Results 10,301-10,320 of 18,733 for speaker:Michael McDowell

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

Michael McDowell: With the huge increase in investment in Garda resources under this Government, I am satisfied that Garda strength and technology is adequate to meet the challenges of modern society. 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...

Written Answers — Prisoner Releases: Prisoner Releases (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: The precise information requested by the Deputy is not readily available. The compilation of these statistics would require a disproportionate and inordinate amount of staff time and effort to prepare and could not be justified in current circumstances where there are other significant demands on resources. Typically the temporary releases would be of short duration when the prisoner is...

Written Answers — Drug Seizures: Drug Seizures (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my reply to his question today (reference number 31069/06) in relation to numbers, technology and resources generally available to An Garda Síochána. Specifically in relation to combating drug crime, I may add that the National Drugs Strategy 2001-2008 specifies a number of supply reduction targets for An Garda Síochána in terms of all drug seizures and the Gardaí...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that legislation providing for the issue of fixed charge notices requires that motorists detected for committing certain offences be issued with a fixed charge notice. The notice sets out the amount of the fixed charge and the penalty points applicable to the offence. The person has the option to pay the fixed charge and, as part of the payment...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (4 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by officials in my Department that there is no record of the person in question having made an application for asylum. However, an application for Family Reunification on behalf of the person in question was made, by his sister, in April 2004 and this was refused in November 2004. This decision was then reviewed and upheld in December 2004. The sister of the person in...

Written Answers — Crime Prevention: Crime Prevention (4 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: As part of my commitment to strengthening the Garda Youth Diversion Projects, I secured an increase of 21% in the overall budgetary allocation for the projects in 2006, bringing funding for the projects for the year to €6.6 million. Resulting from this additional funding I was pleased to be able to announce the establishment of ten new Garda Youth Diversion Projects including the project...

Written Answers — Anti-Social Behaviour: Anti-Social Behaviour (4 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Dublin Bus Community Forum is in place to address anti-social behaviour on buses in the area mentioned and meets regularly. Local Garda management and community leaders from the area concerned participate in the Forum along with Dublin Bus management and union representatives. I am informed by the Garda authorities that local Garda management in conjunction with Dublin Bus has put...

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (4 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am assembling the information requested by the Deputy and I will communicate with him within a week.

Written Answers — Criminal Records: Criminal Records (4 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that An Garda Síochána has no direct access to criminal records from any other country. However, where a rogatory letter is not required under the mutual legal assistance regime, arrangements are in place whereby a request for a record of a person's criminal convictions, together with a set of the person's fingerprints, is forwarded to the country...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (4 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: My Department has no record of a current visa application in respect of the person in question referred to by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (4 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: The person in question applied for permission to remain in the State on the basis of being a parent of an Irish citizen child, born before 1 January 2005, in accordance with the revised arrangements announced by me on 15 January 2005, commonly referred to as the IBC/05 scheme. The person in question did not satisfy the criteria under the revised arrangements and was notified of this decision...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (4 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 242 and 243 together. Section 4 of the Road Traffic Act 2006 provides the legal basis for mandatory alcohol testing (MAT). It confers a statutory power to administer a roadside breath test to a motorist stopped at a checkpoint without a member of An Garda Síochána being required to form an opinion that the motorist has consumed alcohol, been involved in a...

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (4 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that Garda management at Blanchardstown, which covers the area referred to, is aware of the concerns of people in this area regarding speeding motorists. I am further informed that road traffic checkpoints are regularly established in the area by members of the Divisional Traffic Corps Units and persons found to be speeding are issued with fixed charge...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (4 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, 2006, 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...

Seanad: Europol (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (4 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: The purpose of this Bill is to give effect to three additional protocols to the Europol Convention, Protocols 2000, 2002 and 2003, which have been negotiated since the Europol Convention, and two earlier protocols in 1996 and 1997 which were given force of law in this jurisdiction by the Europol Act 1997. The protocols in question will be, on the passing of this Bill into law, Schedules to...

Seanad: Europol (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (4 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am grateful to Members for their contributions and agree with Senator Quinn that the inordinate delay in bringing forward this Bill cannot be defended. The Irish Parliament should perhaps simplify this process although the law officers advise that primary legislation is responsible for every change in the protocols to the Europol Convention. Perhaps we could deal with future changes by a...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (5 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 411 of Wednesday, 27 September, 2006.

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (5 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, 2006, 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...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (5 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, 2006, 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...