Results 6,981-7,000 of 18,728 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Juvenile Offenders: Juvenile Offenders (7 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: Following a review of the youth justice system the Government agreed, in December 2005, to a number of reforms including amendments to the Children Act 2001 (since provided under the Criminal Justice Act, 2006) and the establishment of the Irish Youth Justice Service. The issue of the accommodation of juvenile offenders in secure detention centres comes within the scope of these reforms....

Written Answers — Anti-Racism Measures: Anti-Racism Measures (7 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: The National Action Plan Against Racism (NPAR) was launched on 27 January, 2005 by the Taoiseach, myself and the Minister of State at my Department, Mr. Frank Fahey T.D.. The proposal for a National Action Plan Against Racism arose from a commitment at the UN World Conference Against Racism in South Africa in 2001 that each member state of the United Nations should develop and implement a...

Written Answers — Garda Vetting Services: Garda Vetting Services (7 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: The phased expansion of Garda vetting services commenced in the first quarter of this year and is proceeding apace, in co-operation with the relevant client sectors and the associated Government Departments and Agencies. This expansion will continue until all organisations which recruit persons to work in a substantial, unsupervised capacity with children and vulnerable adults can avail of...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (7 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: An application for naturalisation from the individual in question was received in the Citizenship Division of my Department on 7 September 2006. Applications for naturalisation, including those from persons married to Irish citizens, are generally dealt with in chronological order as this method is deemed to be fairest to all applicants. Citizenship Division is presently dealing with...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (7 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Question 398 of 27, September 2006. At the time, I indicated that processing of the applications has commenced and that the files will be presented to me for a decision in the near future. This remains the position.

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

Michael McDowell: The figures for public order offences, where proceedings commenced, in each Garda Region are available in the relevant Garda Annual Reports, copies of which are available in the Oireachtas library. I can inform the Deputy that strong provisions are in place to combat public order problems including anti-social behaviour. The primary basis for the law regarding public order offences is the...

Written Answers — Illegal Immigrants: Illegal Immigrants (7 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: Further to my Reply to Question No. 121 on Thursday 23 November 2006, I am advised by An Garda Síochána of the following details. In performing his or her functions under the Immigration Act, 2004, an Immigration Officer is obliged, pursuant to the provisions of the Immigration Act, 2004, to have regard to all the circumstances of the non-national concerned made known to the officer, or...

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

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the ten crime classifications used to show the more serious crimes (headline offences) were first introduced in the Garda Síochána Annual Report of 2000. The Deputy will be aware that, with respect to the year 2000, the Garda Síochána changed the system of crime presentation as part of the PULSE information technology project. Specifically, the...

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (7 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: I can assure the Deputy that the policy of targeting those involved in drug trafficking remains among the Government's top policing priorities. There is no question of there being any deficiency in the resources, equipment and personnel available to the Gardaí in pursuit of this priority. I wish to inform the Deputy that as proof of the Government's commitment and determination to ensure...

Written Answers — Witness Intimidation: Witness Intimidation (7 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the table shows the number of proceedings commenced for the offence of intimidation of a witness/juror for the years 2001 to 2005. Year Proceedings Commenced 2005 21 2004 30 2003 30 2002 11 2001 6 All information or complaints in relation to alleged witness intimidation are thoroughly investigated by An Garda Síochána. Following...

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

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda Authorities that seventeen individuals have been prosecuted for money laundering offences in the past five years. In addition a number of money laundering schemes have been uncovered during Garda investigations into serious and organised criminal groupings. I am further informed that the Money Laundering Investigation Unit (MLIU) at the Garda Bureau of Fraud...

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

Michael McDowell: In October 2004, I announced that I was proceeding with the Government's promise to recruit 2,000 additional Gardaí and an implementation plan to achieve that expansion was drawn up in consultation with the Commissioner. That plan envisaged a recruiting strategy that would see the combined strength of the Force reaching some 14,000 Gardaí (including trainees) by the end of 2006. The...

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

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 95 and 97 together. 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...

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

Michael McDowell: I can inform the Deputy that strong provisions are in place to combat public order problems including anti-social behaviour. The primary basis for the law regarding public order offences is the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994, which modernised the law in this regard. The Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 2003 has also been enacted, the main purpose of which is to provide the...

Written Answers — Illegal Immigrants: Illegal Immigrants (7 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: I would refer the Deputy to my Reply to Dáil Question Number 701 of 25 April, 2006, in relation to the case of the person concerned, whereby you will note that he was transferred to the United Kingdom on 13 April, 2006. I now understand that the person concerned re-entered the State illegally, that is to say without proper papers, on or around the 28 November, 2006. He was subsequently...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (7 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 101 and 102 together. The persons in question arrived in the State on 16 April, 2003 and applied for asylum. Their application was refused following consideration of their case by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner and, on appeal, by the Refugee Appeals Tribunal. The persons in question were granted temporary leave to remain in the State on...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (7 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to Parliamentary Questions No. 245 of Thursday, 25 May, 2006 (ref: 20285/06), No. 151 of Thursday, 11 May, 2006 (ref: 17743/06) and No. 326 of Thursday, 6 April, 2006 (ref: 14070/06) and the written replies to those Questions. The position is unchanged.

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (7 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: Applications for naturalisation from the individuals in question were received in the Citizenship Division of my Department on 15 March 2005. Applications received in the second half of 2004 are currently being processed and there are approximately 1550 applications awaiting processing before that of the persons in question. It is likely that the processing of these applications in question...