Results 13,621-13,640 of 18,761 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Decentralisation Programme. (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: It made sense to get rid of it. A very large capital sum was obtained for it. We are also vacating an office block on Shelbourne Road, the site value of which would be €50-100 million. We are relocating the St. Stephen's Green office to rented accommodation for the moment but the plan is to put us into buildings vacated by other Departments when they move out.

International Agreements. (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: The ad hoc committee for the negotiation of a UN Convention against Corruption met at regular intervals at the UN in Vienna from January 2002 to October 2003. The convention opened for signature in Mexico on 9 December 2003 and was signed by Ireland on that date. In April 2005 a transmission was received by from the European Commission which declared regarding the UN Convention against...

International Agreements. (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: I share the Deputy's concern that we should ratify the convention as soon as possible, but there is a technical difference between Ireland and many of the civil law states. Such states are able to ratify international treaties, which, ipso facto, become part of their domestic law. We have a slightly different situation in Ireland as no international agreement forms part of our law unless it...

International Agreements. (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: I will not have the legislation out by then. If the analysis stage is complete, I may well be in a position to draft a memorandum for Government. To be honest, it will be sometime in 2006 before the text of the ratifying legislation is made public in Ireland.

International Agreements. (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: Many aspects of the convention do not require law as they can be carried out on a voluntary basis. There is very little that we cannot do in the spirit of the convention, in advance of its implementation.

Extradition Application. (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: The trade unionists should take a look at the background facts.

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (19 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: With regard to the amount of money accruing on foot of payments from fixed charge notices and court fines in connection with which penalty points were imposed, this information is not readily available and could only be obtained by the expenditure of a disproportionate amount of staff time and resources.I can inform the Deputy that all moneys received are surrendered to the Exchequer as extra...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (19 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: The contracts and services provided to my Department by the company in question since 1997 are outlined below. There is a contract in respect of access to vendor independent research material, briefings and advisory services on the IT industry worldwide which gives the user on-line access to research and to the company's analysts through an inquiry facility. The contract is renewable on an...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (19 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: The contracts and services provided to my Department by the company in question since 1997 are outlined below. A contract to supply and implement a financial management system for the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, the Courts Service, the Irish Prison Service and the Garda Síochána was awarded to the company in question in March 2002. The tender was advertised through the...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (19 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: I understand from available records that the person in question has been granted residency in the State until 16 February 2010 on the basis of marriage to an Irish national.

Written Answers — Freedom of Information: Freedom of Information (19 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: The Garda Síochána is one of the bodies under the aegis of my Department that has not to date been made subject to the Freedom of Information Acts 1997 and 2003. These Acts have been extended to additional public bodies on a phased basis since commencement in 1998. The Department of Finance conducted a consultation exercise in 2004 aimed at identifying public bodies to whom it would be...

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (19 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of Garda resources, including personnel, that Garda support for fire brigade crews is provided when requested. The Garda authorities inform me that the area the Deputy is referring to is a residential complex consisting of three storey properties that are in the process of being demolished. It is...

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (19 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: The question raised by the Deputy is primarily an operational matter for the Garda authorities. However, I have made inquiries with the Garda authorities and I am informed that it is normal investigative procedure for the report of a burglary to be followed up by a visit from the Garda Síochána to the scene to confirm that a crime has taken place and gather evidence in support of a criminal...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (19 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: The three visa applications in question were received by my Department on 7 September 2005 for the stated purposes of enabling the applicants to travel to the State to reside with their parents here. The mother of the applicants arrived in the State on 22 September 2002 and made an unsuccessful asylum application. She gave birth on 7 October 2002 and applied for residency based solely on...

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (19 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the personnel strength of Tallaght Garda station as on 18 October 2005 was 173 for all ranks. The personnel strength of Tallaght Garda station as on 31 December 1997 was 133 for all ranks. This represents an increase of 40% or 30% in the number of personnel allocated...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (19 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: The equal opportunities child care programme, EOCP, 2000-2006, which is implemented by my Department, has been a landmark development in Irish child care policy. As this very successful investment programme nears 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 at this time. At official level, the issue...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (19 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: A total of 33 city-county child care committees, CCCs, were established in 2001 to prepare and deliver a five year child care development strategy plan to address the specific child care needs of each of the 33 local areas. To implement its strategy plan, each CCC prepares an annual action plan, which is funded under the quality measure of the equal opportunities child care programme, EOCP,...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (19 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: To the end of September 2005, 832 applications from community based and not for profit projects received staffing grant assistance, totalling over €162 million under the equal opportunities child care programme, EOCP, 2000-06. This is in addition to capital funding of €233.5 million allocated under the programme to the end of September 2005. Total funding allocated under the programme to...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (19 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: As the Deputy may be aware the equal opportunities child care programme is funded as part of the two regional operational programmes under the NDP and receives co-funding under the European Union Structural Funds. The table sets out the progress to date of the EOCP as reported by grant beneficiaries to ADM Limited. EOCP summary to 30 June 2005 Capital Staffing Quality Improvement EOCP...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (19 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of Garda resources, including personnel, that 65 gardaí are employed as full-time telecommunications technicians in the Garda Síochána.