Results 8,901-8,920 of 18,729 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Garda Equipment: Garda Equipment (6 Jul 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the personnel strength of An Garda Síochána increased to a record 12,641 (all ranks) on Thursday 8 June with the attestation of 273 new members. This compares with a total strength of 10,702 (all ranks) as at 30 June 1997 and represents an increase of 1,939 (or 18.1%) in the personnel strength of the Force during that period. I have been...

Written Answers — Garda Equipment: Garda Equipment (6 Jul 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that since January, 2003 the number of Garda Mountain Bikes allocated to the Garda Stations concerned was as set out in the following table: Station Bikes Dún Laoghaire 2 Bray 2 Shankill 1 Blackrock 2 Dundrum 1 Stepaside 1

Written Answers — Garda Equipment: Garda Equipment (6 Jul 2006)

Michael McDowell: Mountain Bike Units are engaged in mainstream policing, in conjunction with the Community Policing Units, concentrating on areas such as parks and laneways, which are more easily accessed by such transport and supplement beat and other mobile patrols. The Mountain Bike Units have been very successful in tackling anti-social disorderly behaviour in local parks and estates. They work well in...

Written Answers — Garda Equipment: Garda Equipment (6 Jul 2006)

Michael McDowell: I wish to refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 557 of Tuesday, 4 July, 2006.

Written Answers — Garda Equipment: Garda Equipment (6 Jul 2006)

Michael McDowell: I wish to refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 558 of Tuesday, 4 July, 2006.

Written Answers — Missing Persons: Missing Persons (6 Jul 2006)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 436 to 443, inclusive and 445 and 446 together which were answered on 20 June 2006 in which I advised that I had established a new Commission for the Support of Victims of Crime in March 2005 to devise an appropriate support framework for victims of crime into the future and to disburse funding for victim support measures. I take it that the...

Written Answers — Garda Ombudsman: Garda Ombudsman (6 Jul 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commissioners were appointed by the President on 10 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 — Prison Accommodation: Prison Accommodation (6 Jul 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Inspector of Prisons and Places of Detention report on St Patrick's Institution contained 14 recommendations. Eight of these have been implemented. Two of the remaining recommendations, i.e. that remand inmates be kept separate from convicted inmates, and that St Patrick's be replaced with a new building which has proper open space, playing fields, activities and regimes suitable for the...

Written Answers — Stardust Disaster: Stardust Disaster (6 Jul 2006)

Michael McDowell: As the Deputy will be aware, my Department has indicated on several occasions that it would arrange for the expert examination of any further submission that the Stardust Victims Committee chooses to make. I understand that such a submission has in fact now been submitted to the Taoiseach's office within the last day and I will consider this question further as soon I receive a copy.

Written Answers — Closed Circuit Television Systems: Closed Circuit Television Systems (6 Jul 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 597 and 601 together. Castlebar is one of the 17 remaining locations nationwide which form part of the Garda CCTV programme. As part of this programme 17 Garda Town Centre CCTV Systems will be implemented in the following locations: Athlone, Ballyfermot, Carlow, Castlebar, Clondalkin, Clonmel, Drogheda, Dungarvan, Ennis, Kilkenny, Kinsale, Mullingar,...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (6 Jul 2006)

Michael McDowell: I wish to refer the Deputy to my response to Parliamentary Question No. 405 (ref: 27037/06) yesterday, Wednesday, 5 July, which sets out the Department's expenditure of the type in question. Information regarding the breakdown of payments under the headings listed by the Deputy is not readily available and could not be collated without the allocation of a disproportionate amount of staff time.

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (6 Jul 2006)

Michael McDowell: I informed the Deputy in response to Parliamentary Question No. 171 on 9 February 2006 that the application of the person referred to would be processed in or around the end of 2007. Due to the increasing volume of applications being received, it may well be early 2008 before the application of the person concerned is dealt with. There are over 6,000 applications awaiting processing before...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (6 Jul 2006)

Michael McDowell: The persons concerned arrived in the State on 1 October, 2001 and applied for asylum. Their applications were refused following consideration of their cases by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner and, on appeal, by the Refugee Appeals Tribunal. Subsequently, in accordance with Section 3 of the Immigration Act, 1999, as amended, they were informed by letters dated 13 May, 2004,...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (6 Jul 2006)

Michael McDowell: I wish to advise the Deputy of the current policy regarding family reunification. He will be aware that at present there is no specific legislation governing family reunification for migrants who are not refugees. There is a set of administrative procedures in place for non-refugees. There was a review of the provisions regarding family reunification for migrant workers in February of this...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (6 Jul 2006)

Michael McDowell: Comprehensive information and guidelines outlining the visa application process and the documentation required for family reunification and, indeed, all visa types can be found on my Department's website at www.justice.ie.

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (6 Jul 2006)

Michael McDowell: Comprehensive information on all visa types can be found on my Department's website (www.justice.ie). Details of the documentation required to establish that the applicant has sufficient financial resources to finance the duration of the proposed stay are contained therein. Further in relation to those applicants who intend to reside in Ireland the criteria set by the Department of Social and...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (6 Jul 2006)

Michael McDowell: Comprehensive information on making a holiday visa application is available on my Department's website (www.justice.ie). Details of the evidence required by the applicant, to establish a commitment to return home after the proposed visit, is contained therein.

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (6 Jul 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 606 to 609, inclusive, together. Headline crime statistics for the years 2000 to 2005 for the Garda Division of Laois/Offaly, which includes the Garda Districts of Abbeyleix, Portlaoise and Tullamore, are contained in the relevant Garda Annual Reports. These reports are available in the Oireachtas Library. Edenderry is a sub-District of Tullamore Garda District.

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (6 Jul 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Immigration Division of my Department has recently been in correspondence with the person concerned requesting documentation regarding his current position in the State. On receipt of this documentation his case will be further considered.

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (6 Jul 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the information requested by the Deputy is not readily available and is currently being researched. I will contact the Deputy again when the information is to hand.