Results 12,241-12,260 of 18,761 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Prison Staff: Prison Staff (25 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am aware of the issue referred to by the Deputy. The position is that former staff of Fort Mitchel Place of Detention have been temporarily assigned to both Cork and Limerick prisons since Fort Mitchel was closed on 10 February 2004. It has now become necessary to deploy those staff on a permanent basis in the context of the roll-out of the terms of the proposal for organisational change in...

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (25 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1131 and 1135 together. I am informed by the Garda authorities that the Garda Síochána continues to conduct an extensive investigation into the so-called Columbia Three. To date, this investigation has involved the arrest and/or voluntary interview of persons. Moreover, Garda inquiries of the Colombia authorities are continuing in respect of the use of Irish...

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (25 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the relevant issues continue to be subject to active investigation and, upon completion, a file will be submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions. In this regard, the Deputy will be aware that the Garda Síochána has publicly confirmed the link between the money-laundering operation uncovered in 2005 and the proceeds of the Northern Bank...

Written Answers — Garda Remuneration: Garda Remuneration (25 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities, which are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the Commissioner devolves the annual overtime budget through the rank structure to superintendents or district officer. When determining the budget allocations, the operational exigencies of regular and special policing operations, such as Operation...

Written Answers — Proscribed Organisations: Proscribed Organisations (25 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1134 and 1136 together. Pursuant to section 18 of the Offences against the State Act 1939 and the Unlawful Organisation (Suppression) Order 1939, the Irish Republican Army — also the IRA and Óglaigh na hÉireann — remains an unlawful organisation which I am satisfied continues to exist and should continue to be proscribed.

Written Answers — Legal Aid Service: Legal Aid Service (25 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: I can confirm for the Deputy that the correspondence referred to was received in my Department. Observations were sought and received from the Legal Aid Board and a reply issued to the individual concerned last week. Under the terms of the Civil Legal Aid Act 1995, the Legal Aid Board has sole responsibility for deciding if an applicant is eligible for its services. The Act further provides...

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (25 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: The personal items referred to were taken into the possession of the Garda Síochána as part of the investigation into the deaths at Grangegorman. That investigation is ongoing. In January 2001 compensation was paid by the Garda Síochána to the person referred to and the original items remain in Garda custody.

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (25 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the Garda investigation has been completed and the investigation file has been submitted to the law officers for consideration.

Written Answers — Parking Regulations: Parking Regulations (25 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that under Dublin City Council by-laws all vehicles whose laden weight is deemed to be three tonnes or over are prohibited from parking on streets within the Dublin City Council administrative area except at designated parking locations for such vehicles. The only signage relating to these by-laws is erected by Dublin City Council at the boundaries to...

Written Answers — Closed Circuit Television Systems: Closed Circuit Television Systems (25 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: As the Deputy is aware, Kilkenny is one of the 11 remaining locations nationwide which form part of the Garda CCTV programme. As part of this programme, Garda town centre CCTV systems are to be implemented in the following locations: Athlone, Ballyfermot, Carlow, Castlebar, Clondalkin, Clonmel, Ennis, Kilkenny, Sligo, Tallaght and Waterford. As I have indicated previously, I am anxious to...

Written Answers — Deportation Orders: Deportation Orders (25 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: I signed a deportation order in respect of the person concerned on 26 August 2004 following an assessment of his case under section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999, as amended, and section 5 of the Refugee Act 1996, as amended, on the prohibition of refoulement. As the Deputy is aware, the person concerned had previously had his asylum claims rejected by the statutory independent offices of the...

Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (25 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: I can inform the Deputy that I was not contacted directly regarding Garda issues by the person to whom he has referred. The person was in contact with my Department. He subsequently attended a meeting in my Department to discuss security issues relating to the Corrib gas project. Like other Ministers, I received standard correspondence from Shell Exploration & Production setting out its...

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (25 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am advised by the Garda authorities, which are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, that the total cost to 31 December 2005 of the Garda operation at Rossport-Ballinaboy, including basic salary, overtime, subsistence allowance and travelling expenses plus other ancillary costs, amounted to €932,964. This ongoing operation is regularly reviewed to ensure the most effective...

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (25 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the Corrib gas project sites are located at Glengad, Rossport and Ballinaboy, County Mayo. A number of protesters are currently present on the side of the public road at Ballinaboy, County Mayo. I am further informed by the Garda authorities that the reason for the continued Garda presence in the Glengad, Rossport and Ballinaboy areas is to enable...

Written Answers — Registration of Title: Registration of Title (25 Jan 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 — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (25 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: I informed the Deputy in response to Question No. 297 on 12 October 2004 and again on 28 September 2005 that it was anticipated that the application in question would be finalised in or around May 2006. This was on the basis that the processing time for such applications was 24 months at that time. That is still the position. The circumstances set out in the details that accompany the...

Written Answers — Garda Reserve Force: Garda Reserve Force (25 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Garda Síochána Act 2005 provides for the establishment of a Garda reserve and the Deputy will recall that the measure won widespread support in the House during the passage of the Act. The Act lays special emphasis on training for members of the Garda reserve. The Act further provides that the power to appoint persons to the reserve may only be exercised if the Commissioner has...

Written Answers — Prison Staff: Prison Staff (25 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy will be aware that in August last year prisons staff voted by a substantial majority to accept the revised proposal for organisational change in the Irish Prison Service, which, when implemented, will see the elimination of overtime working in the Prison Service and its replacement with a new additional hours system. The new additional hours system, which is based on the concept of...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (25 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: The family applications to which the Deputy refers were not for a holiday but were sought to join the spouse-parent in the State. The applicants were advised to submit a P60 which has not yet been received. Once this has been received a decision will be made.

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (25 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: Such detailed information as is readily available in my Department in respect of expenditure on external consultancy is set out in the following table. Given the range and complexity of issues addressed by my Department, additional external advice has an important role in providing skills and experience not readily available within the Department, notably in the areas of gender and disability...