Results 9,701-9,720 of 18,729 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Victim Support Services: Victim Support Services (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy may be aware that I had a meeting with the family of the victim in the case to which the Deputy refers. The discussions conducted at that meeting were held in private at the request of the family. It may also be of general assistance to know that the Health Service Executive is inviting the families directly affected by the recent Supreme Court decision to contact the National...

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: Operation Anvil commenced in the 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 supported...

Written Answers — Ministerial Appointments: Ministerial Appointments (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: The current Inspector of Prisons and Places of Detention, Mr. Justice Dermot Kinlen, was appointed to the post on a non-statutory basis with effect from 24 April, 2002. His appointment was for a period of five years and, as such, is due to expire on 23 April, 2007. In regard to my future plans for the post itself, I wish to advise the Deputy that I intend to establish the Office of the...

Written Answers — Deportation Orders: Deportation Orders (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: Between the period end 2001 to 1 June 2006 no persons have been deported to Afghanistan. However, during the period 1st January 2002 to 1st June 2006, 10 persons have been transferred to other EU States under the Dublin II Regulation.

Written Answers — Sexual Offences: Sexual Offences (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 45 and 75 together. The Sex Offenders Act, 2001 which commenced on 27 September 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...

Written Answers — Garda Reserve: Garda Reserve (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: In July 2005, as part of a submission on the future resourcing requirements of the Garda Síochána, the Garda Commissioner proposed the recruitment of up to 4,000 reserve members as provided for in the Garda Síochána Act 2005. In response, and in the context of identifying policing priorities for inclusion in the Garda policing plan for 2006, I set the objective of the recruitment of 900...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Criminal Justice (Trafficking in Persons and Sexual Offences) Bill is at an advanced stage of preparation and should be published later this year and enacted in the lifetime of this Dáil.

Written Answers — Tribunals of Inquiry: Tribunals of Inquiry (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: The resolution which led to the establishment of the Morris Tribunal was passed by both Houses of the Oireachtas on 28 March 2002. It requires the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, within 14 days of receipt of any report from the Tribunal, either to apply to the High Court for directions regarding its publication or arrange to have it laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas. The...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 50 and 59 together. I am informed by the Garda authorities that the table shows the figures available for murder offences recorded, detected, proceedings commenced and convictions, where a firearm was used for the years 1998 to 2005 and in 2006 up to 7 June. While no level of murder is acceptable, I would advise the Deputy that Ireland has one of the lowest...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the number of homicides and serious assaults recorded and detected in each year from 2000 in which knives were used are as outlined in the table. Offence Rec/Det Murder Manslaughter Assault Total 2000 Recorded 9 7 105 121 Detected 9 7 77 93 2001 Recorded 17 5 91 113 Detected 17 5 64 86 2002 Recorded 21 3 86...

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: In recent months, there have been several events of the kind referred to by the Deputy in O'Connell Street, Dublin, culminating with vigils at the GPO. I am informed by the Garda authorities that, in order to ensure disruption of traffic and of the general public is kept to a minimum, the Garda Síochána enters into discussion with the organisers of these marches to establish assembly...

Written Answers — Constitutional Challenges: Constitutional Challenges (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: As the Tánaiste has told this House, on 29 November 2002 my Department was informed in writing by the Chief State Solicitor's Office of an application seeking judicial review by the High Court to challenge certain provisions of the Criminal Law Amendment Act 1935, (The "C.C." proceedings). An official promptly phoned the Chief State Solicitor's Office to ascertain whether they needed any...

Written Answers — Garda Inspectorate: Garda Inspectorate (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: Following the enactment of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 in July 2005, the Secretary General of my Department requested the Public Appointments Service (PAS) to advise on the most appropriate recruitment process to source the best possible candidates for the members of the Garda Síochána Inspectorate. The PAS proposed a model which involved using a private sector partner with experience in...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (8 Jun 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 as at 6th June 2006 was 12,375. This compares with a total strength of 10,702 (all ranks) as at 30 June 1997 and represents an increase of 1,673 (or 16%) in the personnel strength of the Force during...

Written Answers — Human Trafficking: Human Trafficking (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 56, 58 and 214 together. By its very nature, human trafficking is a clandestine activity and, owing to the intimidation associated with it, victims are often reluctant to come forward to the authorities. This is the experience internationally and, for these reasons, it is impossible to be precise about the extent of human trafficking into Ireland. In common...

Written Answers — Garda Communications: Garda Communications (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that Broadband internet facilities are available at Garda Headquarters, Harcourt Square, Store Street and the Garda College, Templemore. I am further informed by the Garda Authorities that broadband to provide telecommunications and Garda Intranet services has been deployed to 159 Garda Stations and has been ordered for a further 38 stations. In all, it...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my answer to Parliamentary Question No. 5 for today.

Written Answers — Refugee Appeals Tribunal: Refugee Appeals Tribunal (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: As the Deputy will be aware, the Refugee Appeals Tribunal (RAT) was established under the Refugee Act, 1996 in order to deal with appeals arising from negative recommendations in respect of applications for refugee status issued by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner (ORAC). The Tribunal has been in operation since November 2000 and is comprised, at the present time, of a full...

Written Answers — Tribunals of Inquiry: Tribunals of Inquiry (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: For many years the individual named in the Deputy's question has frequently contacted me on a personal basis on a very wide range of issues which are of interest to him. These contacts are sometimes made by phone and sometimes by writing. In relation to the specific encounter raised by the Deputy, the person in question had contacted me in the preceding week and had indicated that he was...

Written Answers — Gender Discrimination: Gender Discrimination (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: While there is a number of factors involved in the gender pay gap, it is generally agreed that the biggest factor is the difference between women and men in accumulated work experience, and women taking time-out of the labour force for child rearing and caring duties. Other factors include occupational segregation, educational and training differences, promotion policies within firms, the...