Results 11,481-11,500 of 18,729 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (7 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: I regret that it has not been possible in the time available to obtain the information requested by the Deputy. I will be in contact with the Deputy about this matter when it becomes available.

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (7 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: I presume that the Deputy is referring to the Ennis district in the Clare division. 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 Ennis Garda district as at 31 December 1997, 2000 and 2002 to 2005, inclusive, was as set out in the following table: Date Strength ...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (7 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: The person in question was not requested by the immigration division of my Department to withdraw their application for residency based solely on marriage to an Irish national in favour of their application made under EU regulations. Legal representatives of the person in question were contacted by phone by an officer of my Department and advised of the timeframes involved in processing the...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (7 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: An application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to by the Deputy was received in the citizenship section of my Department on 30 March 2005 and, in the normal course, it would fall to be finalised in or around March 2007. However, the person concerned entered the State in January 2001 and was resident here for less the statutory five year period at the time of his...

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (7 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that international co-operation between law enforcement agencies is achieved in a number of ways, including the exchange of strategic and operational intelligence on the activities and modus operandi of criminal networks and organisations. The Garda Síochána has an excellent level of co-operation with police forces from other jurisdictions through...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (7 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: Road safety in the context of bilateral relations is the responsibility of my colleague the Minister for Transport, Deputy Cullen. He has informed me that following the ministerial meeting of the transport sectoral group of the British-Irish Council on 9 February 2006 he exchanged letters with the UK Minister of State for Transport in which they agreed to enter into bilateral arrangements on...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Accidents: Road Traffic Accidents (7 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: All Government Departments and agencies which are responsible for dealing with road safety related issues are extremely aware of the urgent necessity of bringing about a steady reduction in the numbers killed and seriously injured on our roads. Government policy in this area is set out in the Government's document, Road Safety Strategy 2004-2006. The strategy sets out an ambitious range of...

Written Answers — Crime Prevention: Crime Prevention (7 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: There is a particular overriding necessity, in view of the recent increase in violent crime involving firearms, to ensure that public safety and security are given priority in any review of policy and legislation on firearms. With this in mind I propose to bring forward a wide range of amendments to the Firearms Acts 1925-2000 in the context of the Criminal Justice Bill 2004, which is before...

Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (7 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: In the context of the Criminal Justice Bill 2004, which is awaiting Committee Stage in the House, I propose to bring forward a wide range of amendments which will strengthen the law governing the control of firearms. Included in these proposals are measure which will include the introduction of new offences concerning the modification of firearms such as "sawing off" a shotgun; increases in...

Written Answers — Crime Prevention: Crime Prevention (7 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my comprehensive statements to both Dáil and Seanad Éireann on 28 February and 2 March 2006, respectively.

Written Answers — Crime Prevention: Crime Prevention (7 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: A number of data sources are used to determine the extent of drug usage within society. These include drug treatment and law enforcement data as well as official survey data at national level. The joint prevalence survey undertaken in partnership between the National Advisory Committee on Drugs, NACD, and the Drugs and Alcohol Information and Research Unit, DAIRU, in Northern Ireland is...

Written Answers — Crime Prevention: Crime Prevention (7 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: Under the Courts Service Act 1998, the provision of information on the courts system is a matter for the Courts Service. The latest published statistics on the operation of the courts are to be found in the Courts Service annual report for 2004, a copy of which may be found in the Oireachtas Library and on the website of the Courts Service, www.courts.ie.

Written Answers — Garda Recruitment: Garda Recruitment (7 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: As part of the preparation for Garda recruitment campaign in 2004, I asked the Garda Commissioner to review the eligibility criteria for entry to the Garda Síochána in so far as it related to the maximum age of entry. This arose from the need to implement Directive 2000/78/EC, which, inter alia, prohibits discrimination in employment on the grounds of age. In November 2004, on foot of...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (7 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: The person concerned arrived in the State on 27 October, 2003 and applied for asylum. His application was refused following consideration of his case by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner and, on appeal, by the Office of the Refugee Appeals Tribunal. The person concerned was informed by letter dated 10 August, 2005, that the Minister proposed to make a deportation order in...

Written Answers — Private Security Authority: Private Security Authority (2 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: The private security authority licence fee structure reflects the variety between the different sectors of the industry and takes account of companies and employees who might be working in multiple sectors. Fees also take account of the relative size of companies operating in any given sector. Moreover, the authority is obliged to become self-financing so licence fees must reflect the overall...

Written Answers — Prison Staff: Prison Staff (2 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: The education requirements for entry as a recruit prison officer provide that the applicant is qualified at Irish leaving certificate level at specified grades in mathematics and at least two languages, one of which must be English or Irish, and in not less than two other subjects. In the absence of these qualifications the merit grade in the applied leaving certificate or a qualification in...

Written Answers — Registration of Title: Registration of Title (2 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 200 to 205, inclusive, together. I am informed that the Land Registry has written directly to the Deputy in respect of each of the cases referred to. It is also my understanding that the Deputy's original queries were in fact dealt with by the Land Registry but that the transmission of responses was unsuccessful due to an e-mail error. Any inconvenience...

Written Answers — Extradition Application: Extradition Application (2 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: The initiation of an outgoing request for extradition is a matter for the Garda Síochána in consultation with the DPP and neither I as Minister nor my Department have any role in the procedure.

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (2 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the Garda Síochána is aware of the identities of a number of Irish citizens who currently reside outside this jurisdiction and are believed to be involved in criminal activity related to the drugs trade. The Deputy will appreciate that it is not possible for the Garda authorities to be absolute about numbers but I am satisfied that the Garda...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Accidents: Road Traffic Accidents (2 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that road traffic collisions vary widely in nature and degree, and the number of personnel who attend and the action taken vary accordingly. The number of members of the Garda Síochána who attend at the scene of a traffic collision is dependent upon the prevailing circumstances and is not influenced by the manner in which notification of the collision...