Results 10,541-10,560 of 18,733 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (27 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: I assume the Deputy is referring specifically to section 5(6)(a) of the Immigration Act 1999, which provides that a person who is the subject of a deportation order may, in certain circumstances, be detained for a period not exceeding eight weeks in aggregate. For the reasons set out below I am satisfied that this law fully conforms with international human rights standards. It is important...

Written Answers — Firearms Amnesty: Firearms Amnesty (27 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose bringing forward a range of measures to strengthen the law governing the control of firearms in the Criminal Justice Bill, 2004, which is currently before the House. These new measures include increases in fines and penalties generally for offences under the Firearms Acts and the creation of mandatory minimum sentences, of between five and ten years, for certain firearms offences,...

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

Michael McDowell: The Government's top policing priority for 2006 is to continue to target organised crime, including drug trafficking and the gun culture associated with it, through the use of specialist units and targeted, intelligence-led operations. I assure the Deputy that I am in regular contact with the Garda Commissioner in order to keep the measures and resources for tackling serious crime under...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (27 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: In December 2005, as part of a wider package of youth justice reforms, the Government approved the drafting of official amendments to the Criminal Justice Bill 2004 which will amend the Children Act 2001. The amendments were forwarded to the Ombudsman for Children on 20 December last. The Ombudsman submitted detailed advice concerning the proposed changes to the Children Act to my colleague,...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (27 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: Since the introduction of the new penalty points offences on 3 April, a total of 3,661 fixed charge notices issued for road traffic offences for the nine days up to 12 April. Of these, speeding accounted for 1,738 notices, non-wearing of seat belts for 382 notices and new offences, introduced on 3 April 2006, for 1,541 notices. An additional 60 members of the Garda Síochána, as well as 28...

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

Michael McDowell: The current prison capital programme takes account of Council of Europe Recommendation No. R(99)22 concerning prison population inflation. The emphasis in the programme is on replacing outdated and unsuitable prisoner accommodation to ensure that prison overcrowding does not occur.

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

Michael McDowell: Operation Anvil commenced in the Dublin metropolitan region on 17 May, 2005 with a view to addressing the problem of serious crime, such as gun crime, robberies and burglaries and combating an emerging gun culture. At my request, Operation Anvil is being extended outside the Dublin metropolitan region during 2006. I have also obtained funding to enable Operation Anvil to continue as long as...

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

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the personnel strength, all ranks, of each specialist unit within the Garda Síochána, as at 25 April 2006, is as set out hereunder. Unit Year of establishment Personnel Strength Special Detective Unit* 1922 302 National Bureau of Criminal Investigation...

Written Answers — Traveller Community: Traveller Community (27 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: The high level group on Traveller issues was established at the request of the Taoiseach to examine ways of producing a more co-ordinated response from State bodies in addressing Traveller issues with a view to securing improved outcomes. The group's report was published on 21 March 2006 following its approval by the Government. The report includes a wide-ranging set of conclusions and...

Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (27 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: Earlier this year I established the working group on domestic partnership. The group is charged with preparing an options paper, to be presented to me by 20 October. The group will consider the categories of partnerships and relationships outside of marriage, including those of same-sex couples, to which legal recognition can be afforded, consistent with constitutional provisions. I am...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (27 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: On 12 April 2006, Mr. Terry Davis, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, stated, inter alia, that, although a final analysis of member states' responses to his Article 52 inquiry was not yet completed, virtually no member state had proper legislative and administrative measures to effectively protect individuals against human rights violations committed by agents of friendly foreign...

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

Michael McDowell: I received a proposal from the Garda Commissioner within the past month seeking approval for the creation of 443 new sergeant posts and 73 new inspector posts. This proposal is primarily to cater for the substantial increase in membership of the force now under way. It also aims to increase the number of these posts in front line policing. The increase in strength of specialist units over the...

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

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 55, 158 and 163 together. The Private Security Authority, in conjunction with the National Standards Authority of Ireland, is currently developing a standard, which will underpin licensing for the cash-in-transit sector of the security industry. The detailed operational aspect of the standard will be a confidential document retained by the Garda Síochána....

Written Answers — International Terrorism: International Terrorism (27 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Garda Síochána maintains an up-to-date assessment of the threat of attack from international terrorist groupings through analysis of intelligence gathered from domestic and international sources. Security threat assessments of this kind are furnished by the Garda Síochána at regular intervals to the Government and me. Although it is not the practice, and it would be contrary to the...

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

Michael McDowell: I am in regular contact with the Garda Commissioner to keep the measures and resources for tackling serious crime under continuing review, and to this end I will continue to do ensure that every necessary resource is made available to the Garda Síochána. In this regard, I have been informed by the Garda authorities that the personnel strength, all ranks, of the Garda Síochána as at 31...

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

Michael McDowell: I share the concerns expressed about anti-social behaviour and its effects on people. In many such incidents, vulnerable people, often the elderly, are subjected to serious nuisance and forms of harassment which cause significant and persistent distress to the people concerned and interfere fundamentally with their capacity to enjoy quiet and peaceful lives. Often such people are simply too...

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

Michael McDowell: In his annual report for 2005, the Data Protection Commissioner states that the transposition of Directive 2006/24/EC on telecommunications traffic data into Irish law will offer an opportunity to review the provisions of Part 7 of the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Act 2005, which provides for the existing statutory framework for the retention of and access to telecommunications data...

Written Answers — Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal: Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal (27 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal is continuing to deliver on its core mandate of providing compensation to persons who have been the victim of violent crime and I pleased to be able to say that its financial allocation for 2006 is €5.041 million, representing an increase of 48% over 2005. Arrangements have also been put in place so as to facilitate the implementation by the...

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

Michael McDowell: On 7 April, I met with senior representatives of the major cash-in-transit companies, the major financial institutions and the Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland. I convened this meeting in the aftermath of armed raids on cash-in-transit vehicles in the previous week and two foiled attempts the previous day. At a very frank and positive meeting, I impressed upon all...