Results 7,881-7,900 of 18,729 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Equality Issues: Equality Issues (7 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: My Department has considered the issue of access to employment opportunities for older people in the preparation of Employment Equality legislation, in equality proofing initiatives and in the context of social partnership agreements. The Employment Equality Acts are framed on the basis of a general principle that there ought to be no discrimination on the grounds of age, where the employee...

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (7 Nov 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 — Irish Prison Service: Irish Prison Service (7 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: The average cost of keeping an offender in custody is calculated by averaging out the current running costs of the prisons and places of detention against the average number of offenders in those institutions. These costs include certain items which are fixed no matter what the number of offenders in custody, e.g. utilities, staff salaries, etc. It also reallocates the cost of central...

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

Michael McDowell: I have been advised by the Garda authorities that the tables show the quantity, type and estimated street value of the major drugs seized for the years 2001 to 2005. More detail in relation to these statistics is provided in An Garda Síochána's Annual Reports. Year 2005 Type of Drug Quantity Estimated Street Value € Cannabis 150,401 grams 300,802 Cannabis Resin 6,259,750 grams...

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

Michael McDowell: Section 16 of the Criminal Evidence Act, 1992, as amended, makes provision for the video recording of any evidence given, in relation to a sexual offence or an act involving violence, by a person under 17 years of age through a live television link in proceedings relating to indictable offences. The relevant subsection — (1)(a) — was commenced in 1993. It will be noted that this...

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

Michael McDowell: The Irish Nationality and Citizenship (Fees) Regulations, 1993, as amended in 1996, sets out the fees payable by various categories of persons who obtain Irish citizenship. The standard fee for naturalisation is €634.87. Exceptions are made in the case of a spouse of a naturalised Irish citizen; the non-national widow or widower of an Irish citizen; or a non-national minor child of an...

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

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 245 of 27 September, 2006 in which I indicated my intention to publish the report referred to by the Deputy in due course, with the exception of any parts which could be deemed prejudicial to potential criminal proceedings. I have not received this report as yet.

Written Answers — Garda Disciplinary Proceedings: Garda Disciplinary Proceedings (7 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: In the Garda Síochána Act, 2005, I made detailed provisions for the making of Disciplinary Regulations for the Garda Síochána. In its report earlier this year, the Garda Síochána Act Implementation Group, chaired by Senator Maurice Hayes, acknowledged the requirement for changes to the Garda disciplinary regulations to coincide with the coming into operation of the Garda Ombudsman...

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

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the table shows the number of murder offences recorded, detected, proceedings commenced and convictions, where a firearm was used, for the years 1998 to 2005 and in 2006 up to 2 November. All killings regardless of the circumstances involved are the subject of a rigorous investigation by the Garda authorities. The identification of the motive and...

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

Michael McDowell: The Annual Report for 2005 of the Comptroller and Auditor General includes a chapter on the acquisition of a Site for Prison Development. The Department of Finance granted sanction for the acquisition of the site on the condition that procurement guidelines were followed. Contrary to the implications of the Deputy's question all the relevant procurement guidelines were followed by my...

Written Answers — Prison Education Service: Prison Education Service (7 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: I do not accept the Deputy's assertion that training and education programmes in St. Patrick's Institution are almost non-existent. On the contrary, there are a number of workshops currently in operation — covering Woodwork and Joinery; Computer Training; Industrial Cleaning and Industrial Skills. A Metal Workshop is also due to open soon. Some young persons also work in the kitchen and...

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

Michael McDowell: Tender documentation have been issued to the candidates short-listed to compete for the design, construction, finance and maintenance of the prison development at Thornton Hall. It is intended that work should commence in 2007 and is expected to be completed within 3 years. The precise date for completion of the project forms part of the tender process. In relation to the estimated cost of...

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

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 133 and 152 together. I understand that the Working Group on Domestic Partnership is finalising the Options Paper for submission to me in the coming weeks. Following its receipt, I intend to bring the Options Paper to Government with a view to early publication.

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

Michael McDowell: An Assistant Commissioner has been appointed to assess the impact of the Report's recommendations for An Garda Síochána, with a view to recommending remedial action where necessary. An analysis of the processes employed during the interviews of the person referred to is also being carried out. Following a review of the original investigation by an Assistant Commissioner, a number of...

Written Answers — European Court Judgments: European Court Judgments (7 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 135, 189 and 190 together. My Department has consulted with the Office of the Attorney General and with the Department of Finance about the implications of the judgment of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) in the case referred to by the Deputies. As the Deputies will appreciate, under EU law, indirect discrimination on the ground of sex, in issues relating...

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

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the Gardaí at Coolock Garda Station are investigating the death of the person referred to and have arrested a number of persons in connection with the incident. An investigation file has been completed and submitted to the Law Officers. To date no person has been charged in connection with the death of the person referred to.

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

Michael McDowell: The provision of services to the Thornton Hall site to service the prison development has been the subject of detailed discussions between the relevant officials at Fingal County Council and the Irish Prison Service and its technical advisors. Discussions have also been held with the various utilities including the Electricity Supply Board. Arising from these discussions, agreement in...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (7 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that despite the high level of enforcement activity by An Garda Síochána, as evidenced by the number of arrests for drink driving over the October Bank Holiday week-end, there still exists a hardcore element in our society who persist in engaging in drink driving. An Garda Síochána will continue this high level of enforcement activity, through the...

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

Michael McDowell: I would refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 154 of 3 October, 2006 in which I referred to a conference due to be held on 6 October 2006 in compliance with recommendation no 16 of the examination into the Attorney General's Office by an official from the Department of Finance. An official from my Department attended that conference and, as a follow up to it, discussions are taking...

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

Michael McDowell: The Office of Public Works will shortly be publishing a planning notice in respect of the construction of a bridge to facilitate the development of the prison facilities on the island. The construction of the bridge, which will be followed by the prison development on the island, is scheduled to commence in 2007.