Results 4,641-4,660 of 18,728 for speaker:Michael McDowell

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...

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

Michael McDowell: An Garda Síochána, as part of its contribution to the Europol Organised Crime Report which was recently refined to become the Organised Crime Threat Assessment (OCTA), undertakes an annual assessment of organised crime in Ireland. The most recent assessment was completed in November 2006. This analysis concludes that the nature of organised crime gangs continues to be the same as in...

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

Michael McDowell: With the huge increase in Garda resources facilitated by this Government, I am satisfied that it has enabled a major investment by the Force in technology to meet the challenges of modern society. This year an unprecedented level of resources is being invested in technology for the Gardaí to assist them in the exercise of all their functions. The capital allocation for Information...

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: 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 Strength: Garda Strength (4 Apr 2007)

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 13,178 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...

Written Answers — Prison Accommodation: Prison Accommodation (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: High risk criminals are dispersed throughout the prison system. However, a substantial number of them are held in Portlaoise prison, which is currently operating at 63% of its capacity. I have been advised by the Irish Prison Service that custodial procedures are not breached with respect to high risk criminals. The decision to locate an individual at a particular institution is normally...

Written Answers — Prison Accommodation: Prison Accommodation (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: The total number of prisoners in custody on 2 April, 2007 was 3,283 compared with a bed capacity of 3,416. This represents an occupancy level of 96%. In relation to the number of cells not designed to cater for more than one person, it is not possible to provide the information requested by the Deputy in the time available as the information is not readily available. However, my Department...