Results 11,221-11,240 of 18,729 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (21 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the personnel strength, 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, 16.3%, in the personnel strength of the Garda Síochana during the period. The number of...

Written Answers — Registration of Title: Registration of Title (21 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have requested the Land Registry to contact the Deputy directly concerning the current position of the application in question.

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (21 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: Responsibility for the national child care investment programme 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 at the Department of Health and Children with special responsibility for children. With regard to the application for capital grant assistance under the equal...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (21 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: The issue of the level of payment and collection of fines is kept constantly under review. The legislation governing the penalty points and fixed charge system is set out in the Road Traffic Acts 2002 and 2004, which are the responsibility of the Minister for Transport. If payment is not made within 28 days of the date of issue of the fixed charge notice the level of the charge increases by...

Written Answers — Community Councils: Community Councils (21 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 640 and 642 together. I regret that I am not in a position to meet the groups in question due to constraints on my schedule. However, I have instructed officials from the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform to make themselves available to meet the groups in question to discuss their concerns and report to me. Officials from the Department will...

Written Answers — Registration of Title: Registration of Title (21 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have requested the Land Registry to contact the Deputy directly concerning the current position of the application in question.

Written Answers — Coroners Service: Coroners Service (21 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 643 to 645, inclusive, together. In the Coroners Bill that the Government has approved for drafting, there are no proposals for inquests to be held in private in certain cases. I am aware of the hurt and trauma involved for family members and relatives in tragic death situations, especially suicide. I am also mindful that a proper public investigation must be...

Written Answers — Ministerial Meetings: Ministerial Meetings (21 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 646 to 648, inclusive, together. I have met and spoken to the person concerned on several occasions.

Written Answers — Criminal Prosecutions: Criminal Prosecutions (21 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: It has not been possible within the timeframe involved to collate the information required by the Deputy. I will contact the Deputy directly when the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Garda Equipment: Garda Equipment (21 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: Significant developments have been underway, particularly over the past year to improve the stability of the PULSE system, as well as providing for increased functionality and greater access to the system. In particular, significant improvements to the PULSE system have been achieved in terms of the improved number of networked locations; extra PCs made available at existing networked Garda...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (21 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 651 to 653, inclusive, together. I am informed by the Garda authorities that it is not possible for the Garda Síochána to quantify how many firearms-weapons have been imported illegally into this jurisdiction for 2006 and previous years from 2000. Any estimation would be purely speculative. However, every effort is made by the Garda Síochána to combat the...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (21 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the information requested is not readily available and is being researched. I will be in touch with the Deputy when the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (21 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the following table shows the total number of theft from shop, theft from person and theft from mechanically propelled vehicle offences recorded for the years 2000 to 2005 and for 2006 up to 17 February. Also provided are the total number of those offences recorded in which property was recovered. It should be borne in mind that any interpretation...

Written Answers — Garda Remuneration: Garda Remuneration (21 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 Garda rate of pay during training is €178.95 per week for the first 62 weeks of training, phases I, II and III. On attestation, the starting pay for the first year in the Garda Síochána is €23,952, excluding allowances. Garda pay, including the...

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (21 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the circumstances of the incident referred to were investigated by gardaí at Crumlin Garda station. I am further informed that personal property of the person referred to in the question, in the possession of the Garda authorities, was returned to the spouse of the person on 20 January 2006.

Written Answers — Asylum Support Services: Asylum Support Services (21 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Reception and Integration Agency, RIA, is responsible for the accommodation of asylum seekers. In replies to recent parliamentary questions I have outlined, in detail, current trends in asylum seeker numbers, i.e., a fall in the number of new applications, together with a fall in the number of families seeking asylum, and the consequent implications for the RIA. As a demand-driven...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (21 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my replies to Dáil Questions No. 149 of 26 January 2006, No. 181 of 9 February 2006, No. 249 of 16 February 2006, No. 215 of 2 March 2006 and No. 192 of 9 March 2006 and a reply given to a Dáil Adjournment debate on 23 February 2006 in relation to this case. I wish to emphasise again that the person concerned is not being returned to her country of origin but rather to...

Written Answers — Child Abduction: Child Abduction (21 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 660, 664 and 668 together. As the Deputy will appreciate, it would not be appropriate for me to comment in detail on an individual case. The central authority for child abduction operates in my Department for the purposes of the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. The purpose of the convention is to facilitate the return of...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (21 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Irish-born child unit was set up in late 2003 in my Department to consider applications for leave to remain from the parents of Irish-born children. The unit was staffed by way of a levy on other Departments. No staff dealing with immigration work in my Department were assigned to work in the Irish-born child unit. Around 50 staff were involved in the processing of applications. The work...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (21 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the Commissioner, or an officer not below the rank of chief superintendent delegated to act on behalf of the Commissioner, may dispose of a vehicle which has been detained, removed and stored in accordance with the Road Traffic Act, 1994 (Section 41) Regulations 1995, in any manner he or she thinks fit where the owner has not claimed it or has not...