Results 11,941-11,960 of 18,736 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (31 Jan 2007)

Michael McDowell: I would refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 121 of 14 December, 2006. The murder of the unarmed Garda in question was fully investigated by the Garda Síochána at the time. I facilitated a briefing of a representative of the family and his legal adviser in this matter by a leading member of the original Garda investigation team, who confirmed my opinion that the...

Written Answers — Stardust Disaster: Stardust Disaster (31 Jan 2007)

Michael McDowell: The Victims Committee has been advised that an external and independent examination of their submission is to be carried out by an eminent legal person. The arrangements for this examination are the subject of ongoing communication with the Committee's solicitor.

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (31 Jan 2007)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 223 and 224 together. Under the timetable set out in the most recent report from the Decentralisation Implementation Group to the Minister for Finance, two hundred and thirty posts from the Property Registration Authority are scheduled to move to Roscommon by mid 2009. These posts include general service, technical and specialist grades, the precise details...

Written Answers — Traveller Issues: Traveller Issues (31 Jan 2007)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to the Report of the High Level Group on Traveller Issues which was published in March 2006 following approval by the Government. The recommendations contained in the Report represent the position of the Government. The details are available on my Department's website at www.justice.ie. The Report makes clear the extent to which Traveller groups are represented in the...

Written Answers — Public Order Offences: Public Order Offences (31 Jan 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the Criminal Damage Act, 1991 and the Litter Pollution Act, 1997 provide for the offences of damaging or defacing property. The Criminal Damage Act 1991 does not provide a specific offence of defacing property with graffiti. Statistics are therefore not available to identify the number of persons prosecuted for offences involving graffiti....

Written Answers — Immigration Registration Certificates: Immigration Registration Certificates (31 Jan 2007)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 227, 239 and 358 together. A fee for immigration registration certificates was introduced in the Immigration Act 2004 (Registration Certificate Fee) Regulations 2006, which came into effect on 27 May 2006. The introduction of such a fee had been flagged both in the Immigration Act 2004, and in the discussion document containing the outline policy proposals...

Written Answers — Immigration Support Services: Immigration Support Services (31 Jan 2007)

Michael McDowell: The person concerned made an application for a travel document in April 2006 and was refused as no documentary evidence was provided to support his claim that he needed to travel to obtain his own national passport. The person in question was asked for such documentation in a letter issued on 5 April 2006 but to date this has not been provided. In the event that the person in question...

Written Answers — Employment Rights: Employment Rights (31 Jan 2007)

Michael McDowell: The Maternity Protection (Protection of Mothers who are Breast-feeding) Regulations 2004 which came into operation on 18th October 2004, make provision for an employee who is breast-feeding to take 1 hour off from her work each working day as a breast-feeding break without loss of pay, until the child is 6 months provided: the employee's date of confinement is not more than twenty six weeks...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (31 Jan 2007)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 230 and 372 together. I understand from the Immigration Division of my Department that the person in question was granted permission to remain in the State under the provisions of Section 18 of the Refugee Act, 1996 on the 12th August, 2005. This permission to remain is valid up to the 13th March, 2007 at which time it will renewable under the same conditions.

Written Answers — Children Act 2001: Children Act 2001 (31 Jan 2007)

Michael McDowell: The Children Act 2001 is the primary statutory framework for the youth justice system. It adopts a twin-track approach which addresses both the issue of child welfare and of youth justice. The aim is to address the needs of children who require special care or protection in tandem with addressing the issue of offending children. Responsibilities under the Act span three Government...

Written Answers — Juvenile Offenders: Juvenile Offenders (31 Jan 2007)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy will be aware of the changes in recent years aimed at bringing about improvements in the youth justice system and I am pleased to say that I have secured additional resources, as published in the recent estimates, to support changes being made in this area, including the establishment of the Irish Youth Justice Service (IYJS). Funding for Young Person's Probation, which was...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (31 Jan 2007)

Michael McDowell: I wish to inform the Deputy that all staff in my Department and my Department's agencies currently earn more than one euro per hour above the national minimum wage. I can further inform the Deputy that the Request for Tender documents template used by my Department in respect of service contracts includes a notice which states that "It shall be a condition of this contract that the successful...

Written Answers — Closed Circuit Television Systems: Closed Circuit Television Systems (31 Jan 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that Clonmel is one of the 17 areas which form part of the current Garda CCTV Programme, as follows (listed alphabetically): Athlone, Ballyfermot, Carlow, Castlebar, Clondalkin, Clonmel, Drogheda, Dungarvan, Ennis, Kilkenny, Kinsale, Mullingar, Portlaoise, Sligo, Tallaght, Tullamore and Waterford. The Garda authorities are currently finalising the tender...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (31 Jan 2007)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Question Nos. 14 and 30 of 7 December 2006. The position is as set out therein.

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (31 Jan 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda Authorities that up to 18 January, 2007 a total of 15 complaints were received at Kells Garda Station, Co. Meath, relating to the operation of a "People in Profit System" (PIPS). The Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation is assisting in the investigation of these complaints. I am further informed by the Garda Authorities that they are awaiting a response to enquiries...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (31 Jan 2007)

Michael McDowell: I understand from the Immigration Division of my Department that the person in question made a Family Reunification application on behalf of his wife and children in February 2005. The application was forwarded to the Refugee Applications Commissioner for investigation as required under Section 18 of the Refugee Act, 1996. The Commissioner submitted a report on the investigation to my...

Written Answers — Homicide Offences: Homicide Offences (31 Jan 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the following table shows the numbers of murder offences recorded where a firearm was used and the numbers of detections, proceedings commenced and convictions in respect of those murders between 1 June, 2002 and 1 December 2006. It is anticipated that the number of convictions obtained will increase as the number of proceedings commenced are...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (31 Jan 2007)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 240 to 242, inclusive, together. Advertisements inviting applications for renewal of permission to remain granted under the IBC/05 scheme were placed in National Newspapers this morning 31 January, 2007. Applications must be made on the official IBC renewal form which sets out the requirements for renewal and which is available on my Department's website...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (31 Jan 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the total personnel strength (all ranks) of the Tallaght Drug Unit as of 31 December for the years 2002- 2006, inclusive, was as per the following table: No. of personnel — Garda Drug Unit Tallaght 2002-2006 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 8 8 8 8 8 In addition to the work undertaken by that unit and the National Support Units, a significant part of...

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (31 Jan 2007)

Michael McDowell: On foot of my proposal, the Government decided last year that a commission of investigation should be established into the making of a confession by the late Dean Lyons about the tragic deaths of Ms. Mary Callinan and Ms Sylvia Shiels in March 1997 in Grangegorman Dublin 7. A draft of the Order establishing the Commission and a statement of reasons for its establishment were approved by each...