Results 3,401-3,420 of 18,728 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (17 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: In regard to crime figures, the Deputy will be aware that on becoming Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, I arranged for the publication of headline crime statistics on a quarterly basis to improve the quality of information available to the public. While caution should be exercised in interpreting levels of crime between quarters, I am pleased to note that during my term of office...

Written Answers — Law on Defamation: Law on Defamation (17 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am pleased to inform the House that I am in the process of seeking the approval of the Government for the drafting of my proposals for a Defamation Bill. I intend to publish the details of my proposals following the Government decision on them.

Written Answers — Garda Equipment: Garda Equipment (17 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am aware of the matter referred to by the Deputy and of the strong views expressed by the Court of Criminal Appeal on the desirability of recording interviews with suspects in custody. The view of the court is very much at one with the conclusions reached by the steering committee on audio and audio-video recording of Garda questioning of detained persons in its latest report. The report,...

Written Answers — Public Order Offences: Public Order Offences (17 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: Strong provisions are already in place to combat vandalism and anti-social behaviour. The primary basis for the law regarding public order offences is the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994. Because of my concerns about the abuse of alcohol and its contribution to public order offending and broader social problems, I brought forward tough new provisions to deal with alcohol abuse and...

Written Answers — Immigrant Services: Immigrant Services (17 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: In March 2005 the Government approved the establishment on a non-statutory basis of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service, INIS, as an executive office within the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. It is intended to provide a "one stop shop" approach to services relating to the admission of migrants. This decision provides a platform for the establishment of the...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (17 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: The closing date for receipt of applications for the IBC/05 scheme, that is, the revised arrangements for consideration of applications for leave to remain for parents of children born in Ireland before 1 January 2005, was 31 March 2005. Some 18,000 applications were received. Of this number, more than 5,000 applicants have been granted temporary permission to remain and 27 applicants have...

Written Answers — Prisons Building Programme: Prisons Building Programme (17 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: The precise information requested by the Deputy is not readily available. However, an amount of approximately €45.375 million was spent on capital expenditure during the period 1995 to 2004, inclusive, on the Mountjoy Prison complex. The Mountjoy Prison complex includes Mountjoy male prison, St. Patrick's Institution, the Dóchas Centre and the training unit. This expenditure on capital...

Written Answers — Immigration Policy: Immigration Policy (17 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 26 and 62 together. Immigration policy is kept under review in my Department on an ongoing basis to ensure that the migration needs of the State are properly managed and that adequate structures and procedures are in place to do so. My Department has also progressed work on the development of the proposed Immigration and Residence Bill with a view to bringing...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (17 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: In regard to crime figures the Deputy will be aware that on becoming Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, I arranged for the publication of headline crime statistics on a quarterly basis to improve the quality of information available to the public. While caution should be exercised in interpreting levels of crime between quarters, I am pleased to note that during my term of office...

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (17 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that substantial progress is being made with the investigation into the crimes referred to by the Deputy, with searches being conducted by members of the Garda Síochána resulting in 26 persons being arrested and questioned. Firearm, drugs, cash and other property were seized during these searches. Two persons have been charged and are currently before...

Written Answers — Bullying in the Workplace: Bullying in the Workplace (17 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: I have been advised by the Garda authorities that there is no evidence to support the claims made by the president of the Garda Representative Association. I am further advised that the Garda Síochána has a comprehensive policy in place to deal with issues relating to equality, bullying, harassment and sexual harassment supported by a well defined and robust investigative and grievance...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (17 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my reply of today's date to Questions Nos. 5 and 6.

Written Answers — Industrial Disputes: Industrial Disputes (17 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: As the Deputy will be aware it is the Government's intention, in the event of industrial action by the Prison Officers' Association, to deploy members of both the Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces as necessary. The Deputy will appreciate that, for obvious security reasons, I am not prepared to outline the details of the contingency plans being made. I hope that deployment of the Garda...

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (17 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the Garda investigation, which is extensive both within and outside the jurisdiction, remains ongoing and active. Upon completion, a file will be submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions. All possible avenues of information that might assist in furthering the case are being explored, and a key focus is the links between the money seized and...

Written Answers — Garda Personnel: Garda Personnel (17 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the number of personnel who have been dismissed from the Garda Síochána in each of the years 1995 to 2004 and from 1 January to 13 May 2005 was as set out as follows: Year 1995 2 1996 1 1997 1 1998 4 1999 0 2000 0 2001 3 2002 2 2003 0 2004 3 13/05/2005 2 In addition, the number of probationer gardaí whose...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (17 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: The position is that persons in the State seeking asylum do not have the right to work pursuant to section 9(4)(b) of the Refugee Act 1996. However, as an exceptional measure — and before the commencement of the Refugee Act 1996 in November 2000 — the Government decided on 26 July 1999 to allow a certain category of asylum seeker to seek employment, while his-her asylum claim was being...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (17 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my answer to priority Question No. 6 of today's date.

Written Answers — National Women's Strategy: National Women's Strategy (17 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: An interdepartmental committee, chaired by my Department, and comprising senior officials in relevant Departments was established in January 2005 to take responsibility for the drafting of the strategy. The chairperson has advised me that he is satisfied that the committee is on course to complete its work by end October. A consultation group made up of the social partners and the National...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (17 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 38 and 260 together. I am informed by the Garda authorities that the following table shows the number of murders in which firearms where used in respect of each year from 1998 to 16 May 2005. As the Deputy is aware, the Director of Public Prosecutions is statutorily independent in the performance of his function and it would, therefore, be inappropriate for me...

Written Answers — Tribunals of Inquiry: Tribunals of Inquiry (17 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: The persons applied for and were granted the right to legal representation in July 2002. They were fully represented by counsel during the opening of the second module, the Barron investigation module, in Donegal in the summer of 2003. Work on that module was discontinued in September 2003 until June 2004, while the tribunal completed its hearings into and published its report on the first...