Results 10,221-10,240 of 18,733 for speaker:Michael McDowell

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

Michael McDowell: Deputies will be aware that I recently referred the Scheme of the proposed Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill to the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel for drafting. The Scheme has been circulated to members of both Houses and has been sent to the Human Rights Commission for its observations. It has also been published on my Department's website and my Department has put in place a...

Written Answers — Juvenile Offenders: Juvenile Offenders (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 161 and 191 together. The Irish Prison Service has responsibility for 16 and 17 year old children who have been ordered to be detained by the Courts, the majority of these are male and detained in St. Patrick's Institution which accommodates 16 to 21 year olds. In addition, each of the prisons in the State can accommodate persons aged 17 years and over and...

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

Michael McDowell: The Garda authorities advise me that 131 Garda stations have audio/video-recording interview equipment out of a total of 703 Garda stations. It was never the intention that all Garda stations would be equipped to carry out audio/video recording of interviews. Indeed, most Garda stations are not used for detention and interviews. Rather the intention was that a sufficient number of...

Written Answers — Prison Accommodation: Prison Accommodation (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: The total number of prisoners in custody on 28 September, 2006 was 3,158 compared to a bed capacity of 3,383. This represents an occupancy level of 93%. There is no overcrowding crisis or immediate issue relating to the capacity of the prison system. There is consequently no need for the widespread use of early release simply to ease overcrowding levels. This is in stark contrast to the...

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

Michael McDowell: The Scheme of the Immigration Residence and Protection Bill, which I published recently, makes provision for a new and integrated framework for the effective management of migration to the State. An integral part of that framework will be the ability to make and publish statements of the Government's immigration policy in relation to any aspect of immigration including, where necessary,...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that there have been 16 murders with firearms since the beginning of this year to 30 September. All killings regardless of the circumstances involved are the subject of a rigorous investigation by the Garda authorities. I am informed that Garda management analyses available intelligence and selects targets involved in serious criminal activity,...

Written Answers — Garda Traffic Corps: Garda Traffic Corps (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy will be aware that I announced the establishment within the Garda Síochána of the Traffic Corps on 23 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. The Assistant Commissioner in charge of Traffic has been tasked...

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

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 167 and 184 together. The Garda Síochána Act 2005 provides for the establishment of a joint policing committee in each local authority administrative area. The purpose of the committees is to provide a forum where a local authority and the senior Garda officers responsible for the policing of that area, with the participation of Oireachtas members and...

Written Answers — Prison Death Inquiry: Prison Death Inquiry (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: As the Deputy is no doubt aware, I have appointed Mr Michael Mellett to carry out an independent inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the tragic death of Mr Gary Douch while in custody in Mountjoy Prison and in particular: to establish what action was taken by the Irish Prison Service, management and staff to safeguard Mr Douch; to clarify whether Mr Douch had expressed special concerns...

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

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the personnel strength (all ranks) of An Garda Síochána increased to a record 12,762 on Friday 8 September following the attestation of 249 new members. This compares with a total strength of 10,702 (all ranks) as at 30 June, 1997 and represents an increase...

Written Answers — Garda Vetting Services: Garda Vetting Services (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 170, 241 and 246 together. As a means of promoting the safety and security of vulnerable client groups, the Garda Central Vetting Unit (GCVU), in liaison with the Health Service Executive (HSE), formerly the Health Boards, has made and continues to make available criminal history vetting in respect of all prospective employees of children's residential...

Written Answers — Banking Sector Security: Banking Sector Security (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: The recent incident in which a bank worker and her family were held captive and forced to assist in the robbery of a bank in Coolock is the second such incident in recent months and this is clearly a cause for concern. In my meetings with representatives of the banking and security industries this year I have made it clear that I expect the highest security standards to be adhered to by...

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

Michael McDowell: The Government places a high priority on putting in place measures aimed at tackling crimes of rape, sexual assault and other crimes of a sexual nature. The provisional headline crime statistics for the second quarter of 2006 show sexual offences generally decreased by 28% for the quarter compared to the second quarter of 2005 and 10% for the twelve months up to 30 June compared to the same...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 173, 197 and 200 together. I am informed by the Garda authorities that Garda management analyses available intelligence and selects targets involved in serious criminal activity, particularly gun-related crime. Intelligence-led operations against targets are used by Garda management to combat this type of criminal activity on an ongoing basis. This involves...

Written Answers — Departmental Documents: Departmental Documents (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: The total cost to design and produce the document was €16,134.14, inclusive of VAT. Copies of the document, were distributed to all members of the Oireachtas, each County Council Member in Dublin County Council, Fingal County Council and Meath County Council and other interested parties.

Written Answers — Tribunals of Inquiry: Tribunals of Inquiry (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 175 and 183 together. As I stated at the time of the Barr Report's publication, it is important that we learn whatever lessons we can from the tragic death of John Carthy. In this regard, and in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005, I have forwarded a copy of the Report to the Chief Inspector of the Garda Inspectorate, Ms Kathleen O'Toole. In the...

Written Answers — Probation and Welfare Service: Probation and Welfare Service (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have agreed a restructuring of the Probation Service. Following an open competition a new Director was appointed in September, 2005. To support the Director and strengthen the management of the Service a new senior management structure for the Service has now been put in place comprising three Deputy Directors and 2 Assistant Deputy Directors. Further work is ongoing to enhance the IT...

Written Answers — Tribunals of Inquiry: Tribunals of Inquiry (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 177 and 207 together. The publication of the third fourth and fifth reports of the Morris Tribunal underlined the absolute necessity for the Government to continue to implement its radical reform programme for An Garda Síochána. This reform process had its origins in the publication of the Garda Síochána Bill in 2003. Nothing in the latest Morris reports...

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

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 179 and 187 together. I have been informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that at present, there are 87 Garda Juvenile Liaison Officers and 8 Juvenile Liaison Officer Sergeants working in various Divisions throughout the country. In addition to this, the National Juvenile Office has...

Written Answers — Prison Accommodation: Prison Accommodation (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am actively pursuing the only viable long term remedy to the problems to which the Deputy refers, through constructing new prison facilities in Dublin and Munster. I hope that I can have the support of the Deputy and his colleagues in this regard. The new facilities will, in addition, offer significant improvements in the areas of work training, education and medical services as well as...