Results 10,581-10,600 of 18,729 for speaker:Michael McDowell

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

Michael McDowell: The person concerned arrived in the State on 2 November 2004 and applied for asylum. Her application was refused following consideration of her 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, she was informed by a letter dated 17 November 2005 that...

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

Michael McDowell: I wish to advise the Deputy at the outset that the case of the person concerned falls under the terms of the Dublin II regulation, Council Regulation (EC) No. 343/2003. This regulation is intended to prevent the phenomenon of asylum shopping across Europe and sets out criteria for determining which member state is responsible for examining an asylum application where applications have been...

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

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that international co-operation between law enforcement agencies is achieved in a number of ways, including the exchange of strategic and operational intelligence on the activities and modi operandi of criminal networks and organisations. This includes the exchange of intelligence relating to the trafficking and distribution of drugs. The Garda...

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

Michael McDowell: I am advised by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner, ORAC, that 66 civil servants are at present adjudicating directly on asylum casework in that organisation. Other staff in ORAC also provide support functions in the asylum area including dealing with cases under the EU Dublin regulation determining the member state responsible for processing asylum applications, family...

Written Answers — Refugee Status: Refugee Status (27 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to Question No. 319 of Thursday, 6 April 2006 and the written reply to that question. The position is unchanged.

Written Answers — Deportation Orders: Deportation Orders (27 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my replies to Questions Nos. 726 and 781 of 26 January 2005, No. 129 of 14 April 2005, No. 143 of 19 May 2005, No. 470 of 31 January 2006, No. 194 of 9 March 2006 and No. 324 of 6 April 2006. As stated in my latest reply to the Deputy on 6 April 2006, an application has been received from the person concerned requesting revocation of her deportation order based on her...

Written Answers — Missing Persons: Missing Persons (27 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am 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 investigation until the person is located or, in the case of a missing person who is presumed drowned, a verdict to that effect...

Written Answers — Legal Aid Service: Legal Aid Service (27 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am satisfied that the Legal Aid Board has the necessary resources to deliver on its mandate and am pleased to be able to advise the Deputy that the board has made significant progress in reducing waiting times at its law centres. Legal services are currently being provided to all eligible persons within a maximum period of four months nationwide and at half of the board's law centres the...

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

Michael McDowell: Our legislative provisions for the granting of bail are very stringent. The sixteenth amendment of the Constitution provides for the refusal of bail to a person charged with a serious offence where it is reasonably considered necessary to prevent the commission of a serious offence by that person. The Bail Act 1997 gave effect to the amendment and tightened up the bail regime generally....

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

Michael McDowell: The Criminal Assets Bureau is an invaluable tool for law enforcement in the fight against organised crime. Since its inception in 1996, the bureau has had many major successes in seizing the ill-gotten gains of criminals. The Criminal Assets Bureau takes actions under the Proceeds of Crime Act 1996 to seize property and assets which have been shown in the High Court to be the proceeds of...

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

Michael McDowell: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in tabular format below. Table 1: The number of asylum applications received by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner and details of those granted and refused at first instance. Year No. of Asylum Applications Received No. of Recommendations to grant refugee status (at first instance) Asylum Applications Refused (at first...

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

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities that the personnel strength, covering all ranks, of the Garda Síochána on 31 March 2006 was 12,439. That compares with a total strength of 10,702, covering all ranks, on 30 June 1997 and represents an increase of 1,737, or 16.2%, in the personnel strength of the force during that period. I am advised by the Garda authorities that the Garda...

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

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

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

Michael McDowell: Ireland has extensive legislation in place to combat money-laundering activities. The main provisions in Irish law relating to money-laundering are set out in section 31 of the Criminal Justice Act 1994, as amended by section 21 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001), sections 32 and 57 of the Criminal Justice Act 1994 and section 23 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and...

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

Michael McDowell: While I am responsible for providing the money for investment in the Garda fleet, it is a matter for Garda management to decide the allocation of the vehicles. Transport resources are allocated by Garda management in a way that best meets operational requirements and the maintenance of law and order. I am informed by the Garda authorities that the total number of vehicles in Garda divisions...

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

Michael McDowell: Reclassification of criminal offences in the crime statistics is, in general, due to new legislation which creates new offences or repeals existing ones. I am informed by the Garda authorities that the ten offence groups used to show headline offences were first introduced in the Garda Síochána annual report of 2000 in conjunction with the introduction of the PULSE system. The changes to...

Crime Prevention. (27 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 2, together. Since I took the decision to publish crime statistics on a quarterly basis at the beginning of 2003, I have consistently emphasised that care must be taken in interpreting the statistics, especially when considering short term fluctuations or extrapolating trends over short periods. I have emphasised this both when the level of crime has...

Crime Prevention. (27 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: No. One of the problems is that homicide offences had risen but this term includes verbal threats to kill. While no level of murder is acceptable, I would advise the Deputies that Ireland has one of the lowest murder rates in the western world. For example, the homicide rate in Glasgow, a city of comparable size to Dublin, is 5.5 per 100,000 of the population. The comparable figure for Dublin...

Crime Prevention. (27 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: It is obvious the Deputy has not listened to a word I said. The situation is that the level of headline crime in Ireland is now less than it was when he and his partners were in Government in 1995 and 1996.

Crime Prevention. (27 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: The number of headline crimes per head of population has reduced from 29 to 24.