Results 7,901-7,920 of 18,729 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Criminal Prosecutions: Criminal Prosecutions (7 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: My Department approved funding in 2004 to the Institute of Criminology at UCD for research on sentencing under the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act, 1998. The research report was recently received by my Department and its findings are being considered by the Internet Advisory Board. I am informed by the Garda authorities that in all cases where criminal activity is alleged the matter is...

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

Michael McDowell: As the Deputy is aware, amendments to the Children Act 2001, introduced in the Criminal Justice Act 2006, effectively raised the minimum age of criminal responsibility from 7 years to 12 years, in all but the most serious cases, and this provision was commenced on 16 October 2006. In the preparation of the recent legislation on the matter, careful consideration was given to getting the...

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

Michael McDowell: I made a speech in Limerick concerning rebalancing criminal justice arose from concerns that the rights of the prosecution and the rights of the defence be evenly balanced. Having regard to the major changes which our society has undergone in recent years I consider that the principles underpinning our criminal justice system, while having largely served us well, were developed in a different...

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

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 160 of 3 October, 2006.

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

Michael McDowell: Since my announcement of a special €5M Integration Fund to help integrate legally- resident immigrants, my Department has established a variety of schemes and initiatives for its effective dispersal. A total of €2M has been allocated to local partnerships working on locally-based initiatives and a further €1M to national and regional NGOs working in the relevant area. The funding is...

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

Michael McDowell: The total number of applicants for the Garda Reserve at 6 November was 7,125. The first interviews were held in September and involved 374 candidates. The first group of 37 trainees commenced phase one training in Templemore on 30 September 2006. They are currently in phase two of their training and are expected to complete their training in December. Of those interviewed in September, not...

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

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 149 and 218 together. 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...

Written Answers — Restorative Justice: Restorative Justice (7 Nov 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 were received from the Probation Service on 2 November, 2006. The terms of reference and composition of the group are currently being considered. I would hope to be in a position to announce the details shortly.

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

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 151 and 205 together. I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 262 of 3 October, 2006 in which I indicated that I was aware of reports which suggest that prisoners are attempting criminal activities from inside prison cells. I want to reiterate that I am committed to implementing all appropriate measures to prevent the possibility of such activity and to...

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

Michael McDowell: As I stated when welcoming the publication of the Barr Report in July, in accordance with the provisions of the Garda Síochána Act 2005, I chose to forward a copy of the Report to the Chief Inspector of the Garda Inspectorate so that Garda procedures and practices for dealing with incidents of the type which unfolded at Abbeylara might be reviewed. I understand from the Garda Inspectorate...

Written Answers — International Conferences: International Conferences (7 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: The International Remote Gambling Summit was held in Ascot on Tuesday 31 October 2006. I attended at the invitation of the host, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, the Rt. Hon. Tessa Jowell, MP. The proceedings were chaired by the Rt. Hon. Richard Caborn, Minister of State for Sport. In excess of thirty States participated in the Summit. The main purpose of the Summit was...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (7 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Government decided not to participate in the adoption and application of the proposed Council Regulation amending Regulation (EC) No. 2201/2003 (Brussels II bis) as regards jurisdiction and introducing rules concerning applicable law in matrimonial matters (COM2006 399), published on 17 July 2006. The EU Commission published the proposed Council Regulation following its Green paper on...

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

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 162 and 163 together. I am informed by the Garda authorities that an investigation was conducted by An Garda Síochána into the incident referred to which concluded that no crime of forgery had been committed in this jurisdiction. The matter was reviewed in 1997 and 2003 when the investigation file was submitted to the Law Officers, who directed no...

Written Answers — Parliamentary Questions: Parliamentary Questions (7 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: My response to Parliamentary Question No. 377 of 27 September 2006 set out the position in relation to the person in question. This remains the position.

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (7 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: The information requested by the Deputy is not readily available and could not be compiled in the time available for answering Parliamentary Questions. However, I am arranging to have the information compiled and will write to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (7 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: The information requested by the Deputy is not readily available and could not be compiled in the time available for answering Parliamentary Questions. However, I am arranging to have the information compiled and will write to the Deputy as soon as possible.

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

Michael McDowell: As an Irish visa merely allows the holder to travel to the frontiers of the State, I presume the Deputy is referring to circumstances where a non-national has residency in the State. Section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999 provides for the removal, in accordance with the provisions of the Act, of persons for a range of specified circumstances.

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (7 Nov 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 12,762 on Friday, 8 September, 2006, following the attestation of 249 new members. This compares with a total strength of 10,702 (all ranks) as at 30 June, 1997 and represents an...

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

Michael McDowell: The average processing time for applications for certificates of naturalisation is approximately 24 months and this is primarily due to the significant increase in the volume of applications received in the last number of years. The table below shows the number of applications received in the years 2000 to date. These figures illustrate a significant upward trend. With over 5,500...

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

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Priority Question No. 85 of today's date. While not all of the information sought by the Deputy is readily available in the manner sought, or could not be made available without the disproportionate expenditure of Garda resources, the table below sets out the number of robbery offences recorded, detected, proceedings commenced and convictions for the years...