Results 8,341-8,360 of 18,729 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Prison Committals: Prison Committals (9 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 359 and 360, inclusive, together. There are 131 persons currently serving prison sentences of less than three months duration, of whom 39 are serving sentences of less than one month. The corresponding statistics in respect of the earlier dates referred to in the Questions are not readily available. I would, however, refer the Deputy to the annual reports of...

Written Answers — Prison Committals: Prison Committals (9 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 361 to 363, inclusive, together. The number of persons currently in prison for speeding offences, drink driving offences and other road traffic offences are 8, 69 and 994 respectively. 756 of these 1,071 persons were also committed to prison on conviction on foot of other offences. The corresponding statistics in respect of the earlier dates referred to in the...

Written Answers — Prison Committals: Prison Committals (9 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 364 to 367, inclusive, together. Prison committal records are not maintained in such a way as to provide offence-related information categorised by individual statutes. However, I can inform the Deputy that the numbers of persons currently in prison following conviction on sexual offences and public order-type offences are 270 and 166 respectively. The number...

Written Answers — Prison Statistics: Prison Statistics (9 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table and refers to numbers at unlock on the morning of 4 May, 2006. Institution Bed Capacity Number in Custody Mountjoy Prison 445* 500 Dóchas Centre 85 96 St. Patrick's Institution 217 192 Cork Prison 253 256 Limerick Prison (Male) 275 267 Limerick Prison (Female) 20 18 ...

Energy Sector: Motion (Resumed). (10 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: It is all heat and no light from the Opposition.

Energy Sector: Motion (Resumed). (10 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: The media are never wrong.

Human Rights Issues. (10 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: Action is being taken to combat this crime which my Department and the Garda Síochána take very seriously. The Garda Síochána is proactive in this area and from its intelligence gathering, surveillance and investigations to date, there is no evidence to suggest that trafficking of persons into Ireland for the purposes of sexual exploitation is widespread. To date, Garda operations have...

Regulation of Casinos. (10 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter and giving me this opportunity to discuss the issue. As he is aware, when announcing the publication of the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006 a fortnight or so ago, I adverted to my intention to avail myself of the opportunity this Bill presents to address the subject of this debate. The opportunity arises because that Bill already...

Written Answers — Mental Health Review: Mental Health Review (10 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: A study examining rates of mental illness in Irish prisoners was undertaken by a team from the Central Mental Hospital under the supervision of the Hospital's Clinical Director. The Irish Prison Service was pleased to facilitate and part-fund this study. I understand that a report on this research has been completed and that the findings of this study indicate that, as in other jurisdictions,...

Written Answers — Court Sittings: Court Sittings (10 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: At present, the District Court in Dublin sits each Saturday and on Bank Holidays. Provincial District Courts sit outside of normal hours at weekends and at night to deal with emergency matters, as required. Experience of the operation of court sittings continues to be reviewed. This is being done in conjunction with legislative measures aimed at increasing the effectiveness of the courts. I...

Written Answers — Prisoner Transfers: Prisoner Transfers (10 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: The person referred to is serving cumulative periods of detention totalling 11 months. These sentences were imposed at Ennis Circuit Court on 13 February, 2006 and the Judge ordered that he be committed to St. Patrick's Institution. Where possible, prisoners are accommodated at locations most convenient to their homes. However, there are limitations to the extent that this can be achieved....

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (10 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: I refer to the answers given in Question No. 59 on 2 February, 2006, Question No. 678 on 21 March, 2006, and Question No. 246 on 29 March, 2006. In order to clarify the circumstances of the individual concerned, a letter issued on 31 January, 2006 from my Department to his legal representatives allowing them the opportunity to make further representations on behalf of their client. Further...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (10 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: A declaration of Irish citizenship as post-nuptial citizenship was lodged by the person referred to by the Deputy on 26 October 2004. Certain matters in relation to the cohabitation of the person concerned and his Irish born wife are being investigated at the present time. I am not, therefore, in a position to say when consideration of the declaration will be finalised. I will inform both the...

Written Answers — Registration of Title: Registration of Title (10 May 2006)

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. I understand that, in circumstances where the completion of an application in a particular case is urgent, the Land Registry will make every reasonable effort to facilitate such requests on receipt of a written explanation as to the reason...

Written Answers — Registration of Title: Registration of Title (10 May 2006)

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. I understand that, in circumstances where the completion of an application in a particular case is urgent, the Land Registry will make every reasonable effort to facilitate such requests on receipt of a written explanation as to the reason...

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (10 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities that the number of Gardaí (all ranks) stationed in the Clare Division as at 31 December 1997, 2002 and 2005 was as follows: Division 1997 2002 2005 Clare 219 234 261 This represents an increase of 42 (or 19%) in the number of Gardaí (all ranks) stationed in the Clare Division during that period. Whilst national, divisional and...

Written Answers — Refugee Legal Services: Refugee Legal Services (10 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: I would refer the Deputy to my response to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 140 to 144 of 27 April 2006.

Written Answers — Registration of Title: Registration of Title (10 May 2006)

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.

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (10 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: An application for permission to remain in the State based on marriage to an Irish national was received from the person concerned in September 2005. Applications of this type, in fairness to all other such applicants, are dealt with in strict chronological order and currently take approximately fourteen months to process. It should be noted that marriage to an Irish national does not confer...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (10 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: In his previous Question, the Deputy sought information specifically on the procedure by which a child born in the State after 1 January 2005, whose parents were not Irish citizens, could obtain Irish citizenship. In my response, I set out the procedure for a child in such circumstances to obtain Irish citizenship. The situation is different for such a child if his/her parent or parents...