Results 5,201-5,220 of 18,728 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: The Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme, EOCP, 2000-2006, which is implemented by my Department, has been an important landmark development in Irish child care policy. As this very successful investment programme draws to its final stage, the full range of child care issues and how we should best address them are being critically examined in a number of fora. In addition to consideration...

Written Answers — Ministerial Appointments: Ministerial Appointments (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 23 and 25 together. The method of selection of the members of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission is set out in the Garda Síochána Act 2005, which provides that they are to be appointed by the President on the nomination of the Government and the passage of resolutions by both Houses of the Oireachtas. I am pleased that progress has been made on the...

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

Michael McDowell: I am currently considering my response to a number of communications received by and on behalf of the person in question dealing with, inter alia, the matters raised by the Deputy. My response will issue in due course.

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

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the number of gardaí unavailable for service due to illness, ill health, incapacity or otherwise on 17 October 2005 was 88. This refers to those members of the Garda Síochána who are on long-term sick leave. I am further advised that the total number of...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: The current seven year Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme, EOCP, 2000-2006 has an equal opportunities and social inclusion perspective and facilitates the further development and expansion of child care facilities to address the needs of parents in reconciling their child care needs with their participation in employment, education and training. The EOCP aims to increase the supply of...

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

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities that the number of gardaí currently suspended is 27, all ranks, which represents about 0.2% of the force. Of these 27 members, the vast majority, 23 members, are suspended for a year or less. However, I have learnt from the information supplied to me on foot of the Deputy's inquiry that four members are suspended for considerably longer periods....

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: All killings, regardless of the circumstances involved, are the subject of rigorous investigation by the Garda Síochána. While the term "gangland killings" tends to be widely used in the media in referring to the nature of certain unlawful killings and speculation in this respect is understandable, this does not correspond to the manner in which the Garda Síochána classifies crime or...

Written Answers — Prison Accommodation: Prison Accommodation (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: I have been made aware of the contents of the inspector's report on Cork Prison. Cork Prison had an original design capacity of 150 persons and has a current bed capacity figure of 263. On 18 October 2005, the number of persons detained there was 231. As mentioned in the inspector's report, the variance between the design capacity and the bed capacity is as a result of "doubling up" cells...

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

Michael McDowell: The Deputy will be aware that the system in question was a generic IT system selected for the Civil Service as a whole. However, specific human resource management requirements apply in the Irish Prison Service that do not arise elsewhere in the Civil Service. These include dealing with staff who work a 24 hour, seven day week on rostered irregular hours and who incur high levels of sick...

Written Answers — Closed Circuit Television Systems: Closed Circuit Television Systems (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: CCTV systems installed for the purposes of crime prevention and as aids to policing, which cover areas to which the general public routinely have access, such as town centres, fall into two distinct categories: Garda CCTV systems and community based CCTV systems. The community based CCTV scheme is not intended as a replacement for Garda CCTV systems but rather as a means to assist communities...

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

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the Garda member concerned was the subject of an investigation pursuant to the Garda Síochána (Discipline) Regulations 1989 in respect of correspondence forwarded to the Dáil and Seanad. These proceedings were later withdrawn and no action was taken against the member. I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that he is not aware that the member...

Written Answers — Prison Education Service: Prison Education Service (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: I have noted the comments contained in the report of the Inspector of Prisons regarding the training unit at Mountjoy. The future delivery of services provided at the training unit is the subject of active consideration by the Irish Prison Service. A final decision on the matter will have regard to all the relevant factors involved, including location.

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: The information requested is contained in the following tables. Table 1: Number of applications for asylum received and the number of recommendations by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner* to grant Refugee Status (at first instance) in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005** 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005** No. of applications received 10,938 10,325 11,634...

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

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 36 and 47 together. I am informed by the Garda authorities that the total number of gardaí, of all ranks, allocated to traffic duties as at 19 October 2005 was 574. A further seven gardaí, of all ranks, are attached to the Garda national traffic bureau based at Garda headquarters. While the members of the traffic corps are specifically dedicated to traffic...

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

Michael McDowell: As indicated in the Government legislative programme, announced by the Chief Whip on 27 September 2005, the Defamation Bill is in the course of being drafted with a view to being published in early 2006. As part of the process of reform in this area, an expert group has been established, chaired by Mr. Brian Murray SC, to consider and prepare an appropriate legislative basis for the...

Written Answers — Legal Aid Service: Legal Aid Service (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am aware of the publication in question. The position is that my Department provides for wide access to civil legal advice and assistance via the Legal Aid Board and its nationwide network of law centres. The board's services are available to persons of modest means and at little cost. Funding for the board has been increased by 16% since last year to €21.362 million in 2005 and this...

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

Michael McDowell: I have received correspondence on the matter, a copy of which was made available to the Garda Commissioner. I have been informed that the Garda Commissioner has directed an assistant commissioner to examine matters raised in the correspondence and to furnish a report on them. I have requested that the Garda authorities inform me of the outcome of the examination. As the Deputy will...

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

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 40 and 128 together. I have met some of the principals in my capacity as a Dáil Deputy and arranged for some of them to be met by officials in my Department at a senior level. I regard the underlying allegations as being of the upmost gravity. They have been conveyed to the Commissioner of the Garda Síochána and he appointed a chief superintendent on 11 May...

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

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities that following a written complaint to the Garda Síochána, an investigation was initiated to establish the circumstances surrounding the alleged sale of items of Garda uniforms to film and theatre companies in recent years. A member of the Garda Síochána has been arrested as part of this investigation. I am further informed that this Garda...

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

Michael McDowell: The Garda Síochána Act 2005 provides for the comprehensive reform of the Garda Síochána. The Act is the first major revision of the operation of the Garda Síochána since the foundation of the State. The Act will reform the manner in which the Garda Síochána is managed and will clarify the role and objectives of the force and its relationship with the Minister and Government of the...