Results 11,761-11,780 of 18,734 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (7 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: I wish to advise the Deputy that I have no plans at present to publish the submissions received to my discussion document — "Immigration and Residence in Ireland — Outline Policy Proposals for an Immigration and Residence Bill". Over 120 individuals and organisations made submissions during the initial public consultation process prior to publication of the Scheme of the Immigration,...

Written Answers — Judicial Appointments: Judicial Appointments (7 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Judicial Appointments Advisory Board was established pursuant to the Courts and Court Officers Act 1995. The purpose of the Board is to identify persons and inform the Government of the suitability of those persons for judicial office, including appointments to the Supreme Court. The Board consists of the Chief Justice, the Presidents of the High Court, Circuit Court and District Court,...

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (7 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 49 and 96 together. 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 13,000 on Thursday, 16 November, 2006, following the attestation of 299 new members. This compares with a total strength of...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (7 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Garda authorities inform me that there have been three 'tiger' robberies in 2006, and two such robberies in 2005, i.e. incidents in which people were taken hostage with a view to assisting robberies. There have also been a small number of unsuccessful attempts to perpetrate such raids. The Garda authorities have also informed me that comparable figures for the preceding four years are...

Written Answers — Immigrant Services: Immigrant Services (7 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: There appears to be some confusion generally as to the responsibility of various departments / bodies in relation to the provision of services for the different categories of persons arriving in the State. I am happy to take this opportunity to clarify the position to the Deputy. I should say at the outset that the provision of services to the homeless falls firmly within the responsibility...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (7 Dec 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 13,000 on Thursday, 16 November, 2006, following the attestation of 299 new members. This compares with a total strength of 10,702 (all ranks) as at 30 June, 1997 and represents an...

Written Answers — Prisoners' Voting Rights: Prisoners' Voting Rights (7 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 108 of 7 November 2006. The Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2006 has been passed by both Houses of the Oireachtas and has been sent to the President for signature. The legislation provides for specific arrangements for prisoners to exercise their franchise by way of postal voting. In accordance with the provisions of the legislation, relevant...

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (7 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my response to Parliamentary Question No. 134 of 7 November 2006. The position remains unchanged.

Written Answers — Civil Partnerships: Civil Partnerships (7 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 35 of 8 June 2006. I would propose to supplement that earlier response with a number of brief observations. The Options Paper on Domestic Partnership, prepared by a Working Group established by me in March 2006, was published on 28 November. The Options Paper focuses on three distinct types of cohabiting relationships: opposite-sex couples,...

Written Answers — Electronic Monitoring of Offenders: Electronic Monitoring of Offenders (7 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy will be aware that the recently enacted Criminal Justice Act, 2006 provides a basis for the introduction of Electronic Monitoring of offenders who are the subject of Restriction on Movement Orders or of prisoners who are on temporary release. I considered that I should take the opportunity presented by the legislation to introduce the necessary enabling provisions. However, I...

Written Answers — Prison Building Programme: Prison Building Programme (7 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Irish Prison Service has identified the need to construct a new prison complex to serve the Munster area. The new facility will provide single cell accommodation with proper in-cell sanitation facilities as well as offering significant benefits in the areas of work training, educational and medical services. At present there is work in progress to appraise the suitability of Spike...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (7 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: The figures for headline offences recorded and detected in the Dublin Metropolitan Region are available in the relevant Garda Annual Reports, copies of which are available in the Oireachtas library.

Written Answers — Public Order Offences: Public Order Offences (7 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: It is my intention that the provisions of the Criminal Justice Act 2006 on anti-social behaviour by adults will be commenced on 1 January, 2007 and those on anti-social behaviour by children on 1 March, 2007, following the consultations required under the Act between my Department, the Office of the Minister for Children and the Commissioner of the Garda Síochána. The purpose of this is to...

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (7 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the Commissioner is satisfied that all appropriate measures were taken, based on the intelligence available at the time. Where information is received by An Garda Síochána of a threat against a particular individual the case is examined and a risk assessment is carried out. Where appropriate crime prevention advice is given to the person and...

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (7 Dec 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 13,000 on Thursday, 16 November, 2006, following the attestation of 299 new members. This compares with a total strength of 10,702 (all ranks) as at 30 June, 1997 and represents an...

Written Answers — Child Protection: Child Protection (7 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: The report of the Joint Committee on Child Protection was laid before the Oireachtas on 30 November and was published on that day. In conjunction with my colleague, the Minister for Children, I am examining the comprehensive report of the Joint Committee. Following that examination proposals for implementation of the recommendations in the Report will be brought to Government for approval.

Written Answers — Joyriding Offences: Joyriding Offences (7 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Garda Policing Plan 2006 sets as a strategic goal the reduction of the incidence of fatal and serious injury collisions. In order to achieve this goal An Garda Síochána has sectioned the road network into 8km zones and analysed the collisions data for the past ten years within these zones. A weighting is then assigned to each zone based on the collision data. Enforcement is then...

Written Answers — Ministerial Appointments: Ministerial Appointments (7 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Judicial Appointments Advisory Board is appointed under the provisions of the Courts and Court Officers Act, 1995. Section 13(2)(c) of the Act states that the Board may include "not more than three persons appointed by the Minister who shall be persons engaged in, or having knowledge or experience (being knowledge or experience that the Minister considers appropriate) of commerce,...

Written Answers — Court Staff: Court Staff (7 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: On the 13th November, 2006, I issued a statement on the resignation in question. The statement may be found on the website of my Department. I have nothing further to add.

Written Answers — Probation and Welfare Service: Probation and Welfare Service (7 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Questions No. 118 of 7 November, 2006 in which I set out the significant developments that are taking place in the Probation Service. I am pleased to tell the Deputy that I have secured funding of €59.323 million for the Probation Service in 2007 which is an increase of 19.32% over the 2006 allocation of €49.719m.