Results 10,281-10,300 of 18,755 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (17 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 252 to 254, inclusive, together. A decision was taken in 2001 to amalgamate the Garda Stations at Kill O'Grange and Cabinteely and a site has been acquired at Rochestown Avenue by the Office of Public Works to facilitate this development. Good progress is being made on the new station project, a brief of the accommodation requirements has been agreed and a...

Written Answers — Human Trafficking: Human Trafficking (17 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: The current immigration system in Ireland allows the authorities to deal with the victims of trafficking in a sympathetic and pragmatic way. It is recognised that it is in the interests of both the victims of trafficking and the authorities to co-operate with a view to ensuring the protection of victims and the prosecution of perpetrators. Although Ireland has not opted to participate in the...

Written Answers — Court Accommodation: Court Accommodation (17 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: Earlier this year, it was announced that the Pilot Drug Treatment Court, currently operating in the Dublin 7 area, was to be placed on a permanent footing. It will be extended on a phased basis to the wider Dublin area in consultation with the other agencies involved in supporting the Court. The President of the District Court has assigned a Judge of the Dublin Metropolitan District Court to...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (17 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: I wish to advise the Deputy that no application for naturalisation has been received from the person in question. However an application for permission to remain in the State on the basis of marriage to an Irish national was received in April 2006. An acknowledgement of receipt of the application was issued on 3 May 2006. Applications of this type, in fairness to all other such applicants,...

Written Answers — Penalty Points System: Penalty Points System (17 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the Department of Transport, on the written request of a Chief Superintendent, may remove penalty points from a driving licence in circumstances including where the individual named on the notification to the Minister for Transport was not the person who committed the offence or two notifications to the Minister for Transport were issued in respect...

Written Answers — Community Service Orders: Community Service Orders (17 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 — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (17 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: A request to meet the family to discuss the circumstances surrounding the tragic death of their son has recently been received by me. The current position is that an inquest into this person's death is still ongoing. An inquest is an independent inquiry to ascertain the cause of death and the Coroner has statutory duties and powers, including the power to call witnesses. The Coroner cannot...

Written Answers — Crime Prevention: Crime Prevention (17 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: The National Crime Council was established in 1999 by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to facilitate broadly based and well informed discussion on crime on an ongoing basis and to serve as an important aid to policy formulation. The Council has four key roles, namely: to focus on crime prevention, with particular emphasis on the underlying causes of crime and the development...

Written Answers — Restorative Justice Services: Restorative Justice Services (17 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: I was pleased to be invited, on Thursday last, 11th May, to launch the 2005 Report of Restorative Justice Services at The Iona Centre in Knocklyon. As the Deputy will be aware, the Report shows that some 100 cases were referred to the Reparation Programme in 2005 and 97 offenders successfully completed their contracts. I think the Deputy will share the view that the success of this project in...

Written Answers — Vetting Procedures: Vetting Procedures (16 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that there is no requirement to hold a public service vehicle driver's licence to drive high capacity passenger vehicles. I am further informed that the only requirement is to hold the appropriate driving licence to drive such vehicles.

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (16 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 381 and 383 together. I am informed by the Garda authorities that for the period 1 January, 2006 to 9 May, 2006 four collisions involving left hand drive cars resulted in deaths of non — Irish nationals and in the same period six left hand drive cars were involved in fatal road traffic collisions. I am also informed that the specific statistics requested are...

Written Answers — Taxi Regulations: Taxi Regulations (16 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the testing for qualification as a public service vehicle driver commences at the local Garda station. The applicant submits his application to the local District Officer. Checks are carried out to ensure that the applicant is a fit and proper person to hold a licence. The application is then processed and in accordance with the regulations the...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (16 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: I strongly reject the assertion in the Question that I am somehow allowing the breaching of the Human Rights of prisoners. Prisoners Human Rights are safeguarded by law, by prison visits and inspections by oversight bodies viz, Prison Visiting Committees, the Inspector of Prisons and Places of Detention and the Council of Europe's European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman...

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (16 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: The detailed information requested by the Deputy is not readily available and is currently being compiled by the Garda authorities. I will contact the Deputy again when the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (16 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: I informed the Deputy in response to Parliamentary Question No. 553 on 21 February 2006 that my officials could not proceed with the processing of the declaration of the person in question until that person made contact with my Department. An e-mail was received on 25 April 2006 from the Irish spouse of the individual concerned, informing my officials that the family was now residing outside...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (16 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: The application referred to by the Deputy was received in the Ukraine on 17th April, 2006. The decision of the Visa Officer to refuse this application was taken on 28th April, 2006. The application was refused because the Visa Officer could not be satisfied, on the basis of the documentation supplied, that the applicant had demonstrated a sufficient obligation to return home following the...

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (16 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 — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (16 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 on 18 March 2004. This application was examined recently by my officials. The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform may, in his absolute discretion, grant an application for a certificate of naturalisation provided certain statutory...

Written Answers — Child Protection: Child Protection (16 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: As a matter of general policy obviously to allow children unsupervised access to the internet is inappropriate and every opportunity should be availed of to advise parents and guardians of the need for vigilance. You may be aware that on the 7th February 2006, European Safer Internet Day, my colleague Mary Hanafin, TD, Minister for Education and Science, launched a Webwise initiative...

Written Answers — Deportation Orders: Deportation Orders (16 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: The total number of cases considered for deportation under Section 3 (6) of the Immigration Act, 1999 (as amended), during the years 2002-2006 (to 30 April 2006) and the results thereof are shown in the Table below: Table: Deportation orders made and effected, 2002 to 2006 (to 30 April 2006) Year Number of deportation orders made Number of deportation orders effected 2002 2,430 521...