Results 8,521-8,540 of 18,729 for speaker:Michael McDowell

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

Michael McDowell: One of the Government's top policing priorities for 2006 remains that of organised crime, including drug trafficking, and the gun culture associated with it. Tackling organised crime is achieved through the use of specialist units and targeted, intelligence-led operations. An Garda Síochána employ a range of techniques and expertise in the fight against organised crime. The establishment...

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

Michael McDowell: The motivation of most criminals and their organisations is to profit from their illicit activities. I am informed by the Garda Authorities that serious and organised criminal groups employ money-laundering techniques to facilitate the re-introduction of the proceeds of their criminal activity into circulation. As investigations into money laundering operations are often intrinsically...

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

Michael McDowell: I regret that it has not been possible in the time available to obtain the information requested by the Deputy. I will be in touch with the Deputy in relation to this matter when it becomes available.

Written Answers — Courts Service: Courts Service (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: As the Deputy will appreciate, the Courts Service is responsible for the day to day management of the courts and I am responsible for ensuring that the Service is adequately funded. The Estimates for 2006 include €19.6m to enable the Service to continue its ambitious nationwide programme of Courthouse renovation and refurbishment. Ten significant projects are either underway or will...

Written Answers — Court Staff: Court Staff (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: Since 2002, the statutory maximum number of ordinary judges of the Supreme, High, Circuit and District Courts has increased from 108 to 128, an increase of 20 judicial positions. The additional judicial resources provided have greatly strengthened the capacity of the courts system to meet the demands placed on it and I am keeping the need for further judicial resources under review.

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

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 259 and 260 together. The Deputy will be aware that the closure of the Curragh and Fort Mitchel was as a result of a Government decision in November, 2003 approving a series of measures to be taken on a rolling basis with effect from 1 January, 2004 in the event of failure to reach agreement with the Prison Officers' Association on a change agenda aimed at...

Written Answers — Court Procedures: Court Procedures (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: As the Deputy will be aware, under the Courts Service Act, 1998, the Courts Service is independent in the performance of its functions, which include the management of the courts and the provision of statistics. Statistics on adjournments are published in the Annual Reports of the Courts Service, which are available in the Oireachtas Library. The most recent such report is in respect of the...

Written Answers — Irish Prison Service: Irish Prison Service (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am aware of reports which suggest that prisoners are running criminal syndicates from inside prison cells. I can assure the Deputy that I am committed to implementing all appropriate measures to prevent the possibility of such activity and to ensure that the contact that prisoners have with the outside world is tightly controlled and monitored. Prisoner visits in all closed prisons are...

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

Michael McDowell: The information requested by the Deputy is currently being sought and will be forwarded to the Deputy in due course.

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (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 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 increase...

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

Michael McDowell: With the huge increase in investment in Garda resources under this Government, I am satisfied that Garda strength and technology is adequate to meet the challenges of modern society. 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...

Written Answers — Prisoner Releases: Prisoner Releases (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: The precise information requested by the Deputy is not readily available. The compilation of these statistics would require a disproportionate and inordinate amount of staff time and effort to prepare and could not be justified in current circumstances where there are other significant demands on resources. Typically the temporary releases would be of short duration when the prisoner is...

Written Answers — Drug Seizures: Drug Seizures (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my reply to his question today (reference number 31069/06) in relation to numbers, technology and resources generally available to An Garda Síochána. Specifically in relation to combating drug crime, I may add that the National Drugs Strategy 2001-2008 specifies a number of supply reduction targets for An Garda Síochána in terms of all drug seizures and the Gardaí...

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

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that legislation providing for the issue of fixed charge notices requires that motorists detected for committing certain offences be issued with a fixed charge notice. The notice sets out the amount of the fixed charge and the penalty points applicable to the offence. The person has the option to pay the fixed charge and, as part of the payment...

Deportation Orders. (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my replies to a series of parliamentary questions which he asked earlier this year and in particular my reply to his written Question No. 468 of 27 June 2006. Since then a comprehensive reply to these queries issued to him from my office on 20 September 2006. By way of background, it should be noted that the effect of a deportation order when served on a person is that...

Deportation Orders. (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: Of course I noted that in a rather derivative way the Deputy thought that he could ask the same questions of me that Charles Clarke was asked as British Home Secretary leading to particular embarrassment for himself. However, the Deputy should have consulted the Statute Book and realised that a very different legal position pertained in Britain in that the Judiciary there could order...

Deportation Orders. (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: It is central to the issue.

Deportation Orders. (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy should stop bluffing and shouting.

Deportation Orders. (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: It is central to the issue.

Deportation Orders. (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy should let me answer the question instead of just shouting. In Britain, the Judiciary is entitled to order deportations and it transpired that the Home Office was not following up on that. In Ireland, the Judiciary has no such power. It can make a recommendation——