Results 5,181-5,200 of 18,728 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Crime Levels. (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: I cannot remember Deputy Jim O'Keeffe's question.

Crime Levels. (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: Yesterday I finalised some of those matters with the Attorney General. Some points caused difficulty and I hope to bring a raft of amendments to Government in the near future and to give them to the members of the committee as soon as possible thereafter.

Decentralisation Programme. (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: Under the Government's decentralisation programme close to 1,000 posts from nine agencies under the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform will transfer to seven different locations around the country. The details and timescales for these moves are published in the decentralisation implementation group's progress report to the Minister for Finance dated 30 June 2005 and are set out in...

Decentralisation Programme. (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: The Department will stay in Dublin but a number of other Departments are scheduled to leave Dublin. The main sections of the Department of Education and Science are going to Navan, while the Office of Public Works will also leave Dublin. There will be substantial buildings remaining which will become available to the State for the relocation of the Departments that remain in Dublin. In such...

Decentralisation Programme. (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: It made sense to get rid of it. A very large capital sum was obtained for it. We are also vacating an office block on Shelbourne Road, the site value of which would be €50-100 million. We are relocating the St. Stephen's Green office to rented accommodation for the moment but the plan is to put us into buildings vacated by other Departments when they move out.

International Agreements. (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: The ad hoc committee for the negotiation of a UN Convention against Corruption met at regular intervals at the UN in Vienna from January 2002 to October 2003. The convention opened for signature in Mexico on 9 December 2003 and was signed by Ireland on that date. In April 2005 a transmission was received by from the European Commission which declared regarding the UN Convention against...

International Agreements. (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: I share the Deputy's concern that we should ratify the convention as soon as possible, but there is a technical difference between Ireland and many of the civil law states. Such states are able to ratify international treaties, which, ipso facto, become part of their domestic law. We have a slightly different situation in Ireland as no international agreement forms part of our law unless it...

International Agreements. (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: I will not have the legislation out by then. If the analysis stage is complete, I may well be in a position to draft a memorandum for Government. To be honest, it will be sometime in 2006 before the text of the ratifying legislation is made public in Ireland.

International Agreements. (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: Many aspects of the convention do not require law as they can be carried out on a voluntary basis. There is very little that we cannot do in the spirit of the convention, in advance of its implementation.

Extradition Application. (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: The trade unionists should take a look at the background facts.

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am convinced that the Garda Síochána is by far the most appropriate structure within which to locate the enforcement of road traffic law and road safety. Road traffic offences are serious offences, which too often lead to fatalities and serious injuries. One of the main strategic goals in the Government Road Safety Strategy 2004-2006 and the Garda Síochána corporate strategy 2005-2007,...

Written Answers — Garda Disciplinary Proceedings: Garda Disciplinary Proceedings (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: The current position in respect of the five members of the Garda Síochána in question is as follows. One member was transferred on 24 June 2005 but is now absent without leave and has been taken off the payroll. One member retired from the force before his transfer was to come into effect. One member appealed his transfer to the assistant commissioner, human resource management. This was...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to the reply I gave to his Priority Question No. 3 of today's date, which sets out my position in the matters raised.

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 15 and 159 together. The Deputy will be aware that in October 2004 the Government approved my proposal to increase the strength of the Garda Síochána to 14,000 members on a phased basis, in line with the An Agreed Programme for Government commitment in this regard. This is a key commitment in the programme for Government and its implementation will...

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: On 27 June, I appointed Mr. Shane Murphy SC to conduct an independent review and undertake a thorough examination of the Garda Síochána papers relating to the making by Mr. Dean Lyons of false inculpatory statements in the course of the Garda investigation into the murders of Mary Callinan and Sylvia Shiels on 6-7 March 1997. Mr. Shane Murphy carried out his task in a timely manner and...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: As Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, I am responsible for the administration of the Department and a number of associated bodies and agencies which come within my Department's remit. There are currently over 20 offices, agencies and associated bodies under the aegis of my Department which carry out a range of diverse functions. These include head office, asylum services, the Data...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: The position is that while I have general responsibility for the liquor licensing laws in my capacity as Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, certain other Ministers, and their respective Departments, have responsibilities with regard to particular aspects. The latter include road safety legislation, public health aspects, consumer policy, matters relating to advertising and...

Written Answers — Prison Building Programme: Prison Building Programme (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: The proposal to develop a prison complex at Thornton Hall is proceeding subject to the relevant planning procedures. The decision of Fingal County Council to initiate an architectural conservation order for the site will be taken into account in the context of the statutory procedure provided for in the Planning and Development Act 2000. The Mountjoy complex will, when vacant, be made...

Written Answers — Garda Communications: Garda Communications (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Priority Question No. 4 today.

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: Work is underway, involving my Department, the Garda Síochána, the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, on drafting the guidelines which I, after consulting with my colleagues, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, will...