Results 8,501-8,520 of 18,761 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Prison Accommodation: Prison Accommodation (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am actively pursuing the only viable long term remedy to the problems to which the Deputy refers, through constructing new prison facilities in Dublin and Munster. I hope that I can have the support of the Deputy and his colleagues in this regard. The new facilities will, in addition, offer significant improvements in the areas of work training, education and medical services as well as...

Written Answers — Stardust Tragedy: Stardust Tragedy (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: As the Deputy will be aware, the Taoiseach and I met representatives of the Stardust Victims Committee on 18 September. The purpose of the meeting was to hear from the Committee regarding the detailed submission made by them during the summer, in which they set out their case for a new public inquiry into the tragedy. We emphasised that we did not wish to finalise our thinking on this issue...

Written Answers — Register of Sex Offenders: Register of Sex Offenders (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Sex Offenders Act, 2001 sets out the obligations on persons convicted of a range of sexual offences. 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 imprisonment, from the date of full release from prison....

Written Answers — Chief State Pathologist's Office: Chief State Pathologist's Office (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am continuing to consider a number of options aimed at further enhancing the services provided by the State Pathologist's office, in consultation with the State Pathologist, and have recently received approval for the appointment of a second Deputy State Pathologist, so as to provide additional capacity for the office.

Written Answers — Riachtanas Gaeilge: Riachtanas Gaeilge (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: Níl cinneadh déanta fós ag an ngrúpa oibre idir-rannach a bunaíodh chun féachaint le cur chuige oiriúnach a mholadh ó thaobh riachtanas Gaeilge i gcóras oiliúna an Gharda Síochána de. Chuir údaráis na nGardaí in iúl dom, áfach, go bhfuil an grúpa oibre a bunaíodh i gColáiste na nGardaí chun an cúrsa Gaeilge a fhorbairt le haghaidh Gardaí faoi Oiliúint tar éis a chuid...

Written Answers — Departmental Programmes: Departmental Programmes (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: My Department recognises the enormous challenges facing Irish society today as a result of the major demographic changes that have occurred in recent years. These challenges are particularly acute since these changes have not been gradual. Indeed, recent statistics indicate that newcomers may now account for up to 10% of the population. As part of the response to these changes, in 2005 I...

Written Answers — Motor Fuels: Motor Fuels (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: Ministerial State cars are placed at the disposal of Government Ministers and others pursuant to a long standing arrangement and are supplied to the following: President, Taoiseach, Tánaiste, 13 Government Ministers, Chief Whip, Ceann Comhairle, Attorney General, Director of Public Prosecutions, Chief Justice, Former Taoisigh & Presidents. Factors such as fuel efficiency and safety are taken...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: The introduction of a reciprocal system of recognising penalty points awarded to motorists in this jurisdiction and in Northern Ireland is a matter for the licensing authorities in both jurisdictions, the Department of Transport in this jurisdiction and Driver and Vehicle Licensing Northern Ireland. I am informed that the Minister for Transport has agreed with the UK Minister for State for...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: I can confirm that my Department's decentralisation programme is firmly on target. The Private Security Authority and the Garda Central Vetting Unit are operational in Tipperary town and Thurles respectively. Further advance moves from Garda HQ are planned for Thurles for the first half of 2007. The Land Registry has recently opened an office in Roscommon town and the Office of the Data...

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

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities that the murder of the person referred to is being investigated. A number of persons have been arrested in connection with this incident. I am further informed that an investigation file has been completed and submitted to the Law Officers. To date no person has been charged in connection with this incident. As this is an ongoing Garda...

Written Answers — Parental Leave Provisions: Parental Leave Provisions (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Parental Leave (Amendment) Act 2006, which was enacted on 18 May last, amends the Parental Leave Act 1998 to implement agreed recommendations in the Report of the Working Group on the Review of the Parental Leave Act 1998. It also implements an increase in the maximum age limit of an eligible child to 8 years, agreed subsequent to the publication of the Report in the context of the...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the following table shows the total number of murder offences where a firearm was used, recorded, detected, proceedings commenced and convictions for the years 1998 to 2005 and up to 1 October, 2006. While no level of murder is acceptable, it should be noted that Ireland has one of the lowest murder rates in the western world. For example, the...

Written Answers — Anti-Social Behaviour: Anti-Social Behaviour (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: I share the concerns expressed about anti-social behaviour and its effects on people. In many such incidents, vulnerable people, often the elderly, are subjected to serious nuisance and forms of harassment which cause significant and persistent distress to the people concerned and interfere fundamentally with their capacity to enjoy quiet and peaceful lives. Often such people are simply too...

Written Answers — Deportation Orders: Deportation Orders (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: The person referred to by the Deputy is a Nigerian woman who was deported from the State on a charter flight to Lagos on the night of the 20/21 September, 2006. She arrived in the State on 18 May 2005 and was accompanied by her son, a minor child born on 12 June 2001. On 18 July 2005 the person concerned gave birth to a second son in the State. The asylum application of the person...

Written Answers — Voluntary Repatriation Schemes: Voluntary Repatriation Schemes (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: The person referred to by the Deputy has expressed an interest in transferring to a prison in Ireland under the Council of Europe Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons. However, the formal application and necessary supporting documentation has not been received to date from the United Kingdom authorities. My Department has written to the United Kingdom authorities requesting them...

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

Michael McDowell: I have indicated that I will require, in due course, a Garda report in relation to their ongoing contact with the banks and the Irish Payment Services Organisation. I will contact the Deputy further when the report is to hand.

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (3 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...

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

Michael McDowell: Under the provisions of Section 8(4)(a) of the National Treasury Management Agency (Amendment) Act, 2000, the State Claims Agency shall advise and assist a State Authority whenever it considers it appropriate to do so or is requested by such an authority to do so in relation to the measures to be taken to prevent the occurrence, or to reduce the incidence, of acts, omissions or other matters...

Written Answers — State Claims Agency: State Claims Agency (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: Personal injury claims arising from road traffic accidents involving Garda vehicles were formerly managed by the Garda authorities. In December, 2001, the State Claims Agency took over the management of the claims. The number of active claims for An Garda Síochána arising from road traffic accidents which are currently being dealt with by the Agency is 494. All official road traffic...

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

Michael McDowell: There are plans to construct a new Wexford Divisional Headquarters Garda station. I understand that the necessary first step in providing the new station, the acquisition of a suitable site, has almost been completed by the Office of Public Works and it is expected that this will be finalised by the end of October, 2006. The Garda authorities and my Department have undertaken the necessary...