Results 10,561-10,580 of 18,729 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Tribunals of Inquiry: Tribunals of Inquiry (27 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: The most immediate response to the reports of the Morris tribunal was to address the cases of individual wrongdoing or gross negligence uncovered. Following publication of the first report a superintendent was dismissed by the Government. Two superintendents criticised in the second report subsequently retired. Disciplinary action in respect of members of the force below the rank of...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (27 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities that the personnel strength, all ranks, of the 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 that period. It is the responsibility of Garda management to allocate personnel...

Written Answers — Garda Equipment: Garda Equipment (27 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the Garda Síochána has legislative powers to photograph suspects who have been detained under the provision of the Criminal Justice Act 1984, as amended, the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996 and suspects arrested under the provision of section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act 1939, as amended. Nothing prevents a member of the...

Written Answers — Stardust Tragedy: Stardust Tragedy (27 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: The position remains as set out in my response to Deputy McGrath on 28 March to Question No. 352.

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (27 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: The report referred to in the Deputy's question is entitled, All our Children — Child Impact Assessment for Irish Children of Migrant Parents, by the Children's Rights Alliance which was commissioned by CADIC — Coalition Against the Deportation of Irish Children. The report was furnished to my Department on 24 April 2006. The report will require examination but, on a preliminary basis, it...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (27 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: The application for residency in the State for the person in question is currently being processed. A request for further documentation has issued and on receipt of the required information a final decision will be made.

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (27 Apr 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 the 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 — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (27 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Supreme Court in the case of the Director of Public Prosecutions v Patrick O'Connor considered the application of EC Directive 72/166/EEC in this jurisdiction. The court held that random, non-discriminatory checks were permitted, but that if checks are to be random they should not be aimed against foreign registered cars only. The enforcement of the Road Traffic Acts by members of the...

Written Answers — Garda Transport: Garda Transport (27 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the fleet management — transport — section of the Garda Síochána is under the control of a chief superintendent and has the following personnel. Superintendent 1 Fleet Manager (Civilian) 1 Sergeant 5 Garda 7 Clerical Officers (civilian) 4 There are two sergeants and five gardaí directly involved in the servicing and...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (27 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: The application referred to by the Deputy was received in my Department on 20 April 2006 and is currently awaiting examination by a visa officer. The application will be considered in the coming weeks.

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (27 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: The position on Garda retirements is that members of the force who joined before April 2004 can retire on full pension after 30 years service, provided they are aged 50 or over. Members at the rank of garda, sergeant and inspector must retire by the age of 57, while members at superintendent rank and higher can remain in the force up to the age of 60. Members who joined after April 2004,...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (27 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 133 and 134 together. Student gardaí are not appointed as members of the Garda Síochána until attestation, following successful completion of phases I to III, inclusive, of the Garda Síochána training programme. On attestation, newly appointed members are assigned to the various Garda divisions by the Garda Commissioner. Any statistics on Garda strength...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (27 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that prior to the rollout of the fixed charge processing system on 3 April 2006 a number of non-penalty point offences were dealt with by the fines on the spot system. Since 3 April the use of hand-held devices and notepads replaced the fines on the spot system and all offences are being dealt with under the fixed charge processing system. This system...

Written Answers — Legislative Procedures: Legislative Procedures (27 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: As the Deputy will be aware, it is well established that the Oireachtas may delegate the power to make rules, orders, regulations etc., to the Government, a Minister or other authority in order to carry out the main purpose of the law which the Oireachtas has enacted. Rules etc., made in purported reliance on such a law can be, and have on occasion been successfully, challenged in the courts,...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (27 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended, provides that the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform may, in his absolute discretion, grant an application for a certificate of naturalisation provided certain statutory conditions are fulfilled. Those conditions are that the applicant must be of full age, or by way of exception, be a minor born in the State; be of good...

Written Answers — Registration of Title: Registration of Title (27 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have requested the Land Registry to contact him directly concerning the current position of the application in question.

Written Answers — Garda Property: Garda Property (27 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: Work is under way on the specification and design of a new building for the forensic science laboratory. At this stage in the process, the precise details of the new premises remain under consideration but the intention is to provide a modern, state-of-the-art facility which fully accommodates the needs of the laboratory well into the future.

Written Answers — Refugee Legal Services: Refugee Legal Services (27 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 140 to 144, inclusive, together. The selection of suitable proposals for co-financing under the European Refugee Fund 2005-07 took place on 27 March 2006. Final decisions on the successful projects were made by an independent selection committee comprising representatives from both governmental and non-governmental organisations. As indicated in the guidelines...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (27 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: The reception and integration agency is responsible for the accommodation of asylum seekers through the policy of direct provision and dispersal. The RIA is not responsible for the provision of accommodation to refugees. Persons with refugee status have the same housing entitlements as Irish citizens and as such, do not fall within the remit of the RIA or any other agency of the Department of...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (27 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: Headline crime statistics from 2000 to 2004 for the Garda division of Dublin west, which includes the Leixlip area, are available in the relevant Garda annual reports. The breakdown of headline crimes recorded by Garda division for 2005 on a quarterly basis is not currently available and will be published at a later date.