Results 9,861-9,880 of 18,761 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Departmental Communication. (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: It is based on immense good will. The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the Office of the Attorney General have never had a closer working relationship than they currently enjoy.

Departmental Communication. (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: No.

Departmental Communication. (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: No. In response to the first question, the correspondence in question was directed to the then Secretary General, but without the name of the Department. That is the common way. If one was addressing correspondence to a Department in 2002——

Departmental Communication. (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I refer to the correspondence that was sent from the Office of the Chief State Solicitor to the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform in 2002. It was not dealt with by the Secretary General of the Department. It was dealt with by the criminal law division of the Department. The official to whom it was allocated immediately contacted the person in the Office of the Chief State...

Departmental Communication. (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: A note was taken of that by both parties to the telephone call in question. The note is still available.

Garda Deployment. (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: Deputy Healy 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 in regular contact with the Garda Commissioner to keep the measures and resources for...

Garda Deployment. (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I welcome the Deputy's acknowledgment that the number of gardaí has increased in the Tipperary division. I reiterate my earlier statement, namely, that the number of gardaí has, during the lifetime of the Progressive Democrats-Fianna Fáil coalitions, risen by 11%.

Garda Deployment. (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: It is 11%.

Garda Deployment. (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: It must be borne in mind——

Garda Deployment. (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: ——that this compares with an 18% increase of the strength of the force nationally. In addition, groups such as the national drugs unit, the Garda National Immigration Bureau and other national units that support local gardaí have also been strengthened. Second, as the Deputy has been operating with two particular parties in mind, he should know that when we came to office in 1997, we...

Garda Deployment. (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I will inform those organisations, as I have informed the Deputy, that from today, Clonmel will receive an additional four gardaí, Thurles and Nenagh will receive an additional three gardaí each, Templemore and Tipperary town will receive an extra two gardaí each and one more will be deployed to Cahir.

Probation and Welfare Service. (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: Part 5 of the Sex Offenders Act 2001 introduced a scheme under which the courts could order persons convicted of sexual offences to undergo a period of post-release supervision by a probation and welfare officer. As well as placing the sex offender under the supervision of the probation and welfare officer, the court may attach such conditions to the supervision as it considers appropriate....

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (7 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I assume the Deputy is referring to occupational pensions and not to the pensions schemes administered by the Department of Social and Family Affairs. The existing legislation as contained in the Family Law Act 1995 and the Family Law (Divorce) Act 1996 enable the courts to make a range of orders for ancillary relief in judicial separation or divorce proceedings. Such relief may include where...

Written Answers — Security of the Elderly: Security of the Elderly (7 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Private Security Authority was established under the Private Security Services Act 2004 as a statutory independent body to regulate and licence the Irish private security industry. Installation of all types of security equipment is one of the services for which licences will ultimately be required. I am informed that the PSA has already commenced issuing licences to contractors installing...

Written Answers — Refugee Status: Refugee Status (7 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: The refugee in question made an application for family reunification in January 2006. The application was forwarded to the Refugee Applications Commissioner for investigation as required under Section 18 of the Refugee Act 1996. When this investigation is completed, the Commissioner will prepare and forward a report to my Department. The application will then be considered by my Department...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (7 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: The visa in respect of the person concerned has recently been approved, and the notification issued. The notification was issued to the most recent address on record which is in Belgium.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (7 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Public Appointments Service has advised that it has received 2,044 applications under the recently advertised competition for Clerical Officer posts in the Garda Information Services Centre in Castlebar.

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (7 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: In my response to Parliamentary Question No. 247 on 29 March 2006, I informed the Deputy that in the case of the two persons in question, they did not have the permission of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to reside in the State for the period June 2003 to December 2003 and consequently, did not have the necessary reckonable residency prior to the date of their applications....

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (7 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: The application referred to by the Deputy was received in the Visa Office on 6th June, 2006 and is awaiting examination by a Visa Officer. A decision in respect of this application will issue in the coming weeks.

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (7 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 30 April 2006 was 12,408. This compares with a total strength of 10,702 (all ranks) as at 30 June 1997 and represents an increase of 1,706 (or 16%) in the personnel strength of the Force during...