Results 5,881-5,900 of 18,729 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (23 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 475 of 22 November 2005 on this matter.

Written Answers — Ombudsman Commission: Ombudsman Commission (23 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: I will bring my proposals to establish the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission before the House in the near future.

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (23 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities, which are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the personnel strength of each Garda district as at 18 November 2005 is as set out in the following table. Corresponding population figures sourced from the CSO 2002 census of population are also included. District Pop. Strength Abbeyleix 18,791 39...

Written Answers — Liquor Licensing Laws: Liquor Licensing Laws (23 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 84 and 86 together. The position is that section 22 of the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2003 provides for the making of regulations specifying particulars which are adequate to enable the licensee and the licensed premises concerned to be identified to be affixed to containers in which intoxicating liquor is sold for consumption in off licensed premises. While the...

Written Answers — Presidential Pardons: Presidential Pardons (23 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: There is no question of the scheme which will operate in this jurisdiction in relation to the handful of what have become known as on the runs meaning, as the Deputy puts it, that terrorists will be able to roam free and unchecked here. In this context, on the runs mean people who, if they had been serving sentences for particular offences at the time of the Good Friday Agreement, would have...

Written Answers — Drink Driving Offences: Drink Driving Offences (23 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the medical bureau of road safety has responsibility for the analysis of blood, urine and breath specimens. The medical bureau of road safety collates and maintains a record of the results of each analysis. I am further informed that in the period 1 January to 18 November 2005, there are 11,110 recorded incidents of driving while intoxicated,...

Written Answers — Independent Inquiry: Independent Inquiry (23 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: The independent statutory inquiry process established by me pursuant to section 12 of the Dublin Police Act 1924, as applied and amended, has been underway for some time following the appointment of Mr. Hugh Hartnett SC on 14 September 2005 to conduct same. Mr. Hartnett decided that the inquiry was to be held in private and he is not, under his terms of reference, required to report to me on...

Written Answers — Asylum Support Services: Asylum Support Services (23 Nov 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 — Gangland Killings: Gangland Killings (23 Nov 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 — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (23 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to the reply I gave to Parliamentary Question No. 61 on Thursday, 20 October 2005. A total of 413 unaccompanied minors, who have now reached the age of 18 years, have been refused refugee status since 1 January 1999. Some 211 of these have been decided to date under section 3(6) of the Immigration Act 1999, as amended resulting in 108 deportation orders, 72 grants of...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (23 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: I regret that due to prior commitments I am unable to attend the meeting of the Montpelier-Arbour Hill-Bricin's residents on 7 December 2005. However, I will arrange for officials from my Department to meet with the group should they wish for that.

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (23 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities, which are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the personnel strength of Bunbeg Garda station as at 22 November 2005 was six, all ranks. I am further informed that while Bunbeg Garda station is not open on a 24-hour basis, 24-hour Garda cover is provided in the area. The policing service at Bunbeg is augmented...

Written Answers — Paternity Leave: Paternity Leave (23 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: There is no statutory entitlement to paternity leave. However, many employers in both the public and private sectors have arrangements in place providing short periods of paid paternity leave. Paternity leave was considered in the context of a review of the Parental Leave Act 1998 conducted by a working group chaired by my Department. The working group comprised the social partners, relevant...

Written Answers — Garda Recruitment: Garda Recruitment (23 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities, which are responsible for the detailed allocation of Garda resources, including personnel, that the personnel strength of the Garda Síochána as at 19 November 2005 was 12,301 — all ranks. I am further informed that a total of 1,125 trainee gardaí were inducted into the Garda college to commence training during 2005. It is anticipated that a further...

Written Answers — Law Enforcement: Law Enforcement (23 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: The Gaming and Lotteries Acts 1956 to 1986 is the legislation governing the use of gaming machines. All gaming, except that which is specifically provided for under the terms of the Act, is prohibited. The Act sets out the definition of a gaming instrument, the stake and prize limits for gaming machines and the premises on which these type of machines are permitted. An extensive review of the...

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (23 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my answer to Parliamentary Question No. 2 of 20 October 2005 and Parliamentary Question No. 520 of 15 November 2005. The Garda investigation into the death of the person named in the question is ongoing and it would be inappropriate for me to comment further at this juncture.

Written Answers — Liquor Licensing Laws: Liquor Licensing Laws (23 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: The position is that the Government legislative programme published on 27 September last makes provision for publication of a Bill to codify the licensing laws in mid-2006. This Bill will repeal the Licensing Acts 1833 to 2004, as well as the Registration of Clubs Acts 1904 to 2004, and replace them with provisions more suited to modern conditions. When I launched a consultation process in...

Written Answers — Parental Rights: Parental Rights (23 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: Under the law as it stands, married parents living together are joint guardians and custodians of their child. If they separate, the custody is normally with the parent with whom the child primarily resides, but the other parent still remains a guardian. An unmarried father may apply to the court to be appointed a guardian of his child. Alternatively, where there is agreement between the...

Written Answers — Law Enforcement: Law Enforcement (23 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that local Garda management have met management of the proposed lap-dancing club referred to by the Deputy and that an application for a public dancing licence for the premises is listed for hearing in early December 2005, at which time Garda submissions will be entered. I am further informed that investigations carried out under Operation Quest have...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (23 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my response to Parliamentary Question No. 557 of 8 November 2005. I remind the Deputy that the civilianisation programme approved by the Government in 2001 is to be implemented on a phased basis over a number of years. The programme provided for the civilianisation of certain posts in the short, medium and long-term; the transfer of the finance function from Garda...