Results 10,621-10,640 of 18,761 for speaker:Michael McDowell

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.

Crime Prevention. (27 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: If we are to compare performances — there is an unwillingness to accept there was a problem — the problem was significantly worse when some members of the Deputies' parties opposite were at the Cabinet table. The Deputy asked me about resources. The resources that have been devoted to the Garda Síochána have never been higher——

Crime Prevention. (27 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: ——both in financial terms and in numbers.

Crime Prevention. (27 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: I remind the Deputies opposite of what happened——

Crime Prevention. (27 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: ——when they were in office. It is fascinating that every time we discuss the record of the parties opposite, they start shouting. I remind the Deputies that when they were in office the numbers of gardaí in the force declined, whereas while I have been in office and while the two parties have been in office, the numbers of gardaí have dramatically increased. The size of the Garda...

Crime Prevention. (27 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: There is no point in the Deputy heckling me and denying the fact. Ireland is not in the middle of a crime wave and it is an exaggeration to say it is.

Crime Prevention. (27 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am glad Deputy Howlin now accepts that it is legitimate to look at the comparative records of the rainbow Government and the Fianna Fáil-Progressive Democrats coalitions in these matters.

Crime Prevention. (27 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: I reiterate that the number of headline crimes when he was at the Cabinet table——

Crime Prevention. (27 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: ——with a population of 3.6 million——