Results 13,521-13,540 of 18,761 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: The person concerned became an Irish citizen when he was granted a certificate of naturalisation on 24 April 1995. As an Irish citizen, he is entitled to hold an Irish passport. I am aware from a newspaper article of the alleged arrest of the person concerned. I have also noted the remarks in the media about the possibility of the person concerned evading prosecution due to the fact that he...

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

Michael McDowell: Child care was identified as an investment priority under the National Development Plan 2000-2006. This was in direct response to the recommendations of the expert working group on child care established under Partnership 2000 to develop a strategy for the development and delivery of child care. My Department was given lead responsibility for the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme, EOCP,...

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

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 50 and 158 together. The Deputy will appreciate that policing operations are a matter for the Garda Síochána. I am informed by the Garda authorities that criminal networks involved in the areas of criminality referred to by the Deputy are identified in a number of ways. Ongoing investigations and intelligence gathering by specialist national units working in...

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

Michael McDowell: The Deputy will be aware that the primary responsibility for funding agencies providing support services to the victims of violence against women rests with the Department of Health and Children. My Department has provided funding to non-governmental organisations at the level as set out in the following table. This financial assistance has been provided in respect of such matters as...

Written Answers — Homeless Persons: Homeless Persons (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 52 and 64 together. The issues faced by offenders that are homeless or at risk of homelessness, both in the community and in custody, have long been recognised. These issues have been the focus of increased consideration in recent years, particularly in the context of the Government's integrated strategy on homelessness, 2000, and following the publication of...

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

Michael McDowell: I have had inquiries made in this matter and I am informed that the Garda authorities are satisfied that this case was the subject of a full and proper investigation which resulted in a person being charged on the directions of the Director of Public Prosecutions and subsequently dealt with by the courts. I understand that no other persons are sought with regard to this incident. The courts...

Written Answers — Drug Seizures: Drug Seizures (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: The National Drugs Strategy 2001-2008 addresses the problem of drug misuse across a number of pillars — supply reduction, prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and research — and implementation of the strategy across a range of Government Departments and agencies is co-ordinated by the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. The Government is aware of the increased...

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

Michael McDowell: I have met some of the principals in my capacity as a Dáil Deputy and arranged for some of the principals to be met by officials in my Department at a senior level. I regard the underlying allegations as being of the upmost gravity. They have been conveyed to the Commissioner of the Garda Síochána and he has appointed a chief superintendent to investigate the matter further. I am informed...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Data: Telecommunications Data (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: Part 7 — sections 61 to 67 — of the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Act 2005 provides for the retention of telecommunications data by communications service providers for the purposes of the prevention, detection, investigation or prosecution of crime, including terrorist offences, or the safeguarding of the security of the State. It would not be in the public interest to reveal the...

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

Michael McDowell: A small number of cases of MRSA have been diagnosed in prisoners. These have all occurred in prisoners who have been patients in external hospitals for specialist treatment. All cases have been treated in line with the particular clinical indications either directly by prison health care staff or in consultation with relevant external specialist services. A policy guideline, reflecting public...

Written Answers — Drug Seizures: Drug Seizures (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: Data provided by the Garda authorities in respect of seizures of cocaine in the towns of Tralee and Listowel over the period 2000 to 2004, inclusive, and in 2005 to date are summarised in the following table. Year Tralee Listowel 2000 0 0 2001 4 0 2002 2 2 2003 10 0 2004 7 6 2005 to date 5 7 It is a key objective of the National Drugs Strategy 2001-2008 to reduce...

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

Michael McDowell: As the Deputy is aware, my Department's responsibility relating to child care is confined to the implementation of the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme, EOCP, 2000-2006. This is a substantial investment programme under which capital and staffing grants are made available to develop and support child care facilities. The programme also delivers a number of quality enhancement measures...

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

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to the reply I gave to Question No. 3 of today's date which sets out my position in the matters raised. No meeting of the co-ordinating committee as provided for in Article XIX of the agreement has taken place yet as Nigeria has not yet officially ratified the agreement.

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am assuming that the Deputy is referring to leave to remain applications from persons who are now over 18 years of age but who originally entered the State as unaccompanied minors and made asylum applications that were later refused. I am informed by the Refugee Applications Commissioner that there have been 1,684 asylum applications from unaccompanied minors in the period 1 January 2000 to...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: The organisation referred to by the Deputy has made a submission to my Department in response to the discussion document, Immigration and Residence in Ireland, which I published in April of this year. This submission was one of several concerning the rights of same sex couples in Irish immigration legislation and policy. At present, when determining whether a foreign national should be...

Written Answers — Drugs in Prisons: Drugs in Prisons (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am aware of the potential for positive test results in the context of mandatory drug testing arising from consumption of prescribed medication. I assure the Deputy that the new scheme the Irish Prison Service will put in place will have appropriate provisions to deal with this. There are pre-existing procedures to deal with circumstances in which a positive drug test is attributed by a...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: In the time available for response it has not been possible to compile the detailed information requested by the Deputy. The information requested is being collated at present and I will forward it to the Deputy shortly.

Written Answers — Prison Drug Treatment Services: Prison Drug Treatment Services (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: Methadone is prescribed for prisoners as part of either a detoxification regime or, where clinically indicated, as part of a maintenance programme for prisoners who have either been on such a programme in the community prior to committal or who are, following clinical assessment, considered to be suitable candidates to commence such a programme while in prison. The Prison Service has no...

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

Michael McDowell: The Deputy will be aware that the Government approved a series of measures on 11 November 2003 in the event of failure to reach agreement with the Prison Officers' Association on the change agenda aimed at eliminating overtime payments and reducing other costs in the Irish Prison Service. These measures included the mothballing of both Fort Mitchel place of detention and the Curragh place of...

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

Michael McDowell: A working group chaired by my Department and representing the Department of Transport, the Garda Síochána and other relevant agencies, carried out an in-depth examination into the engagement of private sector interests in the provision and operation of speed cameras. On the basis of the group's report, my colleague, the Minister for Transport, and I presented proposals to Government in July...