Results 6,741-6,760 of 18,729 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Prisoner Rehabilitation Programmes: Prisoner Rehabilitation Programmes (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: I reject the Deputy's implication that there is any lack of commitment on my part to rehabilitation programmes for prisoners. The thrust of the Deputy's question displays a complete lack of understanding of the change process which has been ongoing for some time now. I remind the House that, following protracted negotiations and an arbitration process, prison staff voted, by a substantial...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: As the Deputy is aware, there is a statutory framework governing the asylum determination process in Ireland set out in the Refugee Act 1996 and it is not for me as Minister to determine who is or is not a refugee. The 1996 Act established two independent statutory offices to consider applications and appeals in respect of refugee status and to make recommendations to the Minister for...

Written Answers — Rights of People with Disabilities: Rights of People with Disabilities (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: The National Disability Authority report entitled How far towards equality? Measuring how equally people with disabilities are included in Irish Society, brings together statistics from various sources and uses this information to document the extent to which people with disabilities participate fully and equally in Irish society. The findings of the report derive from an analysis of...

Written Answers — Criminal Prosecutions: Criminal Prosecutions (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: The adult cautioning scheme referred to by the Deputy is an initiative of the Garda authorities developed in conjunction with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. This initiative, for which the Garda authorities and the DPP are to be commended, is a response to a recommendation in the 1999 Nally Report on the Public Prosecution System that "as a measure to reduce the volume of...

Written Answers — Deportation Orders: Deportation Orders (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: I would refer the Deputy to the reply I gave to Dáil Question No. 1085 on Wednesday, 25 January 2006 in which I outlined the position. The person concerned arrived in the State on 17 December 1999 and applied for asylum. His application was refused following consideration of his case by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner and, on appeal, by the Office of the Refugee Appeals...

Written Answers — Deportation Orders: Deportation Orders (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 and 33 together. The person referred to by the Deputy and her two children entered the State in January 2005 and applied for declarations of refugee status. Following consideration of their claims by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner and the Refugee Appeals Tribunal they were refused refugee status and deportation orders were signed in...

Written Answers — State Airports: State Airports (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 17 and 18 together. I have made it clear that the Garda authorities have informed me that any person with specific evidence that Shannon Airport or any other Irish airport is being used for any alleged unlawful purpose should share this information with the Garda Síochána, which would have responsibility for investigating such matters. Such an investigation,...

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that arising from a complaint made to gardaí at Fitzgibbon Street a search warrant was issued under section 48, Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001 by the Dublin District Court for the premises referred to. The search was carried out on 30 December 2005. The reason for the search was explained to the occupants and they were shown a copy...

Written Answers — Garda Systems: Garda Systems (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that they are currently carrying out an impact assessment in respect of the use of an automatic number plate recognition system by the Garda Síochána. This assessment includes the nature of the impact on current information technology systems within the force. I understand that a number of police services in Europe have already introduced automatic...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: I announced the establishment of the Garda traffic corps in November 2004. A strategic review of traffic policing was also published on that date. In line with the recommendations contained in that review, an assistant commissioner, traffic, was appointed on 22 February 2005. Between now and 2008, the traffic corps will increase its numbers to a complement of 1,200 on the following phased...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: On 15 January 2005 I announced revised arrangements for the processing of applications from the non-national parents of Irish born children born before 1 January 2005 for permission to remain in Ireland. The closing date for receipt of applications was 31 March 2005. A total of 17,907 applications were received. By 27 January 2006, permission to remain in Ireland had been granted to 16,696...

Written Answers — Garda Reserve Force: Garda Reserve Force (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 23, 46, 47, 52, 66, 69, 70 and 184 together. Section 15 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 provides for the establishment of a Garda reserve and the Deputies will recall that the measure won widespread support in the House during the passage of the Act. The Act lays special emphasis on training for members of the Garda reserve. The Act provides that the power to...

Written Answers — Prisoner Transfers: Prisoner Transfers (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has not received a formal application for a transfer to this country in respect of this person from the United States authorities. An expression of interest for transfer to a prison in this country from the person referred to by the Deputy was received in my Department on 23 August 2004. In line with the convention, my Department wrote to the US...

Written Answers — Firearms Regulation: Firearms Regulation (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose bringing forward a range of measures to strengthen the law governing the control of firearms in the Criminal Justice Bill 2004, which is currently before the House. These new measures include increases in fines and penalties generally for offences under the Firearms Acts and the creation of mandatory minimum sentences, of between five and ten years, for certain firearms offences,...

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have indicated previously that I regard the provision of adequate and proper accommodation for the Garda Síochána as a very important issue. There are in excess of 700 Garda stations in the country. This figure does not include major complexes like Garda Headquarters in the Phoenix Park in Dublin, the Garda College in Templemore and other units of accommodation. The Deputy will appreciate...

Written Answers — Prison Education Service: Prison Education Service (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 27, 56, 64 and 65 together. I am informed by the Director General of the Irish Prison Service that construction of the Cloverhill education unit commenced in 2002 and was virtually completed in 2003. The unit comprises a physical education section and six classrooms — one for art-craft, an open learning centre, a computer classroom and three general...

Written Answers — Missing Persons: Missing Persons (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 28 and 36 together. Funding of €110,000 in respect of a national missing persons helpline made available by my Department in 2002 and 2003 was channelled through the Victim Support organisation, and was in addition to the ongoing funding that organisation received for the provision of services to victims of crime. This funding of €110,000 was provided...

Written Answers — Juvenile Offenders: Juvenile Offenders (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 29 and 61 together. In October 2004, the Government endorsed a joint proposal from the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform and from the Minister for children to examine the scope for rationalising and restructuring the delivery of the State's services in the area of youth justice in accordance with the Children Act 2001. To this end, the Minister...

Written Answers — Crime Prevention: Crime Prevention (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 30, 178 and 179 together. The Garda Síochána employs a range of techniques in the fight against serious crime. The establishment of specialist Garda units, operating under an assistant commissioner in charge of national support services, has enabled the Garda Síochána to tackle organised crime effectively. The National Bureau of Criminal Investigation is...

Written Answers — Sexual Offences: Sexual Offences (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: As of 30 January 2006, there were 253 prisoners serving sentences for sexual offences. These prisoners were accommodated in the following institutions: Arbour Hill, 84; Castlerea Prison, 20; Cork Prison, five; Limerick Prison, four; Midlands Prison, 77; Mountjoy (female) Prison, one; Mountjoy (male) Prison, two; St. Patrick's Institution, five; and Wheatfield Prison, 55. There are three forms...