Results 10,521-10,540 of 18,733 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Security Industry: Security Industry (27 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the robbery of cash or goods in transit for the years 2002 to 2006, to date, is as outlined in the following table. Robbery of cash/goods in transit Year Recorded Detected Proceedings Commenced Amount taken € 2006* 8 2 1 1,514,301.00 2005* 44 10 4 6,235,992.46 2004 60 12 6 2,456,133.18 2003 53 10 2 1,855,383.46...

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (27 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: I can inform the Deputy that in July 2005, as part of a submission on the future resource requirements of the Garda Síochána, the Garda Commissioner proposed that, on achieving the current target strength of 14,000 members, we should proceed to expand the force to 15,000 members. Other issues in the Commissioner's submission included proposals for additional civilian staff, the...

Written Answers — Deportation Orders: Deportation Orders (27 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: I should first point out that charter flights are not the only means by which persons who are illegally resident here are removed from the State. For example, in 2005, a total of 396 persons were deported from the State, of whom 247 were removed on chartered aircraft and the remaining 149 on scheduled commercial aircraft. A further 209 persons who had first claimed asylum in another EU state...

Written Answers — Detention Centres: Detention Centres (27 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Children Act 2001 provides for the detention of children aged up to 16 years in children detention schools and children aged 16 and 17 years in children detention centres, separate from adult institutions. These provisions have not been commenced as separate facilities for 16 and 17 year olds are not yet available. In December of last year Government agreed a series of reforms of the...

Written Answers — Prison Building Programme: Prison Building Programme (27 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: I do not intend to reconsider my decision to relocate the Mountjoy Prison complex to the Thornton Hall site. As the Deputy is aware Mountjoy Prison needs to be replaced. Conditions in Mountjoy have been severely criticised by the Council Of Europe's European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. They have also been roundly condemned by the...

Written Answers — Prison Service Reports: Prison Service Reports (27 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: Eight of the 14 recommendations made by the Inspector of Prisons in his report on St. Patrick's Institution are either implemented or substantially implemented. Steps are being taken to implement in the near future four of the other six recommendations, which involve bringing new workshops and educational facilities into operation, accommodating only boys under 18 years of age in the 'B'...

Written Answers — Claims against Garda Síochána: Claims against Garda Síochána (27 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: The information requested by the Deputy in relation to court awards and out of court settlements in actions taken against members of the Garda Síochána in respect of assault, unlawful arrest or other breaches of citizens' rights is set out in the table below. As of 31 December 2003, there were approximately 750 civil actions taken against members of the Garda Síochána on hand. A detailed...

Written Answers — Garda Equipment: Garda Equipment (27 Apr 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 — 18.63% of the total. It important to state that only a proportion of these have detention facilities. In its third report dated September, 2004, the steering committee on audio video recording of Garda questioning of detained persons reported that there...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (27 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy refers to the survey into public attitudes on crime and law enforcement which was conducted by TNS mrbi on behalf of my Department. Looking at long- term crime trends, the level of headline crime in 2005 was lower than that in 2003 by 1.6% and that in 2002 by 4.4%. Furthermore, in 1995, when we had a population of almost 3.6 million, there were 29 crimes per 1,000 of the...

Written Answers — Garda Training: Garda Training (27 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: Firearms training forms part of all specialist training conducted by the specialist training unit under the authority of the Garda college. I am advised by the Garda authorities that they have the use of 12 Army firing ranges, countrywide, to facilitate Garda firearms training. The number of gardaí who carry arms on duty at any particular time is an operational matter for the Commissioner. I...

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (27 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the murder investigation is ongoing. The Garda investigation team has been supplemented by members from the Garda national support services and co-operation with the Police Service of Northern Ireland is ongoing.

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (27 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the investigation into one of these robberies has been completed and the investigation file submitted to the law officers. The investigation into the second incident is continuing and the investigation file is being prepared for submission to the law officers.

Written Answers — Garda Reserve: Garda Reserve (27 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my response to priority Questions Nos. 3 and 5, respectively, of today's date.

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (27 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to answer Questions Nos. 36 and 155 together. I regret that it has not been possible to obtain the information requested by the Deputies in the time available but I will be in touch with them when it becomes available.

Written Answers — Irish Prison Service: Irish Prison Service (27 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: Most strategies from the business plan in question have been either partly or fully implemented. Where problems have arisen they have related mainly to the need to impose financial restrictions across the Prison Service in recent years against the backdrop of the industrial relations situation prior to agreement with the Prison Officers' Association on the proposal for organisational change...

Written Answers — Anti-Social Behaviour Orders: Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (27 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have recently brought forward proposals concerning anti-social behaviour, including anti-social behaviour orders, as Committee Stage amendments to the Criminal Justice Bill 2004. The Deputy refers to the concerns expressed by the chief executive of Barnardos UK regarding the alleged routine use of anti-social behaviour orders for children in that jurisdiction. I assure the Deputy that in...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (27 Apr 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 the Garda Síochána as at 31 March 2006 was 12,439. This compares with a total strength of 10,702, all ranks, as at 30 June 1997 and represents an increase of 1,737, or 16.2%, in the personnel strength of the force during...

Written Answers — Garda Reserve: Garda Reserve (27 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my response to priority Questions Nos. 3 and 5, respectively, of today's date.

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (27 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: I presume that the Deputy is referring to the Dublin metropolitan region. 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 the Garda Síochána as at 31 March 2006 was 12,439. This compares with a total strength of 10,702, all ranks, as at 30 June 1997 and represents an...

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (27 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: An investigation file on the matter has been submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions and further inquiries are also being conducted. Ireland's anti-money laundering legislation and other measures were evaluated recently by the financial action task force, the leading international anti-money laundering organisation. The report of that evaluation contained a number of recommendations....