Results 11,981-12,000 of 18,734 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Road Traffic Offences. (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: The requisite changes of the law will be introduced and pushed through with speed. I hope he will not consider it an indecent speed.

Road Traffic Offences. (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: I fully accept the points made by the Deputy but we have to remember a number of issues. It cannot be denied that the number of deaths on the roads has climbed relative to an exponential increase in the number of cars. With 800,000 cars the figures were roughly comparable to what they are now with 2 million people. That cuts both ways because in many parts of the country it is not possible to...

Road Traffic Offences. (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: A number of specific issues arose for consideration today. I compliment RTE on using a news programme the other day to highlight the issue. I was alarmed to estimate that 20% to 25% of the names of people who died in accidents scrolling up the screen were non-nationals. We have to get across to them that they have a collective problem.

Road Traffic Offences. (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am not doing that.

Road Traffic Offences. (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: I will have to revert to the Deputy on the latter question. I appreciate his point that on-line payment is a sensible way to deal with the matter. On the remuneration basis, I understand that a fee per item basis is being contemplated. That is the only way An Post can incentivise post office owners and managers around the country. It will not be a question of giving people incentives to hand...

Road Traffic Offences. (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: Most recent road traffic deaths have involved single vehicle incidents, which raises questions about individual responsibility.

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Reception and Integration Agency is responsible for the accommodation of asylum seekers through the policy of direct provision. Direct provision is the means by which the State discharges its obligations to provide for the basic requirements of asylum seekers. For the most part, this represents a cashless system with the State assuming responsibility for providing suitable accommodation...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: In relation to bail in general, I would point out to the Deputy that during the term of office of the rainbow coalition the number of prisoners on temporary release reached an all-time high of 20% at one stage. As a result of the action of this Government, this so-called revolving door system operated by the rainbow coalition has been stopped and the percentage of the prison population on...

Written Answers — Prisoner Rehabilitation Programmes: Prisoner Rehabilitation Programmes (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: I reject the Deputy's implication that there is any lack of commitment on my part to rehabilitation programmes for prisoners. The thrust of the Deputy's question displays a complete lack of understanding of the change process which has been ongoing for some time now. I remind the House that, following protracted negotiations and an arbitration process, prison staff voted, by a substantial...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: As the Deputy is aware, there is a statutory framework governing the asylum determination process in Ireland set out in the Refugee Act 1996 and it is not for me as Minister to determine who is or is not a refugee. The 1996 Act established two independent statutory offices to consider applications and appeals in respect of refugee status and to make recommendations to the Minister for...

Written Answers — Rights of People with Disabilities: Rights of People with Disabilities (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: The National Disability Authority report entitled How far towards equality? Measuring how equally people with disabilities are included in Irish Society, brings together statistics from various sources and uses this information to document the extent to which people with disabilities participate fully and equally in Irish society. The findings of the report derive from an analysis of...

Written Answers — Criminal Prosecutions: Criminal Prosecutions (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: The adult cautioning scheme referred to by the Deputy is an initiative of the Garda authorities developed in conjunction with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. This initiative, for which the Garda authorities and the DPP are to be commended, is a response to a recommendation in the 1999 Nally Report on the Public Prosecution System that "as a measure to reduce the volume of...

Written Answers — Deportation Orders: Deportation Orders (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: I would refer the Deputy to the reply I gave to Dáil Question No. 1085 on Wednesday, 25 January 2006 in which I outlined the position. The person concerned arrived in the State on 17 December 1999 and applied for asylum. His application was refused following consideration of his case by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner and, on appeal, by the Office of the Refugee Appeals...

Written Answers — Deportation Orders: Deportation Orders (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 and 33 together. The person referred to by the Deputy and her two children entered the State in January 2005 and applied for declarations of refugee status. Following consideration of their claims by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner and the Refugee Appeals Tribunal they were refused refugee status and deportation orders were signed in...

Written Answers — State Airports: State Airports (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 17 and 18 together. I have made it clear that the Garda authorities have informed me that any person with specific evidence that Shannon Airport or any other Irish airport is being used for any alleged unlawful purpose should share this information with the Garda Síochána, which would have responsibility for investigating such matters. Such an investigation,...

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that arising from a complaint made to gardaí at Fitzgibbon Street a search warrant was issued under section 48, Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001 by the Dublin District Court for the premises referred to. The search was carried out on 30 December 2005. The reason for the search was explained to the occupants and they were shown a copy...

Written Answers — Garda Systems: Garda Systems (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that they are currently carrying out an impact assessment in respect of the use of an automatic number plate recognition system by the Garda Síochána. This assessment includes the nature of the impact on current information technology systems within the force. I understand that a number of police services in Europe have already introduced automatic...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: I announced the establishment of the Garda traffic corps in November 2004. A strategic review of traffic policing was also published on that date. In line with the recommendations contained in that review, an assistant commissioner, traffic, was appointed on 22 February 2005. Between now and 2008, the traffic corps will increase its numbers to a complement of 1,200 on the following phased...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: On 15 January 2005 I announced revised arrangements for the processing of applications from the non-national parents of Irish born children born before 1 January 2005 for permission to remain in Ireland. The closing date for receipt of applications was 31 March 2005. A total of 17,907 applications were received. By 27 January 2006, permission to remain in Ireland had been granted to 16,696...

Written Answers — Garda Reserve Force: Garda Reserve Force (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 23, 46, 47, 52, 66, 69, 70 and 184 together. Section 15 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 provides for the establishment of a Garda reserve and the Deputies will recall that the measure won widespread support in the House during the passage of the Act. The Act lays special emphasis on training for members of the Garda reserve. The Act provides that the power to...