Results 13,461-13,480 of 18,733 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to the reply I gave to his Priority Question No. 3 of today's date, which sets out my position in the matters raised.

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 15 and 159 together. The Deputy will be aware that in October 2004 the Government approved my proposal to increase the strength of the Garda Síochána to 14,000 members on a phased basis, in line with the An Agreed Programme for Government commitment in this regard. This is a key commitment in the programme for Government and its implementation will...

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: On 27 June, I appointed Mr. Shane Murphy SC to conduct an independent review and undertake a thorough examination of the Garda Síochána papers relating to the making by Mr. Dean Lyons of false inculpatory statements in the course of the Garda investigation into the murders of Mary Callinan and Sylvia Shiels on 6-7 March 1997. Mr. Shane Murphy carried out his task in a timely manner and...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: As Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, I am responsible for the administration of the Department and a number of associated bodies and agencies which come within my Department's remit. There are currently over 20 offices, agencies and associated bodies under the aegis of my Department which carry out a range of diverse functions. These include head office, asylum services, the Data...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: The position is that while I have general responsibility for the liquor licensing laws in my capacity as Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, certain other Ministers, and their respective Departments, have responsibilities with regard to particular aspects. The latter include road safety legislation, public health aspects, consumer policy, matters relating to advertising and...

Written Answers — Prison Building Programme: Prison Building Programme (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: The proposal to develop a prison complex at Thornton Hall is proceeding subject to the relevant planning procedures. The decision of Fingal County Council to initiate an architectural conservation order for the site will be taken into account in the context of the statutory procedure provided for in the Planning and Development Act 2000. The Mountjoy complex will, when vacant, be made...

Written Answers — Garda Communications: Garda Communications (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Priority Question No. 4 today.

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: Work is underway, involving my Department, the Garda Síochána, the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, on drafting the guidelines which I, after consulting with my colleagues, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, will...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: 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. As this very successful investment programme draws to its final stage, the full range of child care issues and how we should best address them are being critically examined in a number of fora. In addition to consideration...

Written Answers — Ministerial Appointments: Ministerial Appointments (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 23 and 25 together. The method of selection of the members of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission is set out in the Garda Síochána Act 2005, which provides that they are to be appointed by the President on the nomination of the Government and the passage of resolutions by both Houses of the Oireachtas. I am pleased that progress has been made on the...

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am currently considering my response to a number of communications received by and on behalf of the person in question dealing with, inter alia, the matters raised by the Deputy. My response will issue in due course.

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the number of gardaí unavailable for service due to illness, ill health, incapacity or otherwise on 17 October 2005 was 88. This refers to those members of the Garda Síochána who are on long-term sick leave. I am further advised that the total number of...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: The current seven year Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme, EOCP, 2000-2006 has an equal opportunities and social inclusion perspective and facilitates the further development and expansion of child care facilities to address the needs of parents in reconciling their child care needs with their participation in employment, education and training. The EOCP aims to increase the supply of...

Written Answers — Garda Disciplinary Proceedings: Garda Disciplinary Proceedings (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities that the number of gardaí currently suspended is 27, all ranks, which represents about 0.2% of the force. Of these 27 members, the vast majority, 23 members, are suspended for a year or less. However, I have learnt from the information supplied to me on foot of the Deputy's inquiry that four members are suspended for considerably longer periods....

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: All killings, regardless of the circumstances involved, are the subject of rigorous investigation by the Garda Síochána. While the term "gangland killings" tends to be widely used in the media in referring to the nature of certain unlawful killings and speculation in this respect is understandable, this does not correspond to the manner in which the Garda Síochána classifies crime or...

Written Answers — Prison Accommodation: Prison Accommodation (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: I have been made aware of the contents of the inspector's report on Cork Prison. Cork Prison had an original design capacity of 150 persons and has a current bed capacity figure of 263. On 18 October 2005, the number of persons detained there was 231. As mentioned in the inspector's report, the variance between the design capacity and the bed capacity is as a result of "doubling up" cells...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy will be aware that the system in question was a generic IT system selected for the Civil Service as a whole. However, specific human resource management requirements apply in the Irish Prison Service that do not arise elsewhere in the Civil Service. These include dealing with staff who work a 24 hour, seven day week on rostered irregular hours and who incur high levels of sick...

Written Answers — Closed Circuit Television Systems: Closed Circuit Television Systems (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: CCTV systems installed for the purposes of crime prevention and as aids to policing, which cover areas to which the general public routinely have access, such as town centres, fall into two distinct categories: Garda CCTV systems and community based CCTV systems. The community based CCTV scheme is not intended as a replacement for Garda CCTV systems but rather as a means to assist communities...

Written Answers — Garda Disciplinary Proceedings: Garda Disciplinary Proceedings (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the Garda member concerned was the subject of an investigation pursuant to the Garda Síochána (Discipline) Regulations 1989 in respect of correspondence forwarded to the Dáil and Seanad. These proceedings were later withdrawn and no action was taken against the member. I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that he is not aware that the member...

Written Answers — Prison Education Service: Prison Education Service (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: I have noted the comments contained in the report of the Inspector of Prisons regarding the training unit at Mountjoy. The future delivery of services provided at the training unit is the subject of active consideration by the Irish Prison Service. A final decision on the matter will have regard to all the relevant factors involved, including location.