Results 5,541-5,560 of 18,729 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Refugee Status: Refugee Status (3 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: The person concerned, a Jamaican national, entered the State on 10 November 1998. She was subsequently arrested and charged with an offence under the Misuse of Drugs Acts 1997 and 1984. Following a guilty plea, she was convicted and was sentenced on 23 March 1999 to a period of imprisonment of 16 years, six years of which were suspended. On 20 March 2000, the sentence was further reduced to a...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (3 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: In relation 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 in order to improve the quality of information available to the public. The Deputy will also wish to be aware that, taking into account the significant increase in our population since 1995, the...

Written Answers — Garda Training: Garda Training (3 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 512 of 2 November 2005 in this matter.

Written Answers — Registration of Title: Registration of Title (3 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Registrar of Titles that there is no necessary correlation between Land Registry boundaries and ordnance survey detail. Land Registry maps are based on ordnance survey maps. The maps lodged for registration are also based on ordnance survey maps or copy Land Registry maps. They delineate the boundaries of the property to be registered as agreed between the parties. The...

Written Answers — Registration of Title: Registration of Title (3 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: I wish to inform the Deputy that I have requested the Land Registry to contact him directly concerning the current position of the application in question. My understanding is that the position remains as outlined in the Land Registry's response to the Deputy of 25 October 2005.

Written Answers — Court Procedures: Court Procedures (3 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: Under the Constitution, justice is required to be administered in public save in such special and limited cases as may be prescribed by law. The law, section 45 of the Courts (Supplemental Provisions) Act 1961, prescribes that justice may be administered otherwise than in public in the case of urgent applications for relief by way of habeas corpus, bail, prohibition or injunction, matrimonial...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (3 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: I wish to advise the Deputy that residency was granted to the person in question on 28 September 2005 and a letter notifying the applicant of the decision issued on the same day. Following the receipt of further correspondence, a response was issued to the person in question on 6 October 2005 further clarifying the conditions of the permission granted. The Deputy should note that matters...

Written Answers — Juvenile Offenders: Juvenile Offenders (3 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the person referred to by the Deputy made a complaint to gardaí alleging that she was assaulted in Killarney, County Kerry on 14 June 2004. I am further informed that the complaint was investigated by gardaí and the alleged offender was dealt with under the Garda juvenile diversion programme as he was 17 years of age at the time of the alleged...

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (3 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 249 to 254, inclusive, together. I am informed by the Garda authorities that statements in the case referred to by the Deputy were taken from eight witnesses. Only one witness alleged that a verbal altercation took place involving the person concerned. The Garda investigation did not establish any evidence to support this allegation. I am further informed by...

Written Answers — : (3 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that an investigation file in this matter was referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions who instructed that no criminal proceedings be taken in the matter. As I am sure the Deputy will appreciate, the Director of Public Prosecutions is independent in his functions and it is not open for me to comment or intervene in his decisions in any way.

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (3 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: My Department was represented on a steering committee overseeing a cross-departmental review of road safety expenditure which examined expenditure incurred over the lifetime of the first road safety strategy, from 1998 to 2002. This review sought to evaluate the effectiveness of all public spending on road safety and to establish the impact of road safety performance on other areas such as...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (3 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that in 2004 a total of 12,307 arrests were recorded for driving while intoxicated. In 2003, 11,344 arrests were made. Therefore in 2004, an increase of 8.5% occurred in the number of arrests for driving while intoxicated.

Written Answers — Violence Against Women: Violence Against Women (8 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 486 and 519 together. As the Deputy will be aware, the National Steering Committee on Violence Against Women, NSC, was set up in 1997 to provide a co-ordinated response from the many statutory and voluntary bodies involved in responding to the problem of violence against women. My Department, in conjunction with the NSC, has conducted a series of successful...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (8 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: I advised the Deputy in my response to Parliamentary Question No. 183 on 16 December 2004 that I decided to defer a final decision on the application of the person concerned until July 2005. I understand that officials in the citizenship section of my Department have written to the person in question in recent weeks to obtain information which will enable me to make a final determination in...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (8 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: School age child care is an important part of the range of child care services which need to be developed and supported to meet the needs of parents and their children in the Ireland of 2005. 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. It is widely acknowledged that...

Written Answers — Child Abuse: Child Abuse (8 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: I regret that it has not been possible in the time available to obtain the information requested by the Deputy. I will be in further contact with the Deputy in this matter.

Written Answers — Criminal Prosecutions: Criminal Prosecutions (8 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the person referred to has been prosecuted for a number of road traffic offences since 1989. As a result of failure to pay fines imposed for a parking offence in 1990, a warrant was issued in September 1991. The warrant was cancelled in December 1991, when it was believed that the person referred to was not resident in the country. I am further...

Written Answers — Miscarriages of Justice: Miscarriages of Justice (8 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: The person concerned was a witness during the first module of the Morris tribunal in regard to hoax explosive finds. The person fully co-operated with the tribunal and was granted an order for full costs. The person currently also has a civil action against the State in regard to alleged wrongful arrest, and I am, therefore, constrained in what I can say at this stage. Certainly the issues...

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (8 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: I have received representations regarding this matter and I have corresponded directly with the family. I have been informed by the Garda authorities that the gardaí investigated this fatal road traffic accident and the investigation file was submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions. On 4 October 2001, the DPP directed that no prosecution take place in this case. As the Deputy will...

Written Answers — Publication of Reports: Publication of Reports (8 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am aware of the reference made at paragraph 4 of page 147 of the Ferns Report to an individual, who was a Knight of Columbanus, being approached by an unnamed member of the Garda Síochána, who was also a Knight of Columbanus, in connection with allegations made against a particular priest. I am advised by the Garda authorities that there is no prohibition on members of the Garda...