Results 10,681-10,700 of 18,729 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Criminal Prosecutions. (26 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: Given the amount of time since Professor Harbison's retirement and given that a great number of the cases in which he was involved have been dealt with, I believe it is very unlikely that many cases remain unresolved. I do not believe it is likely that many other cases would be affected. However, the suggestion that the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform stated that this is not a...

Criminal Prosecutions. (26 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am not blaming anybody. I am making a very simple point. As the Deputy knows very well, given his remarks on wealth tax, one needs to be careful about what is made of one's remarks in the newspapers.

Criminal Prosecutions. (26 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Taoiseach has limited knowledge on this matter, as do I. He was not evasive in any sense and he did not attempt to muddy the waters at any time. He attempted to the best of his ability to answer the questions put by Deputy Rabbitte who, having sat at the Cabinet table, knows full well that the Taoiseach of the day is not and can never be acquainted with the intimate detail of any...

Criminal Prosecutions. (26 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: They are not lessons which should be learned on the basis of destroying the reputation of any individual.

Written Answers — Domestic Partnerships: Domestic Partnerships (26 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 226 and 227 together. I refer the Deputy to my reply to Questions Nos. 619 and 620 of 25 April 2006. I have nothing further to add to that reply other than to state that the Working Group on Domestic Partnership advertised its terms of reference and sought submissions in the following newspapers: on 2 April 2006 in The Sunday Business Post, Ireland on Sunday,...

Written Answers — Prisoner Transfers: Prisoner Transfers (26 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: I wish to advise the Deputy that information and statistics relating to applications under the Transfer of Sentenced Persons Acts 1995 and 1997 are contained in the annual reports by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to the Houses of the Oireachtas on the operation of the Acts. I expect to lay the annual report for 2005 before the Houses of the Oireachtas in the coming days....

Written Answers — Prisoner Transfers: Prisoner Transfers (26 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: I can confirm that my Department received the formal application for transfer of the person concerned from the United Kingdom authorities in September 2005. Various reports were then sought and received by my Department from bodies in this jurisdiction. The application was reviewed by the State's legal officers in order to ensure that the requirements of the Council of Europe Convention on...

Written Answers — Garda Equipment: Garda Equipment (26 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am advised by the Garda authorities that there are 228 interview rooms in 131 Garda stations that have video interview recording facilities. The number of interview rooms per station varies between one and four units. Apart from a very small number of rooms that were fitted out prior to June 2000, the equipment has been drawn down from a contract put in place in April 2001. With regard to...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (26 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: Measures to combat illegal materials and activities on the Internet are hampered by a multiplicity of jurisdictions, differing legal systems, and differing societal norms. Combatting illegal, harmful and predatory use of the Internet, therefore, requires a combination of responses at national, EU and international levels. Ireland is fully committed to continuing to play its part, at home and...

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (25 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Garda Commissioner, in a comprehensive submission to me on the Garda reserve, has proposed that the powers of reserve members will be confined to the enforcement of certain aspects of the following Acts: under the Road Traffic Acts — demanding driving licences and insurance details, enforcing the wearing of seat belts, etc.; under the Public Order Act — dealing with the offences of...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (25 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: The National Safety Council, NSC, as the agency mandated with responsibility for road safety education and information, operates a dedicated penalty point website, www.penaltypoints.ie. I understand that the website has recently been redesigned-updated in the context of the extension of the penalty point system. In addition, the NSC ran a public education-awareness campaign about the new...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (25 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 616 and 717 together. As the Deputy is aware, there is a transparent statutory framework governing the asylum determination process in Ireland set out in the Refugee Act 1996. The 1996 Act established two independent statutory offices to consider applications and appeals in respect of refugee status and to make recommendations to the Minister for Justice,...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (25 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 617 and 718 together. As the Deputy is aware, there is a statutory framework in place, as set out in the Refugee Act 1996, as amended, governing the asylum determination process in Ireland. This Act, inter alia, provided for the establishment of two statutory independent offices to consider asylum applications and appeals and to make recommendations to the...

Written Answers — Paternity Leave: Paternity Leave (25 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: There is currently no statutory entitlement to paternity leave. However, many employers in both the public and private sectors have arrangements in place providing short periods of paid paternity leave. Paternity leave was considered in the context of a review of the Parental Leave Act 1998 conducted by a working group chaired by my Department. The working group comprised the social partners,...

Written Answers — Domestic Partnerships: Domestic Partnerships (25 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 619 and 620 together. The Deputy will appreciate that the manner of operation of the working group on domestic partnership is a matter for itself under its terms of reference which charge the group with preparing an options paper on domestic partnership for presentation to me on 20 October 2006. The terms of reference are to consider the categories of...

Written Answers — Garda Training: Garda Training (25 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that all members of the Garda traffic corps have successfully completed the standard garda driving course, which is the level of training required for members assigned to the traffic corps. I am further informed that driver training programmes and training needs are continually revised and updated to reflect best international practice.

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (25 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 — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (25 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have not received any recommendations in respect of the night closure of certain Garda stations, however, I have been informed by the Garda authorities that a review group was tasked with conducting an impact assessment of the possible closure-reduced opening-amalgamation of Garda stations in the Dublin metropolitan region. I understand that this report has been completed and is currently...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (25 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: The applications referred to by the Deputy were received in the visa office in New Delhi on 21 February 2006. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the visa applications in question were approved on 6 April 2006.

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (25 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: An application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to in the Deputy's question was received in the citizenship section of my Department on 14 May 2004. I am advised by my officials that processing of the application of the person concerned is due to commence in the near future. As soon as full consideration has been given to this application, I will advise both the...