Results 6,961-6,980 of 18,728 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Civil Partnerships: Civil Partnerships (7 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 35 of 8 June 2006. I would propose to supplement that earlier response with a number of brief observations. The Options Paper on Domestic Partnership, prepared by a Working Group established by me in March 2006, was published on 28 November. The Options Paper focuses on three distinct types of cohabiting relationships: opposite-sex couples,...

Written Answers — Electronic Monitoring of Offenders: Electronic Monitoring of Offenders (7 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy will be aware that the recently enacted Criminal Justice Act, 2006 provides a basis for the introduction of Electronic Monitoring of offenders who are the subject of Restriction on Movement Orders or of prisoners who are on temporary release. I considered that I should take the opportunity presented by the legislation to introduce the necessary enabling provisions. However, I...

Written Answers — Prison Building Programme: Prison Building Programme (7 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Irish Prison Service has identified the need to construct a new prison complex to serve the Munster area. The new facility will provide single cell accommodation with proper in-cell sanitation facilities as well as offering significant benefits in the areas of work training, educational and medical services. At present there is work in progress to appraise the suitability of Spike...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (7 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: The figures for headline offences recorded and detected in the Dublin Metropolitan Region are available in the relevant Garda Annual Reports, copies of which are available in the Oireachtas library.

Written Answers — Public Order Offences: Public Order Offences (7 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: It is my intention that the provisions of the Criminal Justice Act 2006 on anti-social behaviour by adults will be commenced on 1 January, 2007 and those on anti-social behaviour by children on 1 March, 2007, following the consultations required under the Act between my Department, the Office of the Minister for Children and the Commissioner of the Garda Síochána. The purpose of this is to...

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (7 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the Commissioner is satisfied that all appropriate measures were taken, based on the intelligence available at the time. Where information is received by An Garda Síochána of a threat against a particular individual the case is examined and a risk assessment is carried out. Where appropriate crime prevention advice is given to the person and...

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (7 Dec 2006)

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 13,000 on Thursday, 16 November, 2006, following the attestation of 299 new members. This compares with a total strength of 10,702 (all ranks) as at 30 June, 1997 and represents an...

Written Answers — Child Protection: Child Protection (7 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: The report of the Joint Committee on Child Protection was laid before the Oireachtas on 30 November and was published on that day. In conjunction with my colleague, the Minister for Children, I am examining the comprehensive report of the Joint Committee. Following that examination proposals for implementation of the recommendations in the Report will be brought to Government for approval.

Written Answers — Joyriding Offences: Joyriding Offences (7 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Garda Policing Plan 2006 sets as a strategic goal the reduction of the incidence of fatal and serious injury collisions. In order to achieve this goal An Garda Síochána has sectioned the road network into 8km zones and analysed the collisions data for the past ten years within these zones. A weighting is then assigned to each zone based on the collision data. Enforcement is then...

Written Answers — Ministerial Appointments: Ministerial Appointments (7 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Judicial Appointments Advisory Board is appointed under the provisions of the Courts and Court Officers Act, 1995. Section 13(2)(c) of the Act states that the Board may include "not more than three persons appointed by the Minister who shall be persons engaged in, or having knowledge or experience (being knowledge or experience that the Minister considers appropriate) of commerce,...

Written Answers — Court Staff: Court Staff (7 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: On the 13th November, 2006, I issued a statement on the resignation in question. The statement may be found on the website of my Department. I have nothing further to add.

Written Answers — Probation and Welfare Service: Probation and Welfare Service (7 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Questions No. 118 of 7 November, 2006 in which I set out the significant developments that are taking place in the Probation Service. I am pleased to tell the Deputy that I have secured funding of €59.323 million for the Probation Service in 2007 which is an increase of 19.32% over the 2006 allocation of €49.719m.

Written Answers — Weapons Amnesty: Weapons Amnesty (7 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by An Garda Síochána that a total of 822 firearms, 108 knives, 40 swords, 32 assorted offensive weapons and a quantity of ammunition were surrendered under the recent Weapons Amnesty. An extensive national awareness campaign was undertaken to promote the Amnesty. The campaign included advertisements in the national and provincial newspapers and specialist publications...

Written Answers — Garda Recruitment: Garda Recruitment (7 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: In August 2005, I received a submission from the Garda Commissioner on the resourcing requirements of An Garda Síochána. The submission was based on the Commissioner's analysis of the policing challenges facing An Garda Síochána in the medium and longer term, including the implications of demographic change, the need to continue to combat crime and terrorist threats, and the requirements...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (7 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 70 and 91 together. I refer the Deputy to my reply to Questions No. 151 and 205 of 7 November, 2006 in which I indicated that I was aware of reports suggesting that prisoners are attempting criminal activities from inside prison cells. I again wish to assure the Deputy that I am committed to continuing to implement all appropriate measures to prevent the...

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (7 Dec 2006)

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 — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (7 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: I wish to advise the Deputy that proposals for the establishment of a working group to review restorative justice nationally and internationally have been received from the Probation Service. I will announce the terms of reference and composition of the group in January, 2007.

Written Answers — Deportation Orders: Deportation Orders (7 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: The deportation costs provided in the table refer to the deportation of either illegal immigrants, persons refused refugee status in the State or persons whose applications for asylum have been transferred to another country under the Dublin Convention/ Dublin II Regulations. The vast majority of the removals involved persons who were refused refugee status in the State. Set out in the table...

Written Answers — Asylum Support Services: Asylum Support Services (7 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: I can inform the Deputy that the expenditure in relation to asylum and immigration matters by my Department in 2006 (to the end of November) is €119.702m. It is not possible to separate out expenditure on asylum related matters prior to 1998 as compilation of these statistics would require a disproportionate amount of staff time and effort to prepare and could not be justified in current...

Written Answers — Courts Service: Courts Service (7 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am not currently considering proposals from the Courts Service for restructuring fees. I understand, however, that the Courts Service plan to engage in a further comprehensive review of court fees during the course of next year.