Results 8,101-8,120 of 18,755 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Sexual Offences: Sexual Offences (1 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Sex Offenders Act which commenced on 27 September 2001 sets out the obligations on persons convicted of a range of sexual offences against both children and adults. A convicted sex offender must notify his/her name(s), date of birth and current home address to the Garda Síochána within seven days of the conviction for the sexual offence concerned or, where the offender is sentenced to...

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (1 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have requested a Garda report in relation to this matter and I will contact the Deputy again when the report is to hand.

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (1 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: The persons concerned and their children, Nigerian nationals, arrived in the State on 7 August, 2002 and 18 November, 2002 and applied for asylum on 1 April, 2004. They had previously applied for asylum in 2002 and had withdrawn this application on the basis of the birth of an Irish born child. Their application was refused by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner on 19 May,...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (1 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: The application referred to by the Deputy was received in the Irish Embassy in Ankara on 19th October, 2006. A decision in respect of the application in question will be made in the near future.

Written Answers — Driving Licences: Driving Licences (1 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that any person who wishes to drive a Public Services Vehicle must have sufficient knowledge to operate as a PSV driver. Under the PSV Regulations there is a provision for a person to undergo an oral test. I am also informed that the person referred to should re-submit his application to renew his PSV Licence and the application will be dealt with in a...

Written Answers — Crime Prevention: Crime Prevention (1 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: The recently published 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. Looking at long term crime trends, the level of headline crime in 2005 was lower than that in 2003 by 1.6% and that in 2002 by 4.4%. Furthermore, in 1995, when we had a population of almost 3.6 million, there were 29...

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (1 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda Authorities that the Garda station in Monasterevin was closed due to fire damage on 13th September, 2006. The Office of Public Works have been requested to ascertain the remedial works required to re-open the station. When the proposals are received from the Board and examined by the Garda Authorities, a decision can be taken on how best to proceed, including...

Written Answers — Garda Vetting Services: Garda Vetting Services (1 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Child Care (Pre-School Services) Regulations 2006 were made by the Minister for Children, Mr Brian Lenihan, T.D., on 29 September, 2006. These Regulations will come into operation on 2 January, 2007. Sections 8(2)(c) and 8(2)(d) of the Regulations provide that (i) a person carrying on a pre-school service shall ensure appropriate vetting of all staff, students and volunteers who have...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (1 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have requested a Garda report in relation to this matter and I will contact the Deputy again when the report is to hand.

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (1 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 259 and 260 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 12,762 on Friday, 8 September, 2006, following the attestation of 249 new members. This compares with a total strength of...

Written Answers — Domestic Partnerships: Domestic Partnerships (1 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: There is no specific budget allocated to the Working Group on Domestic Partnership. Costs arising from the work of the Group are met from the existing vote of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. I understand that the Working Group is finalising the Options Paper on Domestic Partnership for submission to me in the coming weeks.

Written Answers — Weapons Amnesty: Weapons Amnesty (1 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: A total of €331,608.26 (inclusive of VAT) was spent on advertising and promoting the Weapons Amnesty.

Written Answers — Juvenile Offenders: Juvenile Offenders (1 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: Figures indicate that on 31 October, 2006 there were 52 persons in custody in St. Patrick's Institution who are aged between 16 and 18 years. This figure is made up of eighteen 16 year olds and thirty four 17 year olds.

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (1 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities that there are plans to provide a new Area Headquarters Station at Carndonagh, Co. Donegal. To this end the Office of Public Works recently advertised in the local and national press for suitable sites. I understand that OPW are currently assessing the responses and their recommendations will be considered by the Garda Authorities and my...

Written Answers — Detention Centres: Detention Centres (1 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: Amendments to the Children Act 2001 included in the Criminal Justice Act 2006 extend the children detention school model to all offenders under the age of 18 and transfer responsibility for the detention of young people to the remit of my Department from that of my colleague the Minister for Education and Science. This role in my Department is managed by a new executive office, the Irish...

Written Answers — Vehicle Registration: Vehicle Registration (1 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have requested a Garda report in relation to this matter and I will contact the Deputy again when the report is to hand.

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (1 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: A total of 35 persons expressed an interest in providing accommodation for asylum seekers in response to the advertisement of 10 July 2006. One of these expressions of interest was not received by the closing date of 11 August 2006 and this expression of interest was rejected as being out of time. No other contractual arrangements, apart from those applying to the property in Clondalkin,...

Written Answers — Criminal Prosecutions: Criminal Prosecutions (26 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 60 and 66 together. I am informed by the Garda authorities that the manner in which statistics were collated prior to 2004 does not allow the number of seizures to be identified, however over 63,000 fireworks were seized between 2000 and 2003. The following table shows the number of seizures and approximate value of fireworks seized between 2004 and to date in...

Written Answers — Fireworks Regulation: Fireworks Regulation (26 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: I wish to inform the Deputy that on 1st August, 2006, I signed an order bringing all sections relating to fireworks in the Criminal Justice Act 2006 into immediate effect. The Criminal Justice Act 2006 provides for new offences, governing the illegal possession and use of fireworks, and increased penalties. Under these new provisions it is an offence: to possess a firework with intent to...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (26 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have always been an advocate of a properly transparent and accountable Garda Síochána. For that reason I introduced the Garda Síochána Bill, which was enacted as the Garda Síochána Act, 2005, to increase, among other things, the Force's transparency and accountability. In addition to establishing such bodies as the Ombudsman Commission and the Garda Síochána Inspectorate, the Act...