Results 11,781-11,800 of 18,734 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Weapons Amnesty: Weapons Amnesty (7 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by An Garda Síochána that a total of 822 firearms, 108 knives, 40 swords, 32 assorted offensive weapons and a quantity of ammunition were surrendered under the recent Weapons Amnesty. An extensive national awareness campaign was undertaken to promote the Amnesty. The campaign included advertisements in the national and provincial newspapers and specialist publications...

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

Michael McDowell: In August 2005, I 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 requirements...

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

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 70 and 91 together. I refer the Deputy to my reply to Questions No. 151 and 205 of 7 November, 2006 in which I indicated that I was aware of reports suggesting that prisoners are attempting criminal activities from inside prison cells. I again wish to assure the Deputy that I am committed to continuing to implement all appropriate measures to prevent the...

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

Michael McDowell: Operation Anvil commenced in the Garda Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR) 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 their criminal activity through extensive additional overt patrolling and static check points by uniform, mobile and foot...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (7 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: I wish to advise the Deputy that proposals for the establishment of a working group to review restorative justice nationally and internationally have been received from the Probation Service. I will announce the terms of reference and composition of the group in January, 2007.

Written Answers — Deportation Orders: Deportation Orders (7 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: The deportation costs provided in the table refer to the deportation of either illegal immigrants, persons refused refugee status in the State or persons whose applications for asylum have been transferred to another country under the Dublin Convention/ Dublin II Regulations. The vast majority of the removals involved persons who were refused refugee status in the State. Set out in the table...

Written Answers — Asylum Support Services: Asylum Support Services (7 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: I can inform the Deputy that the expenditure in relation to asylum and immigration matters by my Department in 2006 (to the end of November) is €119.702m. It is not possible to separate out expenditure on asylum related matters prior to 1998 as compilation of these statistics would require a disproportionate amount of staff time and effort to prepare and could not be justified in current...

Written Answers — Courts Service: Courts Service (7 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am not currently considering proposals from the Courts Service for restructuring fees. I understand, however, that the Courts Service plan to engage in a further comprehensive review of court fees during the course of next year.

Written Answers — Juvenile Offenders: Juvenile Offenders (7 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: Following a review of the youth justice system the Government agreed, in December 2005, to a number of reforms including amendments to the Children Act 2001 (since provided under the Criminal Justice Act, 2006) and the establishment of the Irish Youth Justice Service. The issue of the accommodation of juvenile offenders in secure detention centres comes within the scope of these reforms....

Written Answers — Anti-Racism Measures: Anti-Racism Measures (7 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: The National Action Plan Against Racism (NPAR) was launched on 27 January, 2005 by the Taoiseach, myself and the Minister of State at my Department, Mr. Frank Fahey T.D.. The proposal for a National Action Plan Against Racism arose from a commitment at the UN World Conference Against Racism in South Africa in 2001 that each member state of the United Nations should develop and implement a...

Written Answers — Garda Vetting Services: Garda Vetting Services (7 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: The phased expansion of Garda vetting services commenced in the first quarter of this year and is proceeding apace, in co-operation with the relevant client sectors and the associated Government Departments and Agencies. This expansion will continue until all organisations which recruit persons to work in a substantial, unsupervised capacity with children and vulnerable adults can avail of...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (7 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: An application for naturalisation from the individual in question was received in the Citizenship Division of my Department on 7 September 2006. Applications for naturalisation, including those from persons married to Irish citizens, are generally dealt with in chronological order as this method is deemed to be fairest to all applicants. Citizenship Division is presently dealing with...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (7 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Question 398 of 27, September 2006. At the time, I indicated that processing of the applications has commenced and that the files will be presented to me for a decision in the near future. This remains the position.

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

Michael McDowell: The figures for public order offences, where proceedings commenced, in each Garda Region are available in the relevant Garda Annual Reports, copies of which are available in the Oireachtas library. I can inform the Deputy that strong provisions are in place to combat public order problems including anti-social behaviour. The primary basis for the law regarding public order offences is the...

Written Answers — Illegal Immigrants: Illegal Immigrants (7 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: Further to my Reply to Question No. 121 on Thursday 23 November 2006, I am advised by An Garda Síochána of the following details. In performing his or her functions under the Immigration Act, 2004, an Immigration Officer is obliged, pursuant to the provisions of the Immigration Act, 2004, to have regard to all the circumstances of the non-national concerned made known to the officer, or...

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

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the ten crime classifications used to show the more serious crimes (headline offences) were first introduced in the Garda Síochána Annual Report of 2000. The Deputy will be aware that, with respect to the year 2000, the Garda Síochána changed the system of crime presentation as part of the PULSE information technology project. Specifically, the...

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (7 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: I can assure the Deputy that the policy of targeting those involved in drug trafficking remains among the Government's top policing priorities. There is no question of there being any deficiency in the resources, equipment and personnel available to the Gardaí in pursuit of this priority. I wish to inform the Deputy that as proof of the Government's commitment and determination to ensure...

Written Answers — Witness Intimidation: Witness Intimidation (7 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the table shows the number of proceedings commenced for the offence of intimidation of a witness/juror for the years 2001 to 2005. Year Proceedings Commenced 2005 21 2004 30 2003 30 2002 11 2001 6 All information or complaints in relation to alleged witness intimidation are thoroughly investigated by An Garda Síochána. Following...

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

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda Authorities that seventeen individuals have been prosecuted for money laundering offences in the past five years. In addition a number of money laundering schemes have been uncovered during Garda investigations into serious and organised criminal groupings. I am further informed that the Money Laundering Investigation Unit (MLIU) at the Garda Bureau of Fraud...