Results 11,001-11,020 of 18,729 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (29 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities, which are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the personnel strength of all ranks of the Garda Síochána as at 31 December 1997 and 20 March 2006 was 10,702 and 12,445, respectively. This represents an increase of 1,743, or 16.3%, in the personnel strength of the Garda Síochána during that period....

Written Answers — National Women's Strategy: National Women's Strategy (29 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: Ireland's commitment under the Beijing platform to create an action plan for women was fulfilled with the publication of Ireland's report to the United Nations on the national plan for women, in autumn 2002. The report, which was prepared following extensive consultation, described Ireland's commitments to advancing the status of women in Irish society. It was also envisaged that this work...

Written Answers — Registration of Title: Registration of Title (29 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: I wish to inform the Deputy that I have requested the Land Registry to contact him directly concerning the current position of the application in question. I understand that, in circumstances where the completion of an application in a particular case is urgent, the Land Registry will make every reasonable effort to facilitate such requests on receipt of a written explanation as to the reason...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (29 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the area in question is policed by gardaí from Raheny and Clontarf Garda stations. Current policing policy in the Raheny and Clontarf sub-districts is predicated on the prevention of crime, including crimes of violence against persons and property, and the maintenance of an environment conducive to the improvement of quality of life of the...

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (29 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that there were no prosecutions in 2005 for breaches of the three tonne limit at Reilly's Bridge, Ratoath Road, Dublin 7. I am further informed that this restriction is enforced and any breaches detected will be dealt with according to law.

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (29 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that there were ten convictions recorded in 2005 for the offence of no muzzle on a dog. The type or breed of dog is not recorded. The figures provided are provisional, operational and liable to change. Legislation on the control of dogs is a matter for my colleague the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (29 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: I can inform the Deputy that my Department is endeavouring to purchase a site, the subject of this parliamentary question, from Kildare County Council. I wish to confirm that funding is available from my Department for the purchase of the site and for the building of a premises to meet the needs of the project in question. Planning permission has been obtained in accordance with the plans and...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (29 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my replies to the numerous parliamentary questions from him on this specific case — Parliament Question No. 149 of 26 January 2006, Parliamentary Question No. 181 of 9 February 2006, Parliamentary Question No. 249 of 16 February 2006 and Parliamentary Question No. 215 of 2 March 2006, a reply given to an Adjournment Debate on 23 February 2006 and Parliamentary...

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (29 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: In their communications with me to date on the tragic death of their late son Terence, the Wheelock family members are being represented by a firm of solicitors. The issues raised to date in that context did not include a request for a meeting with me. I am willing to consider a request for a meeting and if they wish to pursue the matter, the family can either contact my office directly in...

Criminal Justice Bill 2004: Motion (Resumed). (29 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: I thank all the Deputies who contributed to this debate over the past two days. People may say that only a handful had a chance to air their views but more than 50 — excluding Deputy Naughten, who had only a few minutes at the end — had an opportunity to contribute. The process which led to the tabling of these amendments has been one of the most transparent in the history of criminal...

Criminal Justice Bill 2004: Motion (Resumed). (29 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: Far from being rushed through, the legislation is travelling at a snail's pace. I am then asked why I am going so slowly. I have sympathy with that question because the amendments have taken longer than I originally estimated. However, I remind the House that when the legislation on the Garda Síochána was being debated and the heads of this Bill were published, I said I would only proceed...

Criminal Justice Bill 2004: Motion (Resumed). (29 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: It does and I do not see why we should not have a method of doing that here also. Points were made about the ASBO issue. I will not enter into that debate now, but I believe the range of measures being brought forward by the Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy Brian Lenihan, and me in this legislation are fully consistent with the Children Act and...

Criminal Justice Bill 2004: Motion (Resumed). (29 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: There have been many in Britain.

Criminal Justice Bill 2004: Motion (Resumed). (29 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: There have been a few cases of sexual offences involving minors. A solid citizen could wake up one morning to realise that the young boy who had raped his or her daughter was going back to school that day and there would be a conference, or that a person who pushed his or her child under a train or into a canal was back at school, or that a person had bullied and tortured a person. If our law...

Criminal Justice Bill 2004: Motion (Resumed). (29 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: That is in the original Bill.

Criminal Justice Bill 2004: Motion (Resumed). (29 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: I did not state that.

Criminal Justice Bill 2004: Motion (Resumed). (29 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy should find me the quote.

Written Answers — Stardust Tragedy: Stardust Tragedy (28 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: As I have indicated on a number of occasions, I will be happy to meet with the Stardust Victims Committee in the event that new evidence arises which could form the basis of a productive discussion. With this in mind, my Department has forwarded a copy of the recent "Prime Time" programme to the forensic science laboratory for evaluation and a report on its content is in preparation. No...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (28 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my response of 21 March 2006 to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 596 and 621.

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (28 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Council of Europe Convention on Action Against Trafficking in Human Beings is currently under consideration by my Department. Legislation to criminalise trafficking in human beings for the purpose of their sexual and labour exploitation as provided for in the EU framework decision on combating trafficking in persons is at an advanced stage of preparation in my Department. This legislation...