Results 12,061-12,080 of 18,729 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: The persons concerned arrived in the State on 4 May 2004 and applied for asylum. Their application was refused following consideration of their case by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner and, on appeal, by the Refugee Appeals Tribunal. Subsequently, in accordance with section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999, as amended, they were informed by letters dated 17 January 2006 and 30...

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the fixed charge processing system, currently processing the offences of speeding and non-wearing of seatbelts, is operational nationwide from today. The system was introduced on a pilot basis in Kells, Dundalk, Dunleer, Blanchardstown, Terenure and Dublin Castle on 30 June 2004. It was extended to the entire Dublin metropolitan region in November 2004...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: I can inform the Deputy that, while my Department has incurred expenditure in the area of public awareness associated with important issues of public policy under its aegis, I have not engaged any public relations firms or media advisers to provide me with such advice in a personal capacity since my appointment in June 2002. I understand that Minister of State, Deputy Fahey, applied part of...

Written Answers — Garda Vetting Procedures: Garda Vetting Procedures (1 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Garda central vetting unit, GCVU, was established in 2002 and, in the education sector, currently processes vetting requests in respect of bus escorts, special needs assistants and staff for children in detention schools. In the time available, it has not been possible to compile information on the number of persons so vetted since 2002 in the education sector. Last year, an inter-agency...

Written Answers — National Security: National Security (1 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 293 and 294 together. The Garda Síochána is the organisation responsible for providing policing and security services for the State. In this context, I am informed by the Garda authorities that the Garda Síochána has established contacts, both multilateral and bilateral, with police and security services worldwide, touching on areas of mutual...

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (1 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: The murder of the person in question has been the subject of correspondence by and on behalf of the family of the deceased, to which I have given full consideration. In response to concerns expressed on the matter, the Garda Commissioner established a review team to conduct a thorough and concise investigation into all matters of concern, which involved the taking of more than 150 statements...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (1 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: As the Deputy may be aware, responsibility for the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010 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 with responsibility for children, Deputy Brian Lenihan. With regard to the approval of capital grant assistance of €50,790 to the private...

Written Answers — Garda Reserve Force: Garda Reserve Force (1 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: I would refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 1148 on Wednesday, 25 January 2006.

Written Answers — Closed Circuit Television Systems: Closed Circuit Television Systems (1 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: Section 38 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 provides a legislative basis for the operation of CCTV systems in public places for the purposes of crime prevention and crime detection by the Garda Síochána and community based groups. It does not apply to persons operating CCTV cameras on their premises for the purposes of protecting persons or property on the premises or environs. Officials of...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (1 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: A provision of €5.11 million is included in my Department's Estimates for 2006 in respect of the forensic science laboratory — an 8% increase on the 2005 budget — and the number of authorised posts is 69.5. The staffing and other resource implications arising from the establishment of a DNA database are currently being examined by my Department in conjunction with the forensic science...

Written Answers — Computerisation Programme: Computerisation Programme (1 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: My Department, the Courts Service and the Garda Síochána are currently engaged with the Reach agency in a pilot project to exchange summons and court outcome information electronically, by implementing the Reach inter-agency messaging service. On successful completion of this pilot project, which is expected in spring 2007, other exchanges of information between these agencies and others in...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (1 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of Garda resources, including personnel, that the personnel strength of Tallaght Garda station as at 1 February 2006 was 167 — all ranks. The strength of Tallaght Garda station as at 31 December 1997 is 133 — all ranks. This represents an increase of 34, or 25.6%, since that date. I am further informed...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (1 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: The total number of cases on hands in the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner, ORAC, and the Refugee Appeals Tribunal, RAT, on 31 December 2005 was 2,436 as compared to some 6,930 cases in January 2004 and 3,629 in January 2005. The overall number of cases in the above asylum agencies for over six months was 433 at the end of December 2005 compared to some 1,057 in January 2005...

Written Answers — Deportation Orders: Deportation Orders (1 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: The person concerned, along with her child, arrived in the State on 7 September 2000 and applied for asylum. Her husband arrived in the State on 8 December 1999 and applied for asylum. Their application was refused following consideration of their case by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner and, on appeal, by the Office of the Refugee Appeals Tribunal. The person referred to...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (1 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Road Traffic Act 1961 defines a mechanically propelled vehicle as a vehicle intended or adapted for propulsion by mechanical means. Quadricycles and motorcycles, including micro-motorcycles, come within this definition. In order to use a mechanically propelled vehicle in a public place, a range of requirements must be satisfied in relation to both the vehicle and the driver. Specifically,...

Written Answers — Sentencing Policy: Sentencing Policy (1 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: The person to whom the Deputy is referring was sentenced to five years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended, in the Dublin Circuit Court on 12 February 2004. The offence was possession of a controlled drug with a market value of €13,000 or more, for the purpose of selling or otherwise unlawfully supplying it to another. The court also ordered that he gain credit for 114 days already...

Written Answers — Prisoner Transfers: Prisoner Transfers (1 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has not received a formal application for a transfer to this country in respect of this person from the United States authorities. An expression of interest for transfer to a prison in this country from the person referred to by the Deputy was received in my Department on 23 August 2004. In line with the convention, my Department wrote to the US...

Written Answers — Deportation Orders: Deportation Orders (1 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: The person referred to by the Deputy and her two children entered the State in January 2005 and applied for declarations of refugee status. Following consideration of their claims by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner and the Refugee Appeals Tribunal, they were refused refugee status and deportation orders were signed in respect of them on 23 November 2005. Judicial review...

Written Answers — Coroners Service: Coroners Service (1 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: I can inform the Deputy that, in so far as the question of post mortem reports requested by a coroner are concerned, it is not possible to indicate an average timeframe as a number of factors can influence this, including whether toxicological or other specialist reports are required as part of the post mortem process.

Written Answers — Prison Building Programme: Prison Building Programme (1 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: The decision to develop a much needed modern prison facility at Thornton Hall is being implemented and will not be reconsidered.