Results 13,181-13,200 of 18,761 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Sexual Offences: Sexual Offences (8 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: The Government has accepted in principle the recommendations in the Ferns report and has given a commitment to their implementation by all relevant Departments and agencies. The Ferns inquiry has identified a gap in the criminal law regarding failure to act to alleviate the risk of injury or sexual abuse of a child. The report recommends that consideration should be given to the introduction...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (8 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: For several years now Ireland has been operating one of the most liberal economic migration systems in Europe with large numbers entering the State legally for employment purposes. In addition, we are one of the few states in Europe to have granted full access to our labour market on enlargement of the EU to citizens of the new member states. Currently, there are more than 130,000...

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

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by officials in the citizenship section of my Department that applications for naturalisation have been received in December 2004 and May 2005 from two persons, both Ecuadorian nationals, with the surname detailed by the Deputy. It appears from the information contained in their applications that they are not related and I am unable to confirm which is the subject of the...

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

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 53 on 20 October 2005 on this matter.

Written Answers — Registration of Title: Registration of Title (8 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: I have requested the Land Registry to contact him directly concerning the current position of the application in question. I understand that, in circumstances where the completion of an application in a particular case is urgent, the Land Registry will make every reasonable effort to facilitate such requests on receipt of a written explanation as to the reason underlying the urgency.

Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (8 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: I take it the Deputy refers to the proposed judicial council Bill, under which it is proposed that a judicial council will be extablished which will have among its responsibilities the establishment of a code of judicial ethics and the investigation of allegations of breaches of ethics. The preparation of the scheme of the Bill is at an advanced stage. I am engaged in a number of necessary...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (8 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: Applications of the type referred to by the Deputy are dealt with in chronological order, in fairness to all such applicants, and currently take approximately 16 to 18 months to process. It has always been the case that the non-nationals concerned could not enter employment pending the outcome of the application for residency, unless they have a valid work permit. I do not envisage any change...

Written Answers — Garda Disciplinary Proceedings: Garda Disciplinary Proceedings (8 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: The information sought in Parliamentary Question No. 596 of 28 June 2005 was not available at that time. I have since been informed by the Garda authorities that as a result of an incident at Bunratty Castle Hotel on 3 August 1993, criminal allegations were made against two off-duty gardaí. The two members in question subsequently received District Court convictions for assault and being...

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

Michael McDowell: A declaration of acceptance of Irish citizenship as post-nuptial citizenship was received in the citizenship section of my Department on 6 June 2004 from the person referred to in the Deputy's question. I understand a serious difficulty has arisen which will, in all likelihood, prevent a positive finalisation of this matter. In recent days, one of my senior officials from the citizenship...

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

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my replies to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 502 and 503 of 2 November 2005 in this matter.

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (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 contact the Deputy when the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Probation and Welfare Service: Probation and Welfare Service (8 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: I assume the Deputy refers to the number of referrals made to the probation and welfare service. National figures for 2004 are in the process of verification and will form part of the probation and welfare service annual report for 2004, which is in preparation at present. Preliminary national figures for the first ten months of 2005 show that close to 9,000 referrals were made to the service...

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

Michael McDowell: I have made inquires of the Garda authorities and the information requested by the Deputy is laid out in the following tables. The statistics provided for 2004 and 2005 are provisional and liable to change. Table 1 Headline Offences Recorded and Detected in 2004 and 2003 2004 2003 Recorded Detected % Detection Rate Recorded Detected % Detection Rate 98,964 34,398 35% 103.360...

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

Michael McDowell: I have made inquiries of the Garda authorities and the information requested by the Deputy is laid out in the following table. It shows the number of assaults causing harm in each Garda division for the first nine months of 2005. In 2004, the total number of recorded assaults causing harm in the State was 3,867, with 2,393 detected. The figures provided in the Garda Síochána annual report...

Written Answers — Public Order Offences: Public Order Offences (8 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that Operation Encounter, which commenced in February 2002, is a Garda initiative aimed at providing high visibility Garda foot patrols in areas where large numbers of people socialise late at night and in the early morning. It is aimed at dealing effectively with public order issues, especially problems associated with drunkenness, including sections 4,...

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

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the number of headline offences recorded in the Dublin metropolitan region for the period 1 January to 31 October 2005 is 37,387. Of these, 12,162 were detected, a detection rate of 33%. I am further informed that the number of headline offences recorded for the country excluding the Dublin metropolitan region for the period 1 January to 31 October,...

Written Answers — Drug Seizures: Drug Seizures (8 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: Data provided by the Garda in respect of drug seizures in 2004 and for the year to date are outlined in the following tabular statements. These figures are provisional pending the publication of the Garda annual reports. 2004 Drug Cannabis resin 3.2 tonnes Cannabis herb 103.9 kg Heroin 26.4 kg LSD 307 units Ecstasy, MDMA 1,098,169 tablets Amphetamine 92.4 kg Cocaine...

Written Answers — Prisoner Staff Ratio: Prisoner Staff Ratio (8 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: The numbers of prisoners in custody and the number of prison staff in each of the years 1997 to 2004 and in 2005 to date are set out in the following table. Year Daily average number of prisoners in custody Serving prison service staff on 31 December in each of the years 1997 to 2004 and on 30 September 2005 1997 2,422 2,495 1998 2,610 2,727 1999 2,763 3,073 2000 2,948 3,200...

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

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that any combination of legal tender is accepted for full payment of traffic fines. The fine is deemed to have been paid once the money has been handed over and a receipt of payment issued. In the absence of more detailed information, it is not possible to comment further.

Written Answers — Registration of Title: Registration of Title (8 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: I have requested the Land Registry to contact the Deputy directly concerning the status of the application in question.