Results 5,941-5,960 of 18,728 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Anti-Racism Measures: Anti-Racism Measures (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I would refer the Deputy to my reply to Dáil Question No. 79 of 7 December, 2006 where I outline in detail the progress made under the National Action Plan Against Racism (NPAR) since its launch in January 2005. I am sure that the Deputy will agree that considerable progress has been made under all of the key objectives of the intercultural framework underpinning the NPAR: Protection,...

Written Answers — Prisoner Releases: Prisoner Releases (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: The recommendation in question of the Irish Human Rights Commission is based on the premise that our existing law on the temporary release of prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment is incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights. There has been no specific finding of a court to this effect and my advice is that premise is questionable. The question of the compatibility of our...

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

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the Garda investigation into the murder of the person in question remains ongoing. I am further informed that this investigation involves local Garda resources supplemented and assisted by resources from national Garda units, as well as close liaison with the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

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

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 37 and 55 together. 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...

Written Answers — Recidivism Rate: Recidivism Rate (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I welcome the findings of the recent research by the Institute of Criminology in University College Dublin to which the Deputy refers. I can inform the Deputy that the Researchers received the full co-operation of the Irish Prison Services in carrying out the research. The findings are in line with international experience, and I understand that they may in fact be considered to fall in the...

Written Answers — National Women's Strategy: National Women's Strategy (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 39 and 47 together. The National Women's Strategy is currently being finalised with a view to bringing it to Government shortly, and, in this regard, the target date for publication of the Strategy is by end of March 2007. While the preparation of the Strategy has been time-consuming, it has involved a significant amount of research and consultation with a...

Written Answers — Prison Redevelopment: Prison Redevelopment (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: Approximately 21 acres of land was sold to Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council in 2005. Prison Service Officials were at the time informed by the Council that it had no interest in the remaining 6.3 acres including the buildings, which were subsequently sold by public tender competition in October, 2006 to Castlethorn Construction for €20.6m. Following the disposal of the 6.3 acres the...

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

Michael McDowell: The combined strength of both attested Gardaí and recruits in training as at the 31 December 2006 was 14,068. Furthermore, in December, 2006 as part of a package of anti-crime measures, the Government approved the continuation of the existing Garda recruitment programme to achieve a total Garda strength of 15,000. Additional resources are coming on stream all the time, with an accelerated...

Written Answers — Prison Committals: Prison Committals (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: The study referred to by the Deputy was undertaken in 2003 by a team from the Central Mental Hospital. The Irish Prison Service was pleased to facilitate and part-fund this study. I welcome the findings which clarify for the first time the actual level of various mental health problems among the Irish prison population. The findings of the study confirm that the rates of diagnosed mental...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 44 and 73 together. I am informed by the Garda authorities that the table shows the numbers of murder offences recorded where a firearm was used and the numbers of detections, proceedings commenced and convictions in respect of those murders between the years 1998 and 2006 and in 2007 up to 19 February. It is anticipated that the number of convictions...

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

Michael McDowell: The work of the Expert Group to which the Deputy refers is ongoing and there was never a specific formal time limit placed by me on its important deliberations. However I can say that there is regular and ongoing contact between the Group and officials from my Department. In that context the Group has, with my agreement, taken the time to allow it to comprehend the detention module of the...

Written Answers — Property Management Companies: Property Management Companies (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: Issues relating to multi-unit developments and the operation of property management companies were discussed at a Conference organised by my Department and the Law Reform Commission on 25 January. The Conference provided an opportunity for a preliminary discussion of the wide range of policy issues identified in the Law Reform Commission's Consultation Paper on Multi-Unit Developments. A...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: As I outlined in my address of 27 January 2007 at a public interest seminar in the Law Society on the soon to be published Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill 2007, I am considering including in this Bill provisions for detaining certain protection claimants, with a view to processing their claims quickly and efficiently to finality. Processing certain categories of protection...

Written Answers — Prison Accommodation: Prison Accommodation (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy may be aware that on 1 September, 2006 I directed that Wheatfield Prison and the Midlands Prison operate as committal prisons for certain male adult prisoners sentenced by courts in designated counties. The effect is that Mountjoy's committal responsibility was reduced to Dublin City and County. Following this designation the number of new committals to Mountjoy has reduced...

Written Answers — Closed Circuit Television Systems: Closed Circuit Television Systems (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that Garda Town Centre CCTV Systems have been installed in the following locations: Dublin North Central — 44 cameras — monitored at the Garda Office, O'Connell Street; Dublin South Central — 25 cameras — monitored at Pearse Street Garda Station; Cork City — 29 cameras — monitored at Anglesea Street Garda Station; Tralee — 24 cameras —...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: As I indicated in my reply to a similar Question (No. 16) on 7 December last, work on the Scheme of the Judicial Council Bill is at an advanced stage of development in my Department. I expect to be in a position to bring it to Government for approval in the reasonably near future. The Bill will build on the Report of the Committee on Judicial Conduct and Ethics chaired by the former Chief...

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

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources that the personnel strength 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 10,702 as at 30 June, 1997 and represents an increase of 2,298 (or 21.5%) in the personnel...

Written Answers — Commissions of Investigation: Commissions of Investigation (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: The Order establishing the Commission of Investigation which specified the matter to be investigated was approved by resolution of both Houses of the Oireachtas on 30 November 2005 and 1 December 2005 respectively. When I published the Commission's Report on 1 September 2006, I sent a copy to the Expert Group which I established in the light of concerns arising from the Dean Lyons case. The...

Written Answers — Anti-Racism Measures: Anti-Racism Measures (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: My Department is responsible for co-ordinating the implementation of the National Action Plan Against Racism (NPAR). The plan, which provides strategic direction to combat racism and to develop a more inclusive, intercultural society in Ireland, was launched in 2005 and will run until the end of 2008. It is based on five pillars: protection, inclusion, provision, recognition and...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: The information requested by the Deputy is as follows: In 2006 there were 4,314 applications for refugee status in the State which was a slight decrease on the 2005 figure and the lowest annual total since 1997. The 2006 figure represents a 63% reduction on the 2002 high of 11,634 asylum applications. In 2006 there were 397 recommendations to grant refugee status at first instance by the...