Results 12,001-12,020 of 18,734 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Prisoner Transfers: Prisoner Transfers (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has not received a formal application for a transfer to this country in respect of this person from the United States authorities. An expression of interest for transfer to a prison in this country from the person referred to by the Deputy was received in my Department on 23 August 2004. In line with the convention, my Department wrote to the US...

Written Answers — Firearms Regulation: Firearms Regulation (2 Feb 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 — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have indicated previously that I regard the provision of adequate and proper accommodation for the Garda Síochána as a very important issue. There are in excess of 700 Garda stations in the country. This figure does not include major complexes like Garda Headquarters in the Phoenix Park in Dublin, the Garda College in Templemore and other units of accommodation. The Deputy will appreciate...

Written Answers — Prison Education Service: Prison Education Service (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 27, 56, 64 and 65 together. I am informed by the Director General of the Irish Prison Service that construction of the Cloverhill education unit commenced in 2002 and was virtually completed in 2003. The unit comprises a physical education section and six classrooms — one for art-craft, an open learning centre, a computer classroom and three general...

Written Answers — Missing Persons: Missing Persons (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 28 and 36 together. Funding of €110,000 in respect of a national missing persons helpline made available by my Department in 2002 and 2003 was channelled through the Victim Support organisation, and was in addition to the ongoing funding that organisation received for the provision of services to victims of crime. This funding of €110,000 was provided...

Written Answers — Juvenile Offenders: Juvenile Offenders (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 29 and 61 together. In October 2004, the Government endorsed a joint proposal from the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform and from the Minister for children to examine the scope for rationalising and restructuring the delivery of the State's services in the area of youth justice in accordance with the Children Act 2001. To this end, the Minister...

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

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 30, 178 and 179 together. The Garda Síochána employs a range of techniques in the fight against serious crime. The establishment of specialist Garda units, operating under an assistant commissioner in charge of national support services, has enabled the Garda Síochána to tackle organised crime effectively. The National Bureau of Criminal Investigation is...

Written Answers — Sexual Offences: Sexual Offences (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: As of 30 January 2006, there were 253 prisoners serving sentences for sexual offences. These prisoners were accommodated in the following institutions: Arbour Hill, 84; Castlerea Prison, 20; Cork Prison, five; Limerick Prison, four; Midlands Prison, 77; Mountjoy (female) Prison, one; Mountjoy (male) Prison, two; St. Patrick's Institution, five; and Wheatfield Prison, 55. There are three forms...

Written Answers — Prison Medical Service: Prison Medical Service (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed that the prisoner concerned has been seen on a frequent basis by the visiting psychiatric service to the prison, most recently on 6 January last. I also understand that he is scheduled to be further reviewed by the visiting psychiatric service in the future. In the circumstances, I am satisfied that he is currently receiving appropriate care within the prison system.

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

Michael McDowell: The person in question made an application for asylum on 18 October 1999. This application was refused on 17 August 2001 and appealed on 10 September 2001 to the Refugee Appeals Tribunal. The appeal was refused on the 18 February 2002 and a notification of proposal to deport from the State under section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999 together with the refusal to grant a declaration of refugee...

Written Answers — Civil Partnership: Civil Partnership (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: As indicated by the Taoiseach on 24 January 2006 at the launch of the All-Party Oireachtas Committee on the Constitution Report on the Family, I am in the process of establishing a working group to prepare an options paper on civil partnership. The group will consider the categories of partnerships and relationships outside of marriage, including same-sex couples, to which legal recognition...

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

Michael McDowell: As the Deputy will be aware, the information requested in December 2005 in relation to the number of gardaí serving in each Garda station in each county was not readily available in the detail sought at the time. The information requested has now been compiled by the Garda authorities and I have issued it to Deputy Costello.

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

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my response to Question No. 102 of 23 November 2005. I would remind the Deputy that the civilianisation programme approved by Government in 2001 is to be implemented on a phased basis over a number of years. I am pleased to point out that significant progress has been made with the appointment of 113 civilian finance officers who are doing the district finance officer...

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: Funding is made available through the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs to several community policing fora which have arisen in the context of the Government's national drugs strategy. Two such fora operate on a pilot basis under the aegis of the north inner city and Finglas-Cabra local drugs task forces respectively. The north inner city community policing forum was...

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

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of Garda resources, including personnel, that the personnel strength of Laytown Garda station as at 31 January 2006 was eight — all ranks. I am further advised that there are no plans to extend the opening hours of Laytown Garda station. The extension of the opening hours at the station would only serve...

Written Answers — Prison Accommodation: Prison Accommodation (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 41 and 45 together. There is no plan to transfer part of the Mountjoy Prison site to the Mater Hospital. I have asked the Office of Public Works to prepare a development plan for the site. When finalised, this plan will include detailed proposals for the utilisation and development of the site and will also take account of issues to include heritage and...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: The person in question made an application for permission to remain in the State on the basis of his marriage to an Irish national in September 2004. Marriage to an Irish national does not grant any automatic right to enter or reside in the State solely on that basis. Applications of this type are dealt with on a strict chronological basis and, in fairness to all other applicants, take...

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

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that no rooms in Wexford Garda station were equipped with audio or video equipment on 10 October 2002. As I indicated in reply to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 532 of 8 November 2005 and 474 of 22 November 2005, the equipment was installed in Wexford Garda station on 16 October 2002.

Written Answers — Ministerial Responsibilities: Ministerial Responsibilities (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: It is open to any citizen to make representations to a public representative and it would be inappropriate for me to intervene in this matter.

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

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that an investigation file on this tragic death was referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions, DPP. Having considered the matter, he issued directions that no prosecution should ensue. The legal representatives of the family of the person referred to have been informed of the DPP's directions. My Department has today been furnished with a copy of...