Results 13,481-13,500 of 18,761 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Public Order Offences: Public Order Offences (25 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that between 2.30 a.m and 3.30 a.m. on 16 October 2005 five different incidents were reported to gardaí in Swinford Garda district. Three of these incidents were public order disturbances at Charlestown, Kiltimagh and Swinford. The other incidents concerned the sexual assault of a female in Kiltimagh and a wandering horse on a public road. The...

Written Answers — Garda Transport: Garda Transport (25 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 current number of squad cars available in each Garda district in County Mayo is as set out in the following table: District Number Ballina 7 Belmullet 4 Castlebar 9 Claremorris 5 Swinford 7 Westport 5 Total 37 Transport resources...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (25 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: The number of applications received, granted and refused in the past five years for residency based on marriage to an Irish national are set out in the table below. There are no separate figures kept on the number of applications that have been denied on the basis that the marriage is fraudulent. It should also be noted that a total of 99 applications have also been abandoned for various...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (25 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that a formal certificate confirming the Irish citizenship of the person concerned issued to him by registered post on 20 October 2005.

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (25 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 1067 of Wednesday, 28 September 2005. The current position is as set out in that reply.

Written Answers — Irish Prison Service: Irish Prison Service (25 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: The existing arrangements applying to civil servants assaulted in the course of, or in connection with, carrying out their official duties are contained in Department of Finance circular 5/1986. These arrangements do not provide for assignment or transfer of staff to light duties pending their recovery from injury. The Prison Service has, however, developed a critical incident protocol which...

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

Michael McDowell: I am convinced that the Garda Síochána is by far the most appropriate structure within which to locate the enforcement of road traffic law and road safety. Road traffic offences are serious offences, which too often lead to fatalities and serious injuries. One of the main strategic goals in the Government Road Safety Strategy 2004-2006 and the Garda Síochána corporate strategy 2005-2007,...

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

Michael McDowell: The current position in respect of the five members of the Garda Síochána in question is as follows. One member was transferred on 24 June 2005 but is now absent without leave and has been taken off the payroll. One member retired from the force before his transfer was to come into effect. One member appealed his transfer to the assistant commissioner, human resource management. This was...

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...