Results 12,421-12,440 of 18,736 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (13 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy can be assured that there is an enormous work programme in place to progress the refurbishment or replacement of specific Garda stations in order to bring them up to the highest standard. Between the start of 2005 to the end of 2007, the Office of Public Works will have spent approximately €112 million on a wide range of Garda building projects. In 2005 alone, that Office spent...

Written Answers — Garda Transport: Garda Transport (13 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 277 to 279, inclusive, together. A large range of vehicles currently is in use by the Garda Authorities including marked and unmarked cars, vans, motor cycles, 4 X 4 vehicles, minibuses and lorries. The allocation or reallocation of these vehicles is constantly assessed by the Garda authorities. The number and type of vehicles currently available for use by...

Written Answers — Garda Equipment: Garda Equipment (13 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 280 and 282 together. I am assured by the Garda Authorities that PULSE, the primary IT system for An Garda Síochána, is operating very satisfactorily. Significant investment has been made to improve the availability and response times of the system and I am advised that as a result, over the course of the past year, there has been no unplanned downtime of...

Written Answers — Garda Equipment: Garda Equipment (13 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I have asked the Garda authorities to update the figures I supplied to the Deputy in response to a similar question (10576/06) raised by him last year. I will be in touch with Deputy as soon as these figures become available.

Written Answers — Garda Training: Garda Training (13 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 283 and 284 together. I am advised by the Garda Authorities that they have available to them a range of facilities for the delivery of firearms training. The Garda authorities are pursuing a number of solutions to provide enhanced and dedicated firearms training facilities. These include, replacement of the existing firearms range at Garda Headquarters with a...

Written Answers — Prison Committals: Prison Committals (13 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 285 and 286 together. The information sought by the Deputy is set out in the table. The figures relate to 2005 as the cost of keeping an offender for 2006 will not be available until later in the year. Prisons and Places of Detention Average cost of keeping prisoner in custody — 2005 Average number of prisoners in custody — 2005 € Arbour Hill...

Written Answers — Garda Transport: Garda Transport (13 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 287 to 290, inclusive, together. I am advised by the Garda authorities that in accordance with the requirements of the EU Council Directives on procurement, the purchase of fuels for the Garda fleet is organised through an open competitive tendering process. The award criteria for such tenders include location/opening hours of nominated fuel stations and the...

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (13 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 291 and 292 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 following the attestation of 299 new members on Thursday, 16 November, 2006. This compares with a total strength of...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (13 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: The legislation for which I have responsibility in my Department in the present Session is as contained in the Government's Legislative Programme announced by the Chief Whip on 30 January 2007. The ordering of the legislation that is before the House and any other measures I may bring forward is a matter for the Government Chief Whip in consultation with other Whips.

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (13 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that I obtained Government approval today for the priority drafting of the Criminal Justice (Forensic Sampling and Evidence) Bill 2007. The establishment of a DNA database for criminal investigation purposes will be a central element of the Bill. I expect the Bill to be published and enacted later this year. In line with the Government decision it is my...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (13 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: The United Nations Convention against Corruption was adopted by the UN General Assembly in October 2003 and was signed on behalf of Ireland, when it opened for signature, in December 2003. The Convention entered into force on 14 December 2005. My officials, in consultation with the Office of the Attorney General, are currently examining the Convention. They have also undertaken consultations...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (13 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: Ireland already has extensive legislation in place to tackle money laundering and the financing of terrorism activities. I intend to seek the Government's approval shortly to extend the current legislative provisions in this area. I am currently in the process of preparing legislation to transpose Directive 2005/60/EC of the European Parliament and of Council on the prevention of the use of...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (13 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: My Department is currently examining the Report on Prosecution Appeals and Pre-trial Hearings which was published by the Law Reform Commission in November 2006. I am also awaiting the Report of the Balance in the Criminal Law Review Group which I established last November and which is due to report in March of this year. The issue of prosecution appeals has a number of aspects to it. First,...

Written Answers — National Development Plan: National Development Plan (13 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 298 and 299 together. I wish to refer the Deputy to my press release of 23 January, 2007 which set out key elements within the €2.82 billion allocated under the National Development Plan (NDP) for Justice and Equality programmes. This unprecedented level of funding will support major infrastructural development in An Garda Síochána as well as the in the...

Written Answers — Crime Prevention: Crime Prevention (14 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 191 to 194, inclusive, together. By its very nature, the internet lends itself to being used for a wide range of criminal activities. This can include illegal pornography, racist or hate materials, financial fraud, intimidation or any other criminal activity carried out via the internet. Combating such illegal, harmful and predatory use of the internet...

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (14 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 195 and 206 together. I note that the information referred to in the details supplied by the Deputy was originally sent to the Office of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and was subsequently passed on to the Criminal Investigation Department of the Police Service of Northern Ireland for their attention. As I previously informed the Deputy, I am...

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (14 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that although the same type of explosive was used in both incidents, the devices were not identical in construction.

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (14 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 197 to 199, inclusive, together. I am informed by the Garda authorities that the Garda Síochána is currently reviewing two incidents which occurred in this jurisdiction in the 1990s, in liaison with the Police Service of Northern Ireland. I am further informed that no requests have been received from the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland in relation to...

Written Answers — Registration of Title: Registration of Title (14 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Property Registration Authority that the information requested by the Deputy is contained in the table, and was calculated on the following basis. The total number of dealings on hands in the Property Registration Authority at 31 January, 2007 was 175,790 of which 35,364 were the subject of queries and cannot be proceeded with until a satisfactory reply is received. The...

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (14 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the Garda investigation into matters relating to the bank robbery in question remains ongoing. The issue of whether prosecutions will arise from the incident remains a matter for the Director of Public Prosecutions. In the circumstances, it would not be appropriate for me to make further comment at this time.