judges has increased from 51 to 54. I have secured Government approval to further increase...

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

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the number of untraced persons recorded at the end of 2005 was 395. I am further informed by the Garda authorities that the Missing Persons Bureau of the Garda Síochána is responsible for maintaining data relating to missing persons. All cases of a person reported missing in suspicious circumstances remain open and under ongoing review and...

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

Michael McDowell: In the interests of creating a safe, secure and efficient cash-handling environment, a voluntary Code of Practice between An Garda Síochána and the service providers in the cash-in-transit industry, including the financial institutions, the Central Bank, the Financial Services Authority of Ireland and the security companies, was signed in 2005. Appropriate crime prevention advice is also...

Written Answers — Witness Security Programme: Witness Security Programme (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Witness Security Programme was established in 1997 in response to the activities of organised criminal gangs to facilitate those persons who are prepared to give evidence against alleged offenders. The Programme operates under the direct control and administration of the Garda Commissioner. It is not the practice and it would be contrary to the public interest to comment on the specifics...