Results 13,781-13,800 of 18,736 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (3 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am 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 13,178 following the attestation of 273 new members on Wednesday 14 March, 2007. This compares with a total strength of 10,702 (all ranks) on 30 June, 1997 and represents an increase of...

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (3 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: The information which the Deputy has requested is not readily available and is being compiled. When the information is to hand, I will write to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Legal Aid Service: Legal Aid Service (3 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I can inform the Deputy that the Regulations in question were updated last year by means of the Civil Legal Aid Regulations, 2006 which came into effect from 1 September, 2006. Under these new Regulations the income limits and allowances which govern eligibility for civil legal aid were all increased significantly, thereby ensuring that the scheme continues to provide effective access to...

Written Answers — Garda Vetting Services: Garda Vetting Services (3 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that a request for vetting was received in respect of the person in question on 19 March, 2007, and that this request is currently being processed. I am further informed that a response will issue as soon as all necessary enquiries are completed. It is not possible to provide an exact time frame for the completion of this process.

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (3 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: The person concerned arrived in the State on 28 December 2005 and applied for asylum. His application was refused following consideration of his case by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner and, on appeal, by the Refugee Appeals Tribunal. The person concerned was informed by letter dated 23 August 2006, that the Minister proposed to make a deportation order in respect of him...

Written Answers — Legal Profession: Legal Profession (3 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: A group claiming to represent victims of the legal profession were in contact with my office some months ago. I agreed to meet them but my offer was not taken up and I have had no further contact from them since.

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (3 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: As stated in my reply to Question No. 250 of 10 October 2006 and to Question No. 294 of 31 January 2007, processing of this file has commenced. However, I am informed by officials in the Citizenship section of my Department that they have been in touch with the person concerned requesting further documentation and to date this has not been received. As soon as this documentation is submitted...

Written Answers — Victims of Crime: Victims of Crime (3 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I wish to advise the Deputy that I am fully committed to giving victims of crime a central place in the criminal justice system. The Victims Charter entitled "Victims Charter and Guide to the Criminal Justice System" provides a written framework of rights and entitlements against which crime victims can measure the level and standard of treatment received in their dealings across all sections...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (3 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Immigration Division of my Department that the Family Reunification application from the person in question was refused on 18 January 2007. At present there is no Family Reunification application pending in respect of the above named.

Written Answers — Closed Circuit Television Systems: Closed Circuit Television Systems (3 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy will be aware that there are plans to provide a Garda Town Centre CCTV system for Finglas. I am informed by the Garda authorities that the selected contractors have been requested to commence the installation of all nine cameras that constitute the system. The completion date for installation will be subject to the planning process, permission for wayleaves and completion of...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (3 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I can inform the Deputy that one member of staff in my Department has been provided with two phone lines at his home, being separate phone and fax lines and warranted by the communications needs of his duties.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (3 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: In 2006 my Department paid €1,300 in respect of travel and subsistence to officers engaged in training staff. To date in 2007 the Department has had no expenditure on travel and subsistence for officers engaged in training staff. In 2006 training courses were conducted on 142.5 days. To date in 2007 training courses have been conducted on 44 days. The move of the Civil Service Training &...

Written Answers — Departmental Transport: Departmental Transport (3 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I can inform the Deputy that I requested no additional equipment, such as satellite navigation, in my official transport.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (3 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: From January 2006 to date, nine people from my Department have attended pre-retirement courses organised by the Civil Service Training & Development Centre. Seven of these people attended the course at a Dublin location and as all of them were Dublin based there were no subsistence costs associated with the training. Two people attended the pre-retirement course in Tullamore and the average...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (3 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I can inform the Deputy that, under the Decentralisation Programme, no staff have been obliged to move to another section following their transfer to my Department.

Written Answers — Prison Education Service: Prison Education Service (3 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: The Irish Prison Service publication entitled "The Prison Adult Literacy Survey — Results and Implications" published in September 2003 is the most recent information available to my Department. The major results of the survey showed that a significant number of prisoners have virtually no literacy skills — 52% of them were at Level 1 or Pre-Level 1 literacy levels. In other words, more...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (3 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: Following the submission to me in 2004 of a report and recommendations by an expert group on crime statistics, I decided that the compilation and publication of crime statistics should be taken over by the Central Statistics Office, as the national statistical agency, from the Garda Síochána. The Garda Síochána Act, 2005 consequently makes provision for this and the CSO has established a...

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (3 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 214 and 222 together. The enforcement of the law relating to drugs and public order continues to be a key element in the Government's policing priorities as reflected in An Garda Síochána's Policing Plan for 2007. The Gardaí continue to achieve considerable successes in reaching the drug seizure targets set down in the Government's National Drugs Strategy...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (3 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I have asked to have the information compiled in the format sought by the Deputy and I will communicate with him in relation to this matter at the earliest opportunity.

Written Answers — Garda Communications: Garda Communications (3 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities that a co-ordinating framework linking Garda District, Divisional and National Drug Policing Plans is in place within An Garda Síochána. Furthermore, the Garda Síochána Act 2005, makes provisions for Joint Policing Committees at local authority level and for the establishment of local policing fora in designated areas under the umbrella of...