Results 13,101-13,120 of 18,733 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Garda Remuneration: Garda Remuneration (9 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: With effect from 1 October 1982, the following allowances were made pensionable under the Garda Síochána pensions scheme, namely, those in respect of rent, instructor, transport, public service vehicles, radio, Ministers' drivers, substitution, sub-aqua, Gaeltacht, weights and measures and clerical. With effect from 1 January 1993, unsocial hours allowance, which covers night duty,...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (9 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 348 to 352, inclusive, together. My Department has a basic entry level contract with the company in question for vendor independent research material on the IT industry worldwide. The contract is for one senior official to have access to all the research material in question with regular reports on areas of special interest and also to request deeper analysis,...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (9 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: In my response to Question No. 261 on 27 October 2005, I informed the House that I asked my officials to expedite the processing of the application of the person concerned. Processing is now almost finalised and I understand that the case file is due to be referred to me for a decision in the next few days. I will inform both the Deputy and the applicant when I have reached a decision in the...

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (9 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 501 of 8 November 2005, which set out the current position with regard to the proposed new Garda station for Leixlip. The Office of Public Works, taking into account constraints such as architecture and available space, will incorporate the requested changes into its plans. These changes and the manner in which they have been incorporated into...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (9 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: I have made inquiries with the Garda authorities and the information requested by the Deputy is outlined in the following table. This table lists the Garda stations in which evidential breath testing machines are installed and the number of breath tests conducted in each station for the years 2002 to 2004 as supplied by the Medical Bureau of Road Safety. These figures may include tests...

Written Answers — Extradition Requests: Extradition Requests (9 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: I regret that I am unable to provide the Deputy with the information sought since to do so may have the effect of alerting some of the people concerned to the fact that a request has been received for their extradition or surrender. This could result in these persons having the opportunity to flee before the requests can be brought before the courts.

Written Answers — Public Service Contracts: Public Service Contracts (9 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: My Department's arrangements for procurement and monitoring of expenditure are in line with established Government procedures and the Department's appropriation accounts are subject to scrutiny by the Comptroller and Auditor General in the normal way. Therefore, I refer the Deputy to the audited appropriation accounts and annual reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General for the years in...

Written Answers — Violence Against Women: Violence Against Women (8 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 486 and 519 together. As the Deputy will be aware, the National Steering Committee on Violence Against Women, NSC, was set up in 1997 to provide a co-ordinated response from the many statutory and voluntary bodies involved in responding to the problem of violence against women. My Department, in conjunction with the NSC, has conducted a series of successful...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (8 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: I advised the Deputy in my response to Parliamentary Question No. 183 on 16 December 2004 that I decided to defer a final decision on the application of the person concerned until July 2005. I understand that officials in the citizenship section of my Department have written to the person in question in recent weeks to obtain information which will enable me to make a final determination in...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (8 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: School age child care is an important part of the range of child care services which need to be developed and supported to meet the needs of parents and their children in the Ireland of 2005. The Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme, EOCP, 2000-2006, which is implemented by my Department, has been an important landmark development in Irish child care policy. It is widely acknowledged that...

Written Answers — Child Abuse: Child Abuse (8 Nov 2005)

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 further contact with the Deputy in this matter.

Written Answers — Criminal Prosecutions: Criminal Prosecutions (8 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the person referred to has been prosecuted for a number of road traffic offences since 1989. As a result of failure to pay fines imposed for a parking offence in 1990, a warrant was issued in September 1991. The warrant was cancelled in December 1991, when it was believed that the person referred to was not resident in the country. I am further...

Written Answers — Miscarriages of Justice: Miscarriages of Justice (8 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: The person concerned was a witness during the first module of the Morris tribunal in regard to hoax explosive finds. The person fully co-operated with the tribunal and was granted an order for full costs. The person currently also has a civil action against the State in regard to alleged wrongful arrest, and I am, therefore, constrained in what I can say at this stage. Certainly the issues...

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (8 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: I have received representations regarding this matter and I have corresponded directly with the family. I have been informed by the Garda authorities that the gardaí investigated this fatal road traffic accident and the investigation file was submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions. On 4 October 2001, the DPP directed that no prosecution take place in this case. As the Deputy will...

Written Answers — Publication of Reports: Publication of Reports (8 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am aware of the reference made at paragraph 4 of page 147 of the Ferns Report to an individual, who was a Knight of Columbanus, being approached by an unnamed member of the Garda Síochána, who was also a Knight of Columbanus, in connection with allegations made against a particular priest. I am advised by the Garda authorities that there is no prohibition on members of the Garda...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (8 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: Payments made to firms involved in the development of the fixed charge processing system from 2002 to 2004 are set out in the following table. 2002 2003 2004 â'¬2,019,343.59 â'¬7,717,222.14 â'¬3,831,897.98 These costs include the full development of the system, including analysis, design, software development, hardware and testing. The original tender...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (8 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: The information sought by the Deputy is still being collated. I will be in contact as soon as the information requested becomes available.

Written Answers — Traffic Fines: Traffic Fines (8 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am in contact with the Garda authorities concerning the matter raised and I will be in touch with the Deputy when the matter has been clarified.

Written Answers — Taxi Licences: Taxi Licences (8 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: I have made inquiries with the Garda authorities in relation to the matter raised by the Deputy. I have been informed that the position in relation to the person named in the question is as follows. For the authorised officer on behalf of the Garda Commissioner to issue a PSV driver's licence, there is an obligation on the applicant to display a thorough knowledge of the taximeter area and...

Written Answers — Irish Language: Irish Language (8 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: The costs of providing services through Irish are met from my Department's administrative budget and cannot be readily distinguished from the cost of providing services generally. Accordingly, the information sought by the Deputy could not be compiled without the application of a disproportionate amount of staff time and resources.