Results 14,141-14,160 of 18,736 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the current strength of the Garda Air Support Unit is one (1) Inspector, five (5) Sergeants and nineteen (19) Gardaí. At present there are no civilian personnel attached to the Unit. There are three (3) aircraft, one (1) fixed wing plane and two (2) helicopters available to the Unit with a third helicopter due for delivery later this year. The...

Written Answers — Deportation Orders: Deportation Orders (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I can inform the Deputy that the information sought is at present being compiled by the Irish Prison Service and the Garda National Immigration Bureau. The provision of the relevant data is complicated by the need to cross reference and check information emanating from their two separate databases. Following this exercise, the information will be matched against the database in the...

Written Answers — Prison Education Service: Prison Education Service (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: The Irish Prison Service places strong emphasis on the provision of vocational training for prisoners. Training activities are chosen to give as much employment as possible for those in prison and to give opportunities to acquire skills which will help them secure employment on their release. The Work and Training programme covers the services necessary for the smooth operation of the prison...

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities. I will be in contact with the Deputy when this information is to hand.

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: Community Policing is a central feature of current policing policy and members of Community policing units are encouraged to engage with the local communities where they are assigned. Current policing policy is predicated on the prevention of public order offences; the prevention of crime including crimes of violence against persons and property and the maintenance of an environment conducive...

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities. I will be in contact with the Deputy when this information is to hand.

Written Answers — Prison Education Service: Prison Education Service (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: Information relating to those prisoners with the lowest levels of educational accomplishment on committal in each of the years 2002 to date in 2007 are set out in the table below. These figures are based on prisoners' self report information which is recorded in relation to each prisoner on their committal. Following on from this each student coming into the Prison Education Centre will have...

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: As the Deputy will appreciate, vacancies arise and fall to be filled on State Boards and other bodies under my Department's aegis on an ongoing basis. Having reviewed the vacancies which exist or are scheduled to arise during the period in question, the information requested is as follows: State Board/Body Vacancies Existing/Envisaged Equality Authority 12 Criminal Injuries Compensation...

Written Answers — Overseas Students: Overseas Students (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: One of the main principles of Ireland's immigration system is that persons coming to Ireland should not be an undue burden on the resources of the State. In line with this general principle, the established policy in relation to the attendance of overseas students in Irish primary and second level schools is that visas should only be granted to those who are attending fee paying schools on...

Written Answers — Prisoner Releases: Prisoner Releases (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: The number of persons on temporary release on 30 March, 2007 was 165 persons. This equates to 4.7% of the total prisoner population, and stands in stark contrast to the position which obtained under the Rainbow Government when the numbers on temporary release stood at around 20% of the prison population. Comparative figures for the dates requested are set out in the following table. Date...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am proposing a number of amendments to the law on bail in the Criminal Justice Bill 2007 which is currently before this House. As the Deputy will be aware, the bail system operates under a general presumption in favour of granting bail, on the basis that the person is innocent before the law until proven guilty. Two statutes are particularly relevant to the operation of the arrangements...

Written Answers — Stardust Disaster: Stardust Disaster (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I can inform the Deputy that there has been extensive contact with the Stardust Victims Committee in recent years, leading to their lodging a comprehensive submission last July in which they set out their concerns regarding the original inquiry. This was followed up by a meeting on 18 September last at which the Taoiseach and I, together with senior officials and the Director of the Forensic...

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (4 Apr 2007)

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 — Drugs in Prisons: Drugs in Prisons (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: On 2 May 2006, I launched the Irish Prison Service Drugs Policy & Strategy, entitled Keeping Drugs out of Prison. This policy fulfils the commitment in the Programme for Government to publish the plan to end all heroin use in Irish prisons as well as my own commitment to achieve a drug-free prison system. The implementation of this Policy & Strategy has seen an intensification of efforts in...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: The Options Paper prepared by the Working Group on Domestic Partnership was published on 28 November 2006. I refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 14 and 30 of 7 December 2006. The position is as set out therein.

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities. I will be in contact with the Deputy when this information is to hand.

Written Answers — Asylum Support Services: Asylum Support Services (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: The Reception and Integration Agency is currently providing accommodation and ancillary services for 5785 asylum seekers. The accommodation portfolio of the Reception and Integration Agency comprises 2 reception centres, 47 accommodation centres and 9 self catering centres. Details of this accommodation portfolio are below. The 2007 budgetary provision for the Reception and Integration...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: The statistics required by the Deputy are set out in tabular form below. These figures illustrate a significant increase in the volume of applications for naturalisation received in recent years. I should point out that prior to 1997, each application was assigned a registration number, a record of which was then manually entered into ledgers. Some such registration numbers were subsequently...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: The information sought by the Deputy in regard to the number of applications for asylum which were refused since 1992 is set out in tabular format below. Asylum Application and Appeal Statistics — 1992 to 2007 (28/02) Year No. of asylum applications received No. of asylum applications refused at first instance* No. of asylum appeals refused 1992 39 12 3 1993 91 14 17 1994 362 21 14...

Written Answers — Youth Diversion Projects: Youth Diversion Projects (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: Garda Youth Diversion Projects are community-based, multi-agency crime prevention initiatives which seek to divert young people from becoming involved (or further involved) in anti-social and/or criminal behaviour by providing suitable activities to facilitate personal development and promote civic responsibility. The Garda Youth Diversion Projects are funded by my Department and...