Results 6,641-6,660 of 18,729 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Public Order Offences: Public Order Offences (31 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: Strong provisions are already in place to combat anti-social and unlawful behaviour. The primary basis for the law regarding public order offences is the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994, which modernised the law in this regard. I recently published legislative proposals to deal with anti-social behaviour, including provision for anti-social behaviour orders. I propose to introduce...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (31 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: The detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, is a matter for the Garda authorities. I have been informed by the Garda authorities that the personnel strength of the Garda station at Newcastle West, as at 31 December 2005, was 27, all ranks. Garda personnel assignments, together with overall policing arrangements and operational strategy, are continually monitored and reviewed....

Written Answers — Registration of Title: Registration of Title (31 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Registrar of Titles that further details are required in order to locate the application in question. If the Deputy can provide me with the date of lodgement of the application and a Land Registry reference number, I will make further inquiries on his behalf.

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (31 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed there are no data available on the number of breathalyser roadside breath tests for the years 2002 and 2003. The following table indicates the number of roadside breath tests for 2004, by Garda division. Statistics are not compiled in such a way as to indicate the Garda station. The amount of time it would take to compile such information would require a disproportionate amount...

Written Answers — Penalty Points System: Penalty Points System (31 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that training for members of the Garda Síochána in the new penalty points offences, FCPS, commenced on 14 December 2005. Training is now completed in many divisions and is currently ongoing in the remaining Garda divisions. In regard to enforcement, I announced the establishment of the Garda traffic corps in November 2004. The strategic review of...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (31 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the crime statistics for the past six years show that there has been no substantial increase in thefts or burglaries in Doon, County Limerick. There were three burglaries recorded in 2005, with none in 2004 and one in 2003. There were two theft related offences recorded in 2005 with seven in 2004 and six in 2003. Local Garda management is satisfied...

Written Answers — Drug Seizures: Drug Seizures (31 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the information sought is not readily available and that research is necessary to retrieve the relevant data. I will be in further contact with the Deputy when the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Garda Vetting Procedures: Garda Vetting Procedures (1 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Garda central vetting unit, GCVU, was established in 2002 and, in the education sector, currently processes vetting requests in respect of bus escorts, special needs assistants and staff for children in detention schools. In the time available, it has not been possible to compile information on the number of persons so vetted since 2002 in the education sector. Last year, an inter-agency...

Written Answers — National Security: National Security (1 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 293 and 294 together. The Garda Síochána is the organisation responsible for providing policing and security services for the State. In this context, I am informed by the Garda authorities that the Garda Síochána has established contacts, both multilateral and bilateral, with police and security services worldwide, touching on areas of mutual...

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (1 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: The murder of the person in question has been the subject of correspondence by and on behalf of the family of the deceased, to which I have given full consideration. In response to concerns expressed on the matter, the Garda Commissioner established a review team to conduct a thorough and concise investigation into all matters of concern, which involved the taking of more than 150 statements...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (1 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: As the Deputy may be aware, responsibility for the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010 has been assigned to the Department of Health and Children as part of the establishment of the new Office of the Minister for Children, under the Minister with responsibility for children, Deputy Brian Lenihan. With regard to the approval of capital grant assistance of €50,790 to the private...

Written Answers — Garda Reserve Force: Garda Reserve Force (1 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: I would refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 1148 on Wednesday, 25 January 2006.

Written Answers — Closed Circuit Television Systems: Closed Circuit Television Systems (1 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: Section 38 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 provides a legislative basis for the operation of CCTV systems in public places for the purposes of crime prevention and crime detection by the Garda Síochána and community based groups. It does not apply to persons operating CCTV cameras on their premises for the purposes of protecting persons or property on the premises or environs. Officials of...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (1 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: A provision of €5.11 million is included in my Department's Estimates for 2006 in respect of the forensic science laboratory — an 8% increase on the 2005 budget — and the number of authorised posts is 69.5. The staffing and other resource implications arising from the establishment of a DNA database are currently being examined by my Department in conjunction with the forensic science...

Written Answers — Computerisation Programme: Computerisation Programme (1 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: My Department, the Courts Service and the Garda Síochána are currently engaged with the Reach agency in a pilot project to exchange summons and court outcome information electronically, by implementing the Reach inter-agency messaging service. On successful completion of this pilot project, which is expected in spring 2007, other exchanges of information between these agencies and others in...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (1 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of Garda resources, including personnel, that the personnel strength of Tallaght Garda station as at 1 February 2006 was 167 — all ranks. The strength of Tallaght Garda station as at 31 December 1997 is 133 — all ranks. This represents an increase of 34, or 25.6%, since that date. I am further informed...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (1 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: The total number of cases on hands in the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner, ORAC, and the Refugee Appeals Tribunal, RAT, on 31 December 2005 was 2,436 as compared to some 6,930 cases in January 2004 and 3,629 in January 2005. The overall number of cases in the above asylum agencies for over six months was 433 at the end of December 2005 compared to some 1,057 in January 2005...

Written Answers — Deportation Orders: Deportation Orders (1 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: The person concerned, along with her child, arrived in the State on 7 September 2000 and applied for asylum. Her husband arrived in the State on 8 December 1999 and applied for asylum. Their application was refused following consideration of their case by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner and, on appeal, by the Office of the Refugee Appeals Tribunal. The person referred to...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (1 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Road Traffic Act 1961 defines a mechanically propelled vehicle as a vehicle intended or adapted for propulsion by mechanical means. Quadricycles and motorcycles, including micro-motorcycles, come within this definition. In order to use a mechanically propelled vehicle in a public place, a range of requirements must be satisfied in relation to both the vehicle and the driver. Specifically,...

Written Answers — Sentencing Policy: Sentencing Policy (1 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: The person to whom the Deputy is referring was sentenced to five years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended, in the Dublin Circuit Court on 12 February 2004. The offence was possession of a controlled drug with a market value of €13,000 or more, for the purpose of selling or otherwise unlawfully supplying it to another. The court also ordered that he gain credit for 114 days already...