Results 8,141-8,160 of 18,729 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (27 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 14 and 22 together. I refer the Deputies to my reply to Priority Question No. 4, in which I have comprehensively set out the position in relation to the Garda civilianisation issue.

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (27 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: As indicated in the Government legislative programme, announced by the Chief Whip on 24 April 2006, the Privacy Bill is in the course of being drafted by Parliamentary Counsel with a view to being published early in this session. The Bill will give effect to the recommendations of the working group on privacy chaired by Mr. Brian Murray S.C. The group was established to consider and prepare...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (27 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities, which are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that at present there are 94 juvenile liaison officers, JLOs — 86 gardaí and eight sergeants — working in the various divisions throughout the country. JLOs are responsible for implementing the Garda juvenile diversion programme, which provides an...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (27 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: In my response to the Deputy in Question No. 412 on 4 April 2006, I set out a synopsis of the process involved in considering applications for naturalisation. In this regard, it is important to note that naturalisation is not an entitlement so there is no question of rubber stamping the approval of applications. Naturalisation is a privilege granted at my absolute discretion and I must,...

Written Answers — Equality Issues: Equality Issues (27 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed that in the reply to Question No. 11 of 9 March 2006 the discussion referred to, between an official of my Department and the Equality Authority, centred on background to production of the authority's report Equivalence in Promotion of Equality. The response of the Minister of State, Deputy Fahey, to Question No. 3 of 2 February 2006 concerning the report was also brought...

Written Answers — Criminal Prosecutions: Criminal Prosecutions (27 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: I presume the Deputy's question relates to a recent article on the remuneration of State solicitors. I wish to inform the Deputy that I have no function in relation to remuneration of State solicitors. The Chief State Solicitor's office is a constituent element of the Office of the Attorney General.

Written Answers — Garda Remuneration: Garda Remuneration (27 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have no plans at all to reduce the overall level of overtime worked by members of the Garda Síochána. My priority is to enhance the level of front-line policing services to the public, and overtime plays a key role in this. The nature of Garda work, and the requirement that the Garda authorities respond at short notice to immediate policing demands, mean that overtime expenditure is...

Written Answers — Drug Seizures: Drug Seizures (27 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: Data provided by the Garda authorities concerning the number, volume and value of cocaine seizures for the period 2000 to 2005, inclusive, are summarised in the following table. Year Quantity No. of Cases Estimated Street Value kg € 2000 18 206 1,260,000 2001 5.3 300 371,000 2002 31.7 429 2,219,000 2003 107.4 566 7,518,000 2004 167.3 753 11,711,000...

Written Answers — Security Industry: Security Industry (27 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the robbery of cash or goods in transit for the years 2002 to 2006, to date, is as outlined in the following table. Robbery of cash/goods in transit Year Recorded Detected Proceedings Commenced Amount taken € 2006* 8 2 1 1,514,301.00 2005* 44 10 4 6,235,992.46 2004 60 12 6 2,456,133.18 2003 53 10 2 1,855,383.46...

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (27 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: I can inform the Deputy that in July 2005, as part of a submission on the future resource requirements of the Garda Síochána, the Garda Commissioner proposed that, on achieving the current target strength of 14,000 members, we should proceed to expand the force to 15,000 members. Other issues in the Commissioner's submission included proposals for additional civilian staff, the...

Written Answers — Deportation Orders: Deportation Orders (27 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: I should first point out that charter flights are not the only means by which persons who are illegally resident here are removed from the State. For example, in 2005, a total of 396 persons were deported from the State, of whom 247 were removed on chartered aircraft and the remaining 149 on scheduled commercial aircraft. A further 209 persons who had first claimed asylum in another EU state...

Written Answers — Detention Centres: Detention Centres (27 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Children Act 2001 provides for the detention of children aged up to 16 years in children detention schools and children aged 16 and 17 years in children detention centres, separate from adult institutions. These provisions have not been commenced as separate facilities for 16 and 17 year olds are not yet available. In December of last year Government agreed a series of reforms of the...

Written Answers — Prison Building Programme: Prison Building Programme (27 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: I do not intend to reconsider my decision to relocate the Mountjoy Prison complex to the Thornton Hall site. As the Deputy is aware Mountjoy Prison needs to be replaced. Conditions in Mountjoy have been severely criticised by the Council Of Europe's European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. They have also been roundly condemned by the...

Written Answers — Prison Service Reports: Prison Service Reports (27 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: Eight of the 14 recommendations made by the Inspector of Prisons in his report on St. Patrick's Institution are either implemented or substantially implemented. Steps are being taken to implement in the near future four of the other six recommendations, which involve bringing new workshops and educational facilities into operation, accommodating only boys under 18 years of age in the 'B'...

Written Answers — Claims against Garda Síochána: Claims against Garda Síochána (27 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: The information requested by the Deputy in relation to court awards and out of court settlements in actions taken against members of the Garda Síochána in respect of assault, unlawful arrest or other breaches of citizens' rights is set out in the table below. As of 31 December 2003, there were approximately 750 civil actions taken against members of the Garda Síochána on hand. A detailed...

Written Answers — Garda Equipment: Garda Equipment (27 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am advised by the Garda authorities that 131 Garda stations out of a total of 703 stations have video interview recording facilities — 18.63% of the total. It important to state that only a proportion of these have detention facilities. In its third report dated September, 2004, the steering committee on audio video recording of Garda questioning of detained persons reported that there...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (27 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy refers to the survey into public attitudes on crime and law enforcement which was conducted by TNS mrbi on behalf of my Department. Looking at long- term crime trends, the level of headline crime in 2005 was lower than that in 2003 by 1.6% and that in 2002 by 4.4%. Furthermore, in 1995, when we had a population of almost 3.6 million, there were 29 crimes per 1,000 of the...

Written Answers — Garda Training: Garda Training (27 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: Firearms training forms part of all specialist training conducted by the specialist training unit under the authority of the Garda college. I am advised by the Garda authorities that they have the use of 12 Army firing ranges, countrywide, to facilitate Garda firearms training. The number of gardaí who carry arms on duty at any particular time is an operational matter for the Commissioner. I...

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (27 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the murder investigation is ongoing. The Garda investigation team has been supplemented by members from the Garda national support services and co-operation with the Police Service of Northern Ireland is ongoing.

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (27 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the investigation into one of these robberies has been completed and the investigation file submitted to the law officers. The investigation into the second incident is continuing and the investigation file is being prepared for submission to the law officers.