Results 10,201-10,220 of 18,733 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: Operation Anvil commenced in the Garda Dublin Metropolitan Region on 17 May, 2005. It is an intelligence led policing initiative, the focus of which is the targeting of active criminals and their associates involved in serious crime by preventing and disrupting this criminal activity through extensive additional overt patrolling and static check points by uniform, mobile and foot patrols,...

Written Answers — Youth Justice Policy: Youth Justice Policy (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 141 and 194 together. Amendments to the Children Act 2001, introduced in the Criminal Justice Act 2006, will effectively raise the minimum age of criminal responsibility from 7 years to 12 years, in all but the most serious cases. In addition, proceedings against children under 14 years of age will require the consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions....

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: In my reply to Priority Question No. 4 of 27 April 2006, I provided a comprehensive update on the significant progress being made in relation to civilianisation, and again in reply to Oral Question No. 19 of 8 June 2006. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that over the Summer further significant progress has been made. The main developments in this regard are as follows: the Garda...

Written Answers — Commissions of Investigation: Commissions of Investigation (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: I published the Report of the Commission of Investigation into the Dean Lyons case on 1 September 2006. I believe the Report, based on the evidence of all relevant witnesses, offers a thorough independent analysis of the facts surrounding the false confession made by Dean Lyons. I am pleased to note that the provisions of the Commissions of Investigation Act 2004 which I availed of in this...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: The question of Ireland signing and ratifying the Council of Europe Convention on action against trafficking in human beings is currently being examined. Legislation creating a criminal offence of trafficking in persons for the specific purpose of sexual or labour exploitation is contained in the Criminal Law (Trafficking in Persons and Sexual Offences) Bill 2006 which is currently being...

Written Answers — Garda Ombudsman Commission: Garda Ombudsman Commission (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commissioners were appointed by the President on the 10th February 2006, following nomination by the Government and recommendations by both Houses of the Oireachtas. The Commission is in a preparatory stage at present. I understand that the initial work of the Commission has involved study visits to their counterparts in Northern Ireland and the UK and initial...

Written Answers — State Property: State Property (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 146 and 178 together. The proceeds from the sale of this property will be used to offset the costs of the major capital investment programme which I am making in the prison system. Part of the property — about 21 acres — was, following discussions with Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, sold to that body. The sale was concluded in 2005. I should add...

Written Answers — Immigration Policy: Immigration Policy (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy will be aware that I published a discussion document in April 2005 entitled "Immigration and Residence in Ireland — Outline policy proposals for an Immigration and Residence Bill". This document outlines the issues which future immigration legislation and policy will need to deal with and lists my Department's proposals on how these issues should be addressed. The "key...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 148, 199, 201 and 208 together. As indicated in the Government Legislative Programme, announced by the Chief Whip on 26 September 2006, the Privacy Bill is included amongst those Bills whose Second Stage debate is awaited. The Privacy Bill was published on 4 July 2006. The main purpose of the Bill is to introduce a modern statutory framework to protect all...

Written Answers — Garda Reserve: Garda Reserve (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Oireachtas provided for the establishment of the Garda Reserve in section 15 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005, and on foot of proposals received from the Garda Commissioner I drafted regulations governing the recruitment, training and deployment of Reserve Gardaí. All of the Garda representative bodies were invited to engage in constructive discussion of those draft regulations. The...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 150 and 213 together. The person concerned arrived in the State on 3 April 2002 and made an application for asylum on the same day. He withdrew his request for asylum on 21 October 2002 and made an application for permission to remain in the State on the basis of parentage of an Irish child born on 8 October 2002. Following the decision of the Supreme Court...

Written Answers — Garda Reserve: Garda Reserve (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Garda Síochána (Reserve Members) Regulations 2006 were approved by Government in July 2006. Following this, a nationwide advertising and recruitment campaign for both Garda Reserve trainees and full-time Garda trainees was launched on 14 August 2006. The recruitment campaign for full-time trainees closed on 19 September 2006. Recruitment for the Garda Reserve will continue...

Written Answers — Garda Disciplinary Regulations: Garda Disciplinary Regulations (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: In the Garda Síochána Act, 2005, I have made detailed provisions for the making of Disciplinary Regulations for the Garda Síochána. In its report earlier this year, the Garda Síochána Act Implementation Group, chaired by Senator Maurice Hayes, acknowledged the requirement for changes to the Garda disciplinary regulations to coincide with the coming into operation of the Garda Ombudsman...

Written Answers — Irish Prison Service: Irish Prison Service (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: I presume the Deputy is referring to the Fourth Annual Report of the Inspector of Prisons and Places of Detention and the Report of the Inspection of Cloverhill Prison which were published by me in August, 2006. At the outset I would like to recall that these reports coincided with a period of profound change in the Prison Service during which the decades long problem of dependency on...

Written Answers — Sexual Offences Legislation: Sexual Offences Legislation (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: In my response to Parliamentary Question, reference No. 22200/06 on 8 June 2006, I undertook that my Department would co-operate in every possible way, including the implementation of any new communications or consultation arrangements, with the examination of the Attorney General's Office by an official from the Department of Finance which was then due to take place. Arising out of that...

Written Answers — Garda Recruitment: Garda Recruitment (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: In August 2005, my Department received a submission from the Garda Commissioner on the resourcing requirements of An Garda Síochána. The submission was based on the Commissioner's analysis of the policing challenges facing An Garda Síochána in the medium and longer term, including the implications of demographic change, the need to continue to combat crime and terrorist threats, and the...

Written Answers — Prison Medical Service: Prison Medical Service (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 156 and 192 together. The Deputy will be aware that, subject to the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act, 2006, the decision whether or not to commit an accused person or a convicted person to prison is a matter for the Courts. The Criminal Law (Insanity) Act, 2006, provides that where a question of fitness to be tried arises, the court may in certain circumstances...

Written Answers — National Archives: National Archives (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: I can inform the Deputy that my Department has always taken its obligations under the National Archives Act, 1986 very seriously, including of course the general obligation to transfer records that are over 30 years old. The Act does, however, provide that certain records which are over 30 years old may nevertheless be withheld from transfer on grounds specified under the Act. These grounds...

Written Answers — Policing Authority: Policing Authority (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am aware of the view expressed by the former Vice-Chairman of the Northern Ireland Policing Board advocating the establishment of a similar policing authority in this jurisdiction. The perceived advantage of such an authority is that it interposes an additional layer of independent accountability between the political process and the management of An Garda Síochána. The idea of such an...

Written Answers — Criminal Prosecutions: Criminal Prosecutions (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: Irish law relating to prosecution appeals has been the subject of scrutiny in recent times. As the Deputy may be aware, in this jurisdiction there exists only a limited prosecution right of appeal against an acquittal. This situation has its origins in the common law rule against double jeopardy, i.e. that no-one should be tried twice for the same offence. The existence of this rule does...