Results 11,041-11,060 of 18,761 for speaker:Michael McDowell

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...

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

Michael McDowell: A measure of Community competence arises with regard to the signature and conclusion of this particular convention. Any decision as to ratification by Ireland will be taken in the context of Community action in this matter.

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (28 Mar 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 of 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. I have...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (28 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: The person in question was granted permission to remain in the State based on parentage of an Irish born child on 5 October 2000. She kept her permission up to date until October 2004 but has since allowed her residency in the State to lapse. An application for a renewal of the permission to remain previously granted to her must now be made in writing directly to the immigration division of...

Written Answers — Prisoner Health: Prisoner Health (28 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: The total number of admissions to the Central Mental Hospital on foot of a person being certified during the period specified by the Deputy are set out in the following table. Some prisoners were certified more than once during each year. Year Total Number of Certifications 2004 190 2005 101 2006 19 (up to 28 February 2006)

Written Answers — Prison Accommodation: Prison Accommodation (28 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 359 and 360 together. As the Deputy is aware, I previously gave a commitment to abolish the use of old style padded cells in our prisons and I am pleased to inform the Deputy that significant progress has been made in replacing such cells with the newly designed special observation and close supervision cells. The newly designed special observation and close...

Written Answers — Prison Accommodation: Prison Accommodation (28 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: There is no provision for solitary confinement in the Irish Prison Service. However, there are two situations in which a prisoner may be removed from the general population. Information relating to the placement of prisoners in the newly designed close supervision and special observation cells are set out in the following table. These figures are composite in nature and include placement in...

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (28 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities that the provisions of the Road Traffic (Removal, Storage and Disposal of Vehicles) Regulations 1983 empower a road authority to remove, store and dispose of vehicles which have been abandoned on a public road or in a public park. An officer of the Garda Síochána, not below the rank of inspector, may request the road authority to remove an...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (28 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: As the Deputy will be aware, responsibility for the national child care investment programme 2006 to 2010 has been assigned to the Department of Health and Children as part of the establishment of the new Office of the Minister for Children under the Minister of State with responsibility for children, Deputy Brian Lenihan. With regard to the application for staffing grant assistance under the...