Results 8,421-8,440 of 18,729 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (4 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that Garda management at Blanchardstown, which covers the area referred to, is aware of the concerns of people in this area regarding speeding motorists. I am further informed that road traffic checkpoints are regularly established in the area by members of the Divisional Traffic Corps Units and persons found to be speeding are issued with fixed charge...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (4 Oct 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...

Seanad: Europol (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (4 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: The purpose of this Bill is to give effect to three additional protocols to the Europol Convention, Protocols 2000, 2002 and 2003, which have been negotiated since the Europol Convention, and two earlier protocols in 1996 and 1997 which were given force of law in this jurisdiction by the Europol Act 1997. The protocols in question will be, on the passing of this Bill into law, Schedules to...

Seanad: Europol (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (4 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am grateful to Members for their contributions and agree with Senator Quinn that the inordinate delay in bringing forward this Bill cannot be defended. The Irish Parliament should perhaps simplify this process although the law officers advise that primary legislation is responsible for every change in the protocols to the Europol Convention. Perhaps we could deal with future changes by a...

Written Answers — Prison Building Programme: Prison Building Programme (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: The planning process for the proposed prison development at Spike Island has not yet commenced. I am advised by the Prison Service that it expects to be in a position to lodge the relevant planning documents in early 2007. Full details of the proposed prison development will be made known at that time in accordance with the statutory planning procedure. At that stage, all of the relevant...

Written Answers — Weapons Amnesty: Weapons Amnesty (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by An Garda Síochána that in the first three weeks of the Weapons Amnesty, which commenced on the 1st September, 2006, 101 guns, 26 knives and 14 assorted offensive weapons were handed in to Garda stations throughout the country. In addition, a quantity of ammunition has also been surrendered. The amnesty runs for a period of 2 months, from 1st September to 31st October,...

Written Answers — Gender Discrimination: Gender Discrimination (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: The National Women's Strategy, which is nearing completion, is a wide ranging document setting out the Government's Strategy to foster socio-economic opportunity; well-being; and active participation in decision making for the women of Ireland over a ten year period. The Strategy is set in a context where we have a strong corpus of equality legislation in place but where women still...

Written Answers — Criminal Evidence: Criminal Evidence (3 Oct 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 — Inspector of Prisons: Inspector of Prisons (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: Mr Justice Dermot Kinlen was appointed on a non-statutory basis as Inspector of Prisons and Places of Detention for a five-year term with effect from his retirement from the High Court Bench in April, 2002 on reaching the statutory age limit for service in that Court. His term of office will therefore expire in April, 2007. I have received Government approval to establish an Office of...

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: Operation Anvil commenced in the Garda Dublin Metropolitan Region on 17 May, 2005. It is an intelligence led policing initiative, the focus of which is the targeting of active criminals and their associates involved in serious crime by preventing and disrupting this criminal activity through extensive additional overt patrolling and static check points by uniform, mobile and foot patrols,...

Written Answers — Youth Justice Policy: Youth Justice Policy (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 141 and 194 together. Amendments to the Children Act 2001, introduced in the Criminal Justice Act 2006, will effectively raise the minimum age of criminal responsibility from 7 years to 12 years, in all but the most serious cases. In addition, proceedings against children under 14 years of age will require the consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions....

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: In my reply to Priority Question No. 4 of 27 April 2006, I provided a comprehensive update on the significant progress being made in relation to civilianisation, and again in reply to Oral Question No. 19 of 8 June 2006. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that over the Summer further significant progress has been made. The main developments in this regard are as follows: the Garda...

Written Answers — Commissions of Investigation: Commissions of Investigation (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: I published the Report of the Commission of Investigation into the Dean Lyons case on 1 September 2006. I believe the Report, based on the evidence of all relevant witnesses, offers a thorough independent analysis of the facts surrounding the false confession made by Dean Lyons. I am pleased to note that the provisions of the Commissions of Investigation Act 2004 which I availed of in this...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: The question of Ireland signing and ratifying the Council of Europe Convention on action against trafficking in human beings is currently being examined. Legislation creating a criminal offence of trafficking in persons for the specific purpose of sexual or labour exploitation is contained in the Criminal Law (Trafficking in Persons and Sexual Offences) Bill 2006 which is currently being...

Written Answers — Garda Ombudsman Commission: Garda Ombudsman Commission (3 Oct 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 — State Property: State Property (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 146 and 178 together. The proceeds from the sale of this property will be used to offset the costs of the major capital investment programme which I am making in the prison system. Part of the property — about 21 acres — was, following discussions with Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, sold to that body. The sale was concluded in 2005. I should add...

Written Answers — Immigration Policy: Immigration Policy (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy will be aware that I published a discussion document in April 2005 entitled "Immigration and Residence in Ireland — Outline policy proposals for an Immigration and Residence Bill". This document outlines the issues which future immigration legislation and policy will need to deal with and lists my Department's proposals on how these issues should be addressed. The "key...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 148, 199, 201 and 208 together. As indicated in the Government Legislative Programme, announced by the Chief Whip on 26 September 2006, the Privacy Bill is included amongst those Bills whose Second Stage debate is awaited. The Privacy Bill was published on 4 July 2006. The main purpose of the Bill is to introduce a modern statutory framework to protect all...

Written Answers — Garda Reserve: Garda Reserve (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Oireachtas provided for the establishment of the Garda Reserve in section 15 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005, and on foot of proposals received from the Garda Commissioner I drafted regulations governing the recruitment, training and deployment of Reserve Gardaí. All of the Garda representative bodies were invited to engage in constructive discussion of those draft regulations. The...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 150 and 213 together. The person concerned arrived in the State on 3 April 2002 and made an application for asylum on the same day. He withdrew his request for asylum on 21 October 2002 and made an application for permission to remain in the State on the basis of parentage of an Irish child born on 8 October 2002. Following the decision of the Supreme Court...