Results 2,181-2,200 of 18,726 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (16 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: The old AIB premises at Main Street, Blanchardstown, was acquired by the Office of Public Works on behalf of the Probation and Welfare Service. As the intention was to renovate and extend these premises, using one portion as a local office and the other as a probation centre, planning permission was required. The proposed change in the use of the building would also have required planning...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (16 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities, which are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that as of 14 February 2005 there were 86 juvenile liaison officer, JLO, gardaí and eight JLO sergeants working in the various divisions throughout the country. In addition to this, the national juvenile office has a staff of one superintendent, two inspectors...

Written Answers — Garda Disciplinary Proceedings: Garda Disciplinary Proceedings (16 Feb 2005)

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 — Industrial Disputes: Industrial Disputes (16 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: I draw the Deputy's attention to my response to Question No. 692 on 26 January last in which I indicated that officials of the Irish Prison Service had re-engaged in discussions with the Prison Officers' Association at the Labour Relations Commission following on a determination by the Civil Service Arbitration Board on a number of financial issues. The position is that these discussions...

Written Answers — Juvenile Offenders: Juvenile Offenders (16 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: The Children Act 2001 is a fundamental revision of the law governing the treatment of children in conflict with the law and non-offending children in need of special care and protection. The principal considerations behind the Act are: prevention, through early intervention, is desirable; diversion, where a child has committed an offence, is the preferred option where society would not be...

Written Answers — Prisoner Reintegration: Prisoner Reintegration (16 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: As the Deputy may be aware, the NESF itself has, in November 2004, presented a report to the Taoiseach entitled, Fourth Periodic Report on the Work of the NESF, which the forum had prepared for the purpose of reviewing implementation and follow through, mainly by Departments and State agencies, on several particular reports it had undertaken and submitted over the period 2001-03 and including...

Written Answers — Crime Victimisation Survey: Crime Victimisation Survey (16 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: In July 2003, the Government approved my proposal that a regular national crime victimisation survey be carried out biennially as a valuable and useful complement to the information on crime already available, which includes the Garda Commissioner's annual report and the headline crime figures which I publish on an annual and quarterly basis. Such surveys would provide a more comprehensive...

Written Answers — Air Pollution: Air Pollution (16 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: Legislation governing road traffic law is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Transport, and I have been informed by his Department that there is no legislation in place governing air pollution limits for vehicles. However, I have been further informed by the Department of Transport that the Road Traffic (Construction, Equipment and Use of Vehicles) Regulations 1963, SI 190 of 1963,...

Written Answers — Review of Garda Structures: Review of Garda Structures (16 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: I have no plans to reduce opening hours or close any Garda station. It is the case that the use of Garda stations was considered as part of the major review of the Garda organisation structures under the strategic management initiative programme of modernisation which looked in detail at a range of areas within the organisation. The Garda SMI implementation steering group's final report,...

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (16 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 79, 92, 99 and 235 together. I have been informed by the Garda authorities, which are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the attested personnel strength of the Garda Síochána as of 11 February 2005 was 12,151, all ranks. The anticipated attested strength at end 2005 is 12,280, all ranks. The House will be aware...

Written Answers — Victim Support: Victim Support (16 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: In many European jurisdictions, victims have the status of a party to the proceedings and there is a much closer relationship between the civil and the criminal law. This jurisdiction, however, has a common law system, where the victim is a witness to, but not directly a party in, criminal proceedings. Provision for victims is made by a number of Government agencies as well as...

Written Answers — Missing Persons: Missing Persons (16 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the same level of investigation is undertaken in respect of all children who are reported missing in the State, regardless of nationality. When a person is reported missing the local Garda superintendent takes direct responsibility for the investigation and appoints an investigation team to include any specialised unit deemed necessary, for example,...

Written Answers — Documentation Costs: Documentation Costs (16 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: I wish to advise the Deputy that I have been made aware of reports that certain embassies may be charging particular amounts for the issue of passports to their nationals. However, the amount to be charged by a foreign embassy in this regard is not a matter for my Department, or for the Government, to determine. All applicants for permission to remain in the State on the basis of parentage of...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (16 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: The position is that the Government increased the strength of the Garda Síochána from under 10,800 in 1997 to 11,750 by June 2002. We have since increased the strength of the force to an historical high of over 12,200. As regards civilianisation, which is but one aspect of making more gardaí available on the streets, the Department is currently, as a matter of priority, reviewing the...

Written Answers — Sexual Offences: Sexual Offences (16 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: The tables below show the statistics in relation to rape offences from 2000 to 2004. The statistics for 2004 are provisional and are, therefore, subject to change. Comparable statistics for the years before 2000, which would show the current conviction rate, are unavailable and could not be obtained without the expenditure of a disproportionate amount of Garda time and resources. The...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (16 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities, which are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that on the afternoon of 9 February 2005, there was a uniformed patrol car and an unmarked detective patrol car in Ballyfermot available to deal with incidents.

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (16 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities, which are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that 1,421 recruits have graduated from the Garda college since 6 June 2002. This figure refers to those members who have successfully completed the student-probationer-education and training programme. I am further informed that a total of 1,177 members, all...

Written Answers — Omagh Bombing: Omagh Bombing (16 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: As outlined to Dáil Éireann on February 2004, the situation remains that I hope to be in a position to publish an edited version of the Nally report in the future. However, as I also indicated in the Dáil, this could not be done while criminal proceedings were outstanding against the person who made allegations to the Nally group. Notwithstanding the court outcome to which the Deputy...

Written Answers — Witness Security Programme: Witness Security Programme (16 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the review of the witness security programme, which operates under the direct control and administration of the Garda Commissioner, is at an advanced stage. The review includes consideration of, inter alia: the measures to support witnesses in court cases who may not wish to enter the programme; and current international best practice. I assure the...

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (16 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 89 and 108 together. In the case of Finglas Garda station, immediate priority is being given to build a new Garda station there and to that end I understand that the Office of Public Works has identified a suitable site at Mellowes Road, Finglas. I also understand that negotiations to agree terms for the purchase are being progressed by the Office of Public...