Results 11,841-11,860 of 18,734 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Courts Service: Courts Service (13 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: The District Court is composed of the Dublin Metropolitan District and 23 other Districts. The Minister may from time to time, after consultation with the President of the District Court, alter the number of judges permanently assigned to any District. In 1997, the Dublin Metropolitan District had a complement of 14 permanently assigned judges. This was raised to 16 in 1998 and since 2004...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (13 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am pleased to inform you that I have approved this application and the Citizenship Division of my Department has written to the person, via their nominated Solicitor, requesting certain documentation and the prescribed fee. When the documentation and the fee is received, a certificate of naturalisation will issue to her.

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (13 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: The application referred to by the Deputy was received in the Dublin Visa Office on 18th October, 2006. The decision of the Visa Officer to refuse the application was taken on 6th November, 2006. It is open to the applicant to appeal the decision. Comprehensive guidelines on making an appeal can be found on my Department's website (www.justice.ie). All appeals must be made within two months...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (13 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that Gardaí from Raheny and Clontarf Garda stations police the area referred to. The Gardaí maintain regular contact with management of the premises referred to in order to address any public order issues which may arise. Additional Gardaí are deployed in this area, particularly at weekends, and when events are being held. I am further informed by the...

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (13 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the Garda Síochána is aware of and vigilant to the potential risks of infiltration by non-national intelligence agencies and that appropriate measures are in place to counter such risks. I am further informed that there have been no confirmed incidents of such infiltration in the period referred to by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (13 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by An Garda Síochána that the following table shows the statistics for arrests, proceedings commenced and convictions recorded for drug offences in Carlow/Kildare Garda Division for the years 2001 to 2005. Arrests, proceedings commenced and convictions for drug related offences in the Carlow/Kildare Garda Division from 2001 to 2005. Year Arrests Proceedings Commenced...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (13 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: The figures for the headline offences of assault and burglary in each Garda Division are available in the relevant Garda Annual Reports, copies of which are available in the Oireachtas library.

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (13 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 256 of 1st November, 2006. I understand from OPW that tender competitions relating to their proposals to determine the remedial works required to re-open the Station are nearing completion. When proposals are received from the Board and examined by Garda Authorities, a decision can be taken on how best to proceed, including the...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (13 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 — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (13 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 125 and 131 to 134, inclusive, 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...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (13 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 — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (13 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: The amount spent on Consultancy under Vote 19, Office of the Minister of Justice, Equality and Law Reform to the end of October 2006 is €592,806. The following table outlines the amount spent under Vote 19 each year between 1997 and 2005: Year Amount € 1997 265,000 1998 99,000 1999 424,561 2000 972,117 2001 1,732,511 2002 3,213,356 2003 2,572,178 2004 2,523,706 2005 1,781,269

Written Answers — Witness Protection Scheme: Witness Protection Scheme (13 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that there have been no proceedings commenced or, therefore convictions obtained in the past four years pursuant to Section 40 of the Criminal Justice Act 1999 in relation to attempting to contact relocated witnesses under the Witness Security Programme.

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (13 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: The person concerned submitted an application for residence on the basis that he is the spouse of an EU citizen, having married the EU citizen in Ireland on the 25th January, 2006. The application has been examined under the provisions of the European Communities (Free Movement of Persons) Regulations 2006. An examination of the documentation submitted shows that the person concerned who is...

Seanad: Defamation Bill 2006: Second Stage (Resumed). (13 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: I thought for a moment that Senator Mansergh was suggesting he had started his doctorate before the French Revolution.

Seanad: Defamation Bill 2006: Second Stage (Resumed). (13 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: I thank Senators for the general welcome given to the Bill. It depended on a prior consultation process which, as acknowledged by many Members, was a broad process and an attempt to bring balance and consensus where it did not seem possible. I thank those who participated in that process because, broadly speaking, the terms of the Bill now command a sufficient consensus. I bear in mind...

Seanad: Defamation Bill 2006: Second Stage (Resumed). (13 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: A question then arises as to what accountability there is for such a person when huge standards of accountability are demanded of individual elected politicians. Is it relevant, for example, to the Prime Minister's office that the British Prime Minister's son got merry and was brought home by police because the Prime Minister has made speeches on public order issues? Is it relevant that the...

Seanad: Defamation Bill 2006: Second Stage (Resumed). (13 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: I would be censured and held in the lowest esteem for doing that to a newspaper editor. Is there any responsibility attached to the power of the media and is there any sense of obligation to be truthful? Members of the House have referred to what was published in one of yesterday's newspapers. I spoke about that to the former Tánaiste last night. I said I would take the opportunity of...

Seanad: Garda Reform: Statements (13 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: I do not intend simply to reprise the findings of the various reports which arise for consideration. Reports from eminent persons that are critical of the Garda Síochána are not to be taken lightly. What I am about to say and, more importantly, what I have done clearly illustrates that they have not been. The programme of reform was a recognition that fundamental issues affecting the...

Seanad: Garda Reform: Statements (13 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: I just wonder how many more sets of costs I will have to pay before Senator Norris is finished.