Results 7,881-7,900 of 18,755 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Coroners Service: Coroners Service (7 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 93 and 148 together. In my reply to Question 109 of 2 November, 2006, I noted that the circumstances under which a death is reported to the relevant coroner falls within the jurisdiction of that coroner, being a quasi judicial authority charged with the independent investigation of death. A coroner has the entitlement, under section 18 of the 1962 Coroners...

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (7 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: Following an open tender competition I have accepted the highest offer for the site of 6.33 acres at Shanganagh Castle.The proceeds from the sale of this site in addition to approximately 21 acres previously disposed of to Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council will meet in full the cost of the site at Thornton Hall. This, contrary to what the Deputy is suggesting, represents excellent value...

Written Answers — Closed Circuit Television Systems: Closed Circuit Television Systems (7 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 96 and 123 together. As the Deputy is aware, Athlone and Mullingar are two of 17 areas set to receive a Garda CCTV system under the Garda CCTV Programme. The Garda authorities are currently finalising a detailed Request for Tender (RFT) for the outsourced service provision of 14 of these Garda CCTV systems in the following towns: Athlone, Carlow, Castlebar,...

Written Answers — Drug Seizures: Drug Seizures (7 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that while there has been a slight increase in the quantity of freebase or crack cocaine seized in this jurisdiction over the past two years, this still represents a small proportion of the total number of cocaine seizures recorded annually. However, the Garda authorities also inform me that most of the recorded seizures of freebase cocaine, have to date...

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

Michael McDowell: In order to carry out urgent environmental works, since September 2006, access for workers to a site at Bellanaboy, Co. Mayo, has been required to be facilitated by the Garda Síochána, in the face of protest action by some local campaigners, supported by groups and individuals from outside the area. These groups have at times sought to prevent the workers from travelling to the site in...

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

Michael McDowell: Following the establishment of the Commission of Investigation set up to look into the Dean Lyons case, I established an Expert Group to report to me on the adequacy of Garda training, protocols, regulations and procedures, in assessing the fitness of persons to be interviewed and on the recording of any bona fide reservations of an individual member of a Garda investigation team as to the...

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

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that on 25 October, 2006 members of An Garda Síochána, with the assistance of a wide range of government and non-government agencies, dealt effectively with a major incident involving a serious threat to life and property, which resulted in a group of people being left homeless in the early hours of the morning. I understand that an offer was accepted...

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

Michael McDowell: I understand that the Deputy is referring to an interview given by Mr. Gerry Adams recently in which, according to the transcript available to me, he said '. . . for example lots of concerns raised yesterday about the role of MI5 in the north . . . I have similar concerns about the role of MI6 in the south . . .' In response to Parliamentary Question No. 168 of 25 October, 2006, I indicated...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (7 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities that a total costing of the event will not be available until all expenditure claims have been processed and paid. Due to the large number of claims involved, it will be a number of weeks before this information is to hand. I have also been informed by the Garda authorities that following negotiations between the Ryder Cup organisation and An...

Written Answers — Fireworks Offences: Fireworks Offences (7 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: A total of 45 licences were issued during the month of October, 2006 for the importation of fireworks under the Explosives Act, 1875. The 1875 Act was amended by the Criminal Justice Act, 2006 and, on 1st August, I signed an order bringing all sections of the Act relating to fireworks into immediate effect. These amendments provide for new offences governing the possession of illegal...

Written Answers — Missing Persons: Missing Persons (7 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: Funding of €110,000 in respect of a National Missing Persons Helpline made available by my Department in 2002 and 2003 was channelled through the Victim Support organisation, and was in addition to the ongoing funding that organisation received for the provision of services to victims of crime. This funding of €110,000 was provided subject to the conditions that no funding beyond the...

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

Michael McDowell: The provisional headline crime statistics for the third quarter of 2006 show a decrease of 1.6% for the quarter compared with the same quarter in 2005. These statistics are the first crime statistics to be published by the Central Statistics Office following my decision that new arrangements should be put in place. As I have consistently done since I directed the quarterly publication of the...

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

Michael McDowell: The moneys allocated to date for the Courts Service are as shown in the table. Year €'000 1999 60,624 2000 75,190 2001 84,779 2002 91,056 2003 93,530 2004 98,908 2005 104,416 2006 111,841 The Estimates for 2006 include €19.6m to enable the Service to continue its ambitious nationwide programme of courthouse renovation and refurbishment. Negotiations are currently underway...

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

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 162 of Tuesday 3 October, 2006 which sets out the current position regarding stations equipped with audio/video equipment for recording of suspect interviews. The Garda Authorities have recently submitted proposals to my Department for the provision of additional systems and fit-out of further interview rooms.

Written Answers — Election Management System: Election Management System (7 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: As the deputy will be aware, the main purpose of this Bill is to provide specific arrangements for voting by prisoners by way of postal voting. In Ireland, there is no legal prohibition on voting by prisoners, once they meet the standard qualifying criteria under electoral law which apply on a general basis. But, while a person in legal custody may be registered as an elector, under section...

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

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 109 and 184 together. I have been informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that at present, there are 87 Garda Juvenile Liaison Officers and 8 Juvenile Liaison Officer Sergeants working in various Divisions throughout the country. In addition to this, the National Juvenile Office has...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (7 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: In order to further the proposals I made in my recent speech in Limerick concerning the issue of rebalancing criminal justice I have appointed an expert review group to examine and review certain aspects of the criminal law. The terms of reference of the Balance in the Criminal Law Review Group are to examine issues affecting: the right to silence; allowing character evidence of an accused;...

Written Answers — Closed Circuit Television Systems: Closed Circuit Television Systems (7 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Privacy Bill which was published on 4 July 2006 creates an offence to be known as the tort of invasion of privacy, for a person wilfully and without lawful authority to violate the privacy of another individual. Where material obtained from closed circuit television or other monitoring equipment may be used in an inappropriate manner then the aggrieved person will have an accessible...

Written Answers — Garda Complaints Procedures: Garda Complaints Procedures (7 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commissioners were appointed by the President on the 10th February 2006, following nomination by the Government and recommendations by both Houses of the Oireachtas. The Commission is in a preparatory stage at present. I understand that the initial work of the Commission has involved study visits to their counterparts in Northern Ireland and the UK and initial...

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

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by An Garda Síochána that due to a delay in some Garda Stations making their returns to Garda Headquarters, a conclusive figure of weapons surrendered under the recent Amnesty will not be available until later this week. However, to date 522 firearms and 82 knives, which were surrendered under the Amnesty, have been returned to Garda Headquarters. A successful national...