Results 5,901-5,920 of 18,728 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Closed Circuit Television Systems: Closed Circuit Television Systems (27 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am committed to the expansion of the CCTV programme and contracts have recently been signed by the Garda authorities for the installation of CCTV systems in Ballyfermot, Clondalkin and Tullamore. These three towns were chosen as representative of the average size of a Garda Síochána CCTV system, containing a good cross-section of the type of urban area in which Garda CCTV is typically...

Written Answers — Closed Circuit Television Systems: Closed Circuit Television Systems (27 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities that following issue of tenders for the supply and installation of a Garda Town Centre CCTV System in Tullamore in October, 2006, a contract for the installation, operational/technical training and maintenance of the system has been awarded to BT Communications. The contract was signed by the Garda Authorities on 1st February 2007 and a 3 month...

Written Answers — Closed Circuit Television Systems: Closed Circuit Television Systems (27 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am advised by the Garda authorities that they have no record of a formal application for a Garda CCTV system in Longford. All applications for Garda CCTV systems must be prepared in co-operation and with support of local Garda District and Divisional Officers. Such applications are then be submitted by the Divisional Officer to the Garda Advisory Committee for consideration and evaluation...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (27 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: An application for residency in the State on the basis of marriage to an Irish national was received from the person in question in January 2006. Applications of this kind, in fairness to all other such applicants, are dealt with in strict chronological order and currently take approximately twelve months to process. It should be noted that marriage to an Irish national does not confer an...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (27 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: The position in relation to granting long term residency is as follows: Persons who have been legally resident in the State for over five years on the basis of work permit/work authorisation/work visa conditions may apply to the Immigration Division of my Department for a five year residency extension. In that context they may also apply to be exempt from employment permit requirements. The...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (27 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: There is no requirement on EEA nationals to obtain the permission of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform in order to operate a business in the State. Accordingly the statistical information sought by the Deputy is not in existence. Citizens of member states of the EEA — other than European Union (EU) citizens — are subject to the European Communities (Aliens)...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (27 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 274 and 275 together. 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...

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (27 Feb 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 Investigations: Garda Investigations (27 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I would refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 201 of 14 February, 2007. The position remains unchanged. Correspondence recently received from the legal representative of the person in question does not materially alter this position.

Written Answers — Closed Circuit Television Systems: Closed Circuit Television Systems (27 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: As the Deputy is aware I launched the Community Based CCTV Scheme in June 2005 in response to the demonstrated demand from local communities across Ireland for the provision of CCTV systems. This Scheme is designed to provide financial assistance to qualifying local organisations towards meeting the capital costs associated with the establishment of local community CCTV systems. The scheme...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Accidents: Road Traffic Accidents (27 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the following table shows the number of persons killed on Irish roads between 7am and 12 noon in 2005 and 2006. Year Fatalities 2006 74 2005 71

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (27 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that maintenance works to the external lighting at the entrances to Inistioge Garda Station were carried out in April 2006. Garda authorities inform me that no further application in respect of the external lighting has been received by the Garda Accommodation manager in respect of Inistioge since that time. However, any further requests for...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Accidents: Road Traffic Accidents (27 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that there are currently 25 Garda forensic collision investigators trained in An Garda Síochána. A further 12 members commenced training on 19 February, 2007. It is planned that, on completion of the training courses in 2007, there will be trained forensic collision investigators attached to each Garda Division in the country. I am further informed...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (27 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: My Department's decentralisation programme runs from 2004 to 2009 and involves the transfer of around 900 posts from twelve agencies and units under the aegis of my Department to seven locations around the country. Any decisions on the disposal or use of Dublin office space, post decentralisation, will be taken in consultation with the Office of Public Works. Those decisions will depend on a...

Written Answers — Garda Vetting Services: Garda Vetting Services (27 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the disclosure made by the Garda Cental Vetting Unit (GCVU) in this case was not a vetting disclosure but, rather, a disclosure pursuant to Section 4 of the Data Protection Act 1988, as amended. The two kinds of disclosure are qualitatively different and are intended for quite distinct purposes. A vetting service is provided by the GCVU to...

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (22 Feb 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 — Prison Drug Treatment Service: Prison Drug Treatment Service (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: The new Irish Prison Service Drugs Policy & Strategy — 'Keeping Drugs Out of Prisons' — will see existing drug treatment programmes, including the provision of methadone maintenance programmes where clinically indicated, being expanded and enhanced. This policy envisages a multifaceted approach towards tackling the problems associated with substance misuse in the prison environment....

Written Answers — Garda Reserve: Garda Reserve (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: The Garda Commissioner is proceeding with the recruitment and training of 1,500 members of the Garda Reserve. The first group of 36 Garda Reserves completed their training and were formally attested as members of An Garda Síochána on 15th December 2006. They have been deployed in Dublin (Store Street and Pearse Street), Cork (Anglesea Street), Galway City and Sligo. The second group...

Written Answers — Garda Reports: Garda Reports (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 and 16 together. I published last November the two important reports recommending radical reform of the top management structure of An Garda Síochána. The reports are by the Garda Síochána Inspectorate and the Garda Síochána Advisory Group chaired by Senator Maurice Hayes. By way of background, the Garda Síochána Inspectorate was established in July...

Written Answers — Garda Equipment: Garda Equipment (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am aware of the views expressed by the President of the Garda Representative Association which I believe were reported late last year in the media. I reject the reported remarks out of hand. The record will clearly show that under this Government An Garda Síochána has never been better resourced. Deputies can judge for themselves the level of investment in An Garda Síochána under this...