Results 14,141-14,160 of 18,761 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Deportation Orders: Deportation Orders (30 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 560 and 561 together. This person has instituted judicial review proceedings challenging the deportation order. Accordingly, as the matter is sub judice, I do not propose to comment further on it.

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (30 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the numbers of prosecutions for breaches of the three tonne limit on Kennelsfort Road, Palmerstown, for the years 2002 to 2005, inclusive, are shown on the attached table: Year Prosecutions 2002 8 2003 2 2004 5 2005 48

Written Answers — Garda Disciplinary Proceedings: Garda Disciplinary Proceedings (30 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: I understand from the Garda authorities that eight criminal cases were initiated in connection with allegations of criminal behaviour on the part of some gardaí in Donegal division. Details are provided in appendix 1 of this reply. A total of 89 plenary summonses in respect of civil actions have been served on the State in connection with the allegations of wrongful behaviour of members of...

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (30 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that complaints made to the Garda Síochána in respect of allegations of the kind referred to by the Deputy are thoroughly investigated by it in order to establish the facts of the complaint and to gather evidence in order to determine if a prosecution is warranted for submission to the Director of Public Prosecutions. Provisions for victims are made by...

Written Answers — Crime Prevention: Crime Prevention (30 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: Neighbourhood watch was established in 1985 as a crime prevention measure for urban areas and there are approximately 2,600 neighbourhood watch schemes in operation nationwide. In common with other community schemes, it enlists the voluntary help of the community in co-operation with the Garda and is most suitable for urban areas. Although no dedicated departmental financial allocations have...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (30 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: Under the Government's decentralisation programme, 230 posts in the Land Registry are scheduled to be relocated to Roscommon town. The Land Registry's implementation plan in respect of this move is available on my Department's website. The selection process with regard to property solutions to fulfil the accommodation brief for the staff decentralising to Roscommon is progressing and the...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (30 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that residency has been granted to the person in question and that she was advised in writing of the decision on 21 June 2005.

Written Answers — Prison Building Programme: Prison Building Programme (30 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 568 and 569 together. Preliminary estimates of the cost of servicing the Thornton Hall site were prepared as part of the detailed site evaluation process which was carried out by engineering consultants on a number of sites. This placed the total estimated cost of providing mains water, foul sewer and power including gas and electricity to the site at €8.5...

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (30 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: I can inform the Deputy that the Censorship of Publications Board currently has one vacancy for a member due to the death of one of the members. The Irish Legal Terms Advisory Committee has two vacancies, one being for chairperson due to the resignation of Mr. Pádraig Ó hUiginn. The other vacancy is due to Mr. Justice Aindrias Ó Caoimh taking up a position in the European Court of Justice....

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (30 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: Vacancies are due to arise in the following bodies between now and 31 December 2005: Name of Board/Statutory/State Body Courts Service Board Prison Visiting Committees Arbour Hill Prison Visiting Committee Cork Prison Visiting Committee Limerick Prison Visiting Committee Loughan House Place of Detention Visiting Committee Mountjoy Prison Visiting Committee Portlaoise Prison...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (30 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: The person concerned arrived in the State on 29 March 2000 and applied for asylum. His application was refused following consideration of his case by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner and, on appeal, by the Refugee Appeals Tribunal. Subsequently, in accordance with section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999, as amended, he was informed by letter, dated 5 November 2001, that the...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (30 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: The 11th group of amendments consists of amendments Nos. 121 and 122. In its second report the Morris tribunal referred to the plan being implemented by Garda management to strengthen the Garda internal audit section and noted it was a matter of worry that the internal audit section had not been strengthened by the presence of officers from outside police forces. The tribunal acknowledged it...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (30 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: I fully echo what Senator Jim Walsh has just said. I intend to fast-track the ethnic diversification of the Garda Síochána, since we know that in Britain youths from racial minorities in particular saw a police force in the 1950s and 1960s which did not reflect their community at all. It indelibly marked the relationship between those minority communities and the force. Now is the time for...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (30 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: By way of background information, I can inform Senators that section 91 is one of the most important in Part 3 of the Bill, dealing with the powers of the investigation staff or ombudsman commission to search Garda stations. It is a carefully worded provision in all respects, particularly in the case of certain Garda stations with sensitive material, written, tangible, or computer-based,...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (30 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: It contains a typographical error.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (30 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: The typographical error is being corrected under the relevant Standing Order.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (30 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: It is a difficult task to balance these two interests. I have done my best but I am impressed by Senator Walsh's point that, under the general power to make disciplinary regulations, it appears that procedures could easily be put in place — subject to discussion with the Attorney General — for a system of vouching and counter-signature by another member of the force. Another...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (30 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: Group 13 concerns the subject matter of amendments Nos. 117 and 118. These are technical amendments. They arise from my correspondence with the Chief Justice with regard to the provisions in the Bill as it stands, which permit me to appoint a judge to inquire. This is being changed to "invite a judge to inquire (while serving as a judge)". Amendment No. 118 concerns the replacement of the...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (30 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: Senator Walsh will be interested to learn that we are currently drafting judicial conduct legislation with the co-operation of the Judiciary, the views of which we are taking on board.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (30 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: Amendments Nos. 38 to 50, inclusive, are comprehended by this group. Senators will no doubt recall the long discussions we had in this House on the joint policing provisions of the Bill. As I said afterwards, these provisions are all the better for the changes made in the House. I brought forward further changes on Report Stage in the Dáil . The first concerns a recommendation, contained in...