Results 9,761-9,780 of 18,729 for speaker:Michael McDowell

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

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 186 and 191 together. There is a particular overriding necessity, in view of the recent increase in violent crime involving firearms, to ensure that public safety and security concerns are given priority in any review of policy and legislation in relation to firearms. With this in mind I have brought forward a wide range of amendments to the Firearms Acts...

Written Answers — Anti-Social Behaviour: Anti-Social Behaviour (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: Statistics for offences under the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act, 1994 are available in the relevant Annual Reports of An Garda Síochána, which are available in the Oireachtas library.

Written Answers — Public Order Offences: Public Order Offences (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that no Garda District or Districts correspond to County Kildare. A number of Garda Districts include parts of County Kildare in their area. Accordingly, there are no figures available in respect of the county specifically.

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

Michael McDowell: As the House will appreciate, the deployment of Garda resources and the investigative methods used in murder cases are operational matters for the Garda Commissioner. In this regard, I am informed by the Commissioner that a number of National Support Units have been established, working under an Assistant Commissioner. These Units include the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation which...

Written Answers — Court Staff: Court Staff (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: Since 2002, the total number of ordinary judges of the High, Circuit and District Courts has increased from 101 to 118, an increase of 17 judges. The number of High Court judges has increased from 25 to 31, the number of Circuit Court judges has increased from 25 to 33 and the number of District Court judges has increased from 51 to 54. I have secured Government approval to further increase...

Written Answers — Missing Persons: Missing Persons (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the number of untraced persons recorded at the end of 2005 was 395. I am further informed by the Garda authorities that the Missing Persons Bureau of the Garda Síochána is responsible for maintaining data relating to missing persons. All cases of a person reported missing in suspicious circumstances remain open and under ongoing review and...

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

Michael McDowell: In the interests of creating a safe, secure and efficient cash-handling environment, a voluntary Code of Practice between An Garda Síochána and the service providers in the cash-in-transit industry, including the financial institutions, the Central Bank, the Financial Services Authority of Ireland and the security companies, was signed in 2005. Appropriate crime prevention advice is also...

Written Answers — Witness Security Programme: Witness Security Programme (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Witness Security Programme was established in 1997 in response to the activities of organised criminal gangs to facilitate those persons who are prepared to give evidence against alleged offenders. The Programme operates under the direct control and administration of the Garda Commissioner. It is not the practice and it would be contrary to the public interest to comment on the specifics...

Written Answers — Juvenile Offenders: Juvenile Offenders (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: The coordination of responses between Government Departments in respect of children at risk of involvement in crime and other troubling behaviour has been identified as a priority issue within my Department. New structures, which foster greater dialogue between the relevant Departments, have recently been established to address the matter. In October 2004, an internal project team was...

Written Answers — Juvenile Offenders: Juvenile Offenders (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: In recent years there has been a renewed focus on the State's response to youth crime and youth justice issues. In October 2004, a project team was established within my Department to examine the youth justice system and make recommendations for any improvements necessary. The project team's recommendations were approved by Government last December. The recommendations included the...

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

Michael McDowell: The Garda authorities inform me they are satisfied that sufficient resources are available to the Criminal Assets Bureau to enable it operate effectively. The Criminal Assets Bureau has been at the forefront of the fight against organised crime in this jurisdiction since its inception in 1996. The manner in which the Bureau operates has, in that 10 year period, come to be viewed, both...

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (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 1 June 2002 and 2006 was 11,754 and 12,391, respectively. I am pleased to advise the Deputy that the serving strength of the Force is to receive a significant additional boost with the attestation...

Written Answers — Juvenile Offenders: Juvenile Offenders (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 203 and 204 together. I wish to refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 25 (ref: 22147/06) today.

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

Michael McDowell: The information in the detail sought by the Deputy has been requested from the Garda authorities and I will contact the Deputy directly when this information is to hand.

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

Michael McDowell: The Garda authorities are satisfied that the technology required to assist in the fight against crime is available to them. An Garda Síochána constantly evaluate all available technology with a view to determining the technology best suited to their needs. Significant resources are being invested in technology for the Gardaí to assist them in the exercise of all their functions. The...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the visa application in question was approved on 6th June, 2006.

Written Answers — Garda Vetting Services: Garda Vetting Services (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Garda Central Vetting Unit (GCVU) was established in January 2002 to deal with the then known demand for criminal record vetting. I am pleased to report that, under the guidance of a multi-agency implementation group, the vetting service of the GCVU is currently undergoing major expansion. This is being made possible, in part, by the provision of significant additional human and other...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: In relation to the treatment of returnees by the authorities in their countries of origin, it should be borne in mind that before a deportation decision is made in any individual case, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform must have regard to the eleven factors contained in Section 3 (6) of the Immigration Act, 1999 (as amended) and the provisions of Section 5 of the Refugee Act,...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (8 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have already outlined on a number of occasions Ireland's position on the European Council Directive on residence permits for victims of trafficking. In practice this Directive does not require us to do anything which we cannot already do under our existing immigration legislation and practice. It would require more formalised procedures that we currently have, but in any event we have the...

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

Michael McDowell: The Criminal Justice (Trafficking in Persons and Sexual Offences) Bill should be published later this year and enacted in the lifetime of this Dáil. The primary purpose of the legislation is to allow for compliance with the Framework Decision on combating trafficking in human beings (for the purpose of their sexual and labour exploitation) and the Framework Decision on combating the sexual...