Results 12,101-12,120 of 18,761 for speaker:Michael McDowell

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.

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (1 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: Since I commenced the publication of crime statistics on a quarterly basis at the beginning of 2003, I have consistently emphasised that care must be taken in interpreting the statistics, especially when considering short-term fluctuations and extrapolating trends over short periods. The level of headline crime in 2005 is lower than that for 2003 by 1.6% and is lower than that for 2002 by...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (1 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: The information as requested by the Deputy, insofar as it relates to projects funded from my Department's own Vote is as follows. As can be seen from the details supplied, these projects relate to awareness raising in respect of important public policy issues rather than the provision of public relations advice to myself in any personal capacity. Public Relations Contract...

Written Answers — Legal Education: Legal Education (31 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Competition Authority published a preliminary report on competition in legal services in February 2005 which included a number of recommendations, addressed to the Law Society and King's Inns, on the supply of legal education. The report recommended that the Law Society should issue detailed criteria by 30 September 2005 pursuant to which it will licence institutions to provide...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (31 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: The visa section in my Department is committed to providing a high quality service to all its customers and is making every effort to process all visa applications in as timely a manner as possible. The timeframe for processing visa applications has been reduced in recent months and study visa applications currently take approximately three weeks from the date of receipt in the visa section....

Written Answers — Drug Treatment Services: Drug Treatment Services (31 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: The person referred to is serving cumulative sentences totalling 14 months for burglary, assault and threatening-abusive behaviour. He is at present due for release from prison on 3 August 2006. I recently approved a transfer to the Midlands Prison in Portlaoise for this prisoner. I am not prepared to authorise a transfer to either Shelton Abbey or Portlaoise Prison. As I have repeatedly...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (31 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: The refugee in question made an application for family reunification in respect of his mother and siblings. My Department has recently been in correspondence with him requesting further documentation in support of the application. On receipt of this documentation a decision will be made in this case.

Written Answers — Firearms Offences: Firearms Offences (31 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that they have no intelligence which indicates that persons are carrying guns as a form of fashion accessory. As the Deputy will be aware, any person wishing to possess, carry or use a firearm must obtain a firearms certificate from a Garda superintendent and comply with specific requirements under the Firearms Acts 1925 to 2000. Any person found in...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (31 Jan 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 of State with responsibility for children, Deputy Brian Lenihan. With regard to the application for capital grant assistance under the Equal...