Results 10,081-10,100 of 18,729 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (30 May 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 31 March 2006 was 12,439. This compares with a total strength of 10,702 (all ranks) as at 30 June 1997 and represents an increase of 1,737 (or 16.2%) in the personnel strength of the Force during...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (30 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have made enquiries with the Garda authorities in relation to the information requested by the Deputy. Details of the number of offences relating to possession of offensive weapons for the years 2003 to 2005 are as outlined in the table. Proceedings Commenced for Offences Relating to Possession of Offensive Weapons 2003-2005 2003 1,801 2004 1,868 2005 2,107

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (30 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act, 1990 and the Offensive Weapons Order 1991 govern the control of flick knives and offensive weapons. Under the 1990 Act, flick knives and specified offensive weapons are prohibited and it is an offence for any person, irrespective of age, to manufacture, import, sell, hire or loan such weapons. In addition, the 1990 Act, makes it an offence for any...

Written Answers — Community Service Orders: Community Service Orders (30 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Criminal Justice (Community Service) Act, 1983 provides for the performance of unpaid work in the community by a person who is 16 years or over, who has been convicted of an offence, for which the appropriate penalty would be an immediate custodial sentence and who has given his/her consent to the Court. The information sought by the Deputy, regarding the number of Community Service...

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (30 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 522 to 529, inclusive, together. In relation to the Garda investigation into the murder in question and associated matters, in the time available, it has not been possible to compile the necessary information. Accordingly, I will be in contact separately with the Deputy in relation to these issues as soon as possible. With respect to allegations concerning the...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (30 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: An application for a certificate of naturalisation by the person referred to by the Deputy was received in the Citizenship Section of my Department in April 2005. Officials in the Citizenship Section are currently processing applications received in the first half of 2004 and, at the present time, there are approximately 4,000 applications awaiting processing before that of the person in...

Written Answers — Garda Equipment: Garda Equipment (30 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: As the Deputy will be aware, the information required to enable me to respond to Question No. 385 of 16 May, 2006 was not available at the time. I am informed that, at present in the Sligo/Leitrim Division, every Garda Station has a computer. 21 Garda Stations do not use a fax machine. Garda management state that there are a total of 42 vehicles, which include cars, vans, 4x4's and motor...

Written Answers — Prisoner Transfers: Prisoner Transfers (30 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: I wish to advise the House that the mechanism for enabling the transfer of sentenced prisoners from the United Kingdom to Ireland is the Council of Europe Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons. The legislative basis for the operation of the Convention in Ireland is the Transfer of Sentence Persons Acts, 1995 and 1997. The sentences of prisoners transferring into Ireland under the...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (30 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: The application referred to by the Deputy was received in my Department on 9th May 2006 and is currently awaiting examination by a visa officer. The application will be considered in the coming weeks.

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (30 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: The person concerned arrived in the State on 26 September, 2000 and applied for asylum. His application was refused following consideration of his case 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, he was informed by letter dated 29 August, 2002, that...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (30 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: An application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to by the Deputy was received in the Citizenship Section of my Department in late July 2004 and was assigned reference number 68/2520/04. Officials in the Citizenship Section are currently processing applications received in or around April 2004 and I understand that there are approximately 1,300 applications awaiting...

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (30 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities that the events to which the Deputy refers are currently the subject of an investigation by a Detective Superintendent from a Division outside the relevant area. The Deputy's description of these incidents is, I might add, at total variance with the information in my possession. I can say that the significant Garda presence in the general area is...

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (30 May 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 31 March 2006 was 12,439. This compares with a total strength of 10,702 (all ranks) as at 30 June 1997 and represents an increase of 1,737 (or 16.2%) in the personnel strength of the Force during...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (30 May 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 31 March 2006 was 12,439. This compares with a total strength of 10,702 (all ranks) as at 30 June 1997 and represents an increase of 1,737 (or 16.2%) in the personnel strength of the Force during...

Written Answers — Public Order Offences: Public Order Offences (30 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 539 to 542, inclusive, together. I have made enquiries with the Garda authorities in relation to the information requested by the Deputy. The Garda Division of Clare includes the Garda Districts of Ennis, Ennistymon, Kilrush and Killaloe. The numbers of arrests for assault (minor) offences and public order offences for each of the years 2002 to 2005 and to...

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (30 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: I regret that it has not been possible in the time available to obtain the information requested by the Deputy in the first part of his question. I will be in touch with the Deputy in relation to this matter when information concerning this matter is obtained by the Garda Authorities. However, I can assure the House that the Gardaí continue to take a proactive and integrated approach to the...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (30 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: The person in question arrived in the State on 17 March, 2000 and applied for asylum. Her application was refused following consideration of her case by the Asylum Division of my Department and on appeal by the Refugee Appeals Tribunal. Subsequently, in accordance with Section 3 of the Immigration Act, 1999, as amended, the person concerned was informed on 21 May, 2004 that the Minister...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (30 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: I understand from the Registrar of Deeds and Titles that the Land Registry is planning to set up a small advance unit in Roscommon town to progress its decentralisation programme. Following recent discussions between the Department of Finance, the Department of Agriculture and Food and the Land Registry, it was agreed that approximately twenty-two staff would be re-deployed from the...

Written Answers — Bail Policy: Bail Policy (30 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: The granting of bail in accordance with the Bail Act, the amount of bail and sentencing are matters for the courts which are, subject only to the Constitution and the law, independent in the exercise of their judicial functions.

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (30 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: The person concerned applied for asylum on 31 May 2005 and had her claim investigated in turn by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner and the Refugee Appeals Tribunal. Both of these bodies concluded that she and her family did not meet the criteria for recognition as a refugees. Their recommendations were communicated to the person concerned on 12 December 2005 and 28 April...