Results 15,061-15,080 of 18,734 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (1 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: The Garda authorities inform me that they have received advice from the law officers on the implications of the decision of the High Court on prosecutions taken under section 21 of the Road Traffic Act 2002. I am further informed by the Garda authorities that the information requested on the number of prosecutions that cannot be proceeded with in the Kildare district in light of the High...

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (1 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: I have no plans to reduce opening hours or close any Garda station. The use of Garda stations was considered as part of the major review of the Garda organisation structures under the strategic management initiative programme of modernisation which looked in detail at a range of areas within the organisation. The Garda strategic management initiative implementation steering group's final...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (1 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: It has not been possible to compile the information requested in the timeframe allowed. I will arrange for the information to be forwarded directly to the Deputy at the earliest possible opportunity.

Written Answers — Departmental Publications: Departmental Publications (1 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following tabular statement. Name of Report Date Commissioned (Time Since Elapsed) Cost (Projected Cost) Estimated Date of Publication An evaluation of intervention programmes in Ireland working with abusive men and their partners and ex-partners July 2003 — (1 year 11 months) stg£41,536.88 June 2005...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (1 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: With regard to crime figures the Deputy will be aware that on becoming Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, I arranged for the publication of headline crime statistics on a quarterly basis in order to improve the quality of information available to the public. While caution should be exercised in interpreting levels of crime between quarters, I am pleased to note that during my term...

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (1 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 211 to 215, inclusive, together. As the Deputy will be aware, operational matters are an issue for the management of the Garda Síochána. However, I am in regular contact with the Commissioner of the Garda Síochána on matters of importance. In this context I have requested information on the suggested increased availability of crack cocaine alluded to by...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (1 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities, which are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the current personnel strength, all ranks, of Kevin Street Garda station as at 31 May 2005 is 119. It is the responsibility of the divisional officer for the Dublin metropolitan region to allocate personnel within the division, including Kevin Street Garda...

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (1 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 217 to 221, inclusive, together. I have been informed by the Garda authorities, which are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the personnel strength and number of community gardaí, all ranks, currently attached to each of the Garda stations at Pearse Street, Harcourt Terrace, Rathmines, Donnybrook and Irishtown as...

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (1 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: As is usual when firearms are discharged by gardaí in circumstances such as those in this case, a chief superintendent has been appointed to investigate the circumstances of the incident. I do not wish to pre-empt the investigation by making a further comment. The Deputy will be aware that a person has been charged in connection with the incident and that the Garda investigations are continuing.

Written Answers — Crime Prevention: Crime Prevention (1 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 390 of 4 May last. The application from the project referred to by the Deputy remains under review.

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (1 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: The visa applications referred to by the Deputy were lodged with the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform in February 2004. The applications were for the purposes of family reunification of relatives of a non-EEA national legally resident in the State on the basis of parentage of an Irish-born child. The applications were refused by the Department on 27 February 2004 as there is no...

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (1 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that gardaí from Cabra Garda station, including community policing personnel, police the area referred to by the Deputy using foot and mobile patrols, ensuring a concentrated and visible presence in the area to prevent and detect crimes of the nature mentioned by the Deputy. The gardaí are supplemented by members of the divisional crime task force,...

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (1 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: As the Deputy is aware, operational matters are an issue for the management of the Garda Síochána. I have been informed by the Garda authorities that the area to which the Deputy refers is policed by gardaí based at Santry Garda station. The station's community policing and district drugs units patrol the area. The units have lead responsibility for policing the sale of drugs in the area...

Written Answers — Gangland Killings: Gangland Killings (1 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: The legislative package for tackling serious and organised crime, including drug trafficking, is recognised as one of the toughest available to the forces of law and order in Europe. We cannot rest on our laurels, however. We must strive to give the Garda Síochána the tools needed to counter the changing circumstances of crime which face them. The Criminal Justice Bill 2004, which is...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (31 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: The employment permit application form issued by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment makes it clear that the issuance of an employment permit in respect of a named non-EEA national does not in itself authorise that person to enter or reside in the State. Decisions on entry to or residence in the State are a matter for the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform under the...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (31 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: The average time for processing applications for naturalisation is 24 months. An application was received in my Department from the person referred to by the Deputy on 12 July, 2002. The applicant's solicitors were informed of my decision to refuse the application and of the reasons for that refusal in a letter dated 3 December 2004.

Written Answers — Refugee Status: Refugee Status (31 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: The refugee in question made an application for family reunification in respect of his wife and children under section 18 of the Refugee Act 1996. In support of his application he submitted four passports. Doubts arose as to the authenticity of the passports in question. Subsequent checks by document experts concluded that one of the passports had been fraudulently altered and that there were...

Written Answers — Irish Prison Service: Irish Prison Service (31 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: Prisoners are not permitted to have mobile phones in their possession either in Mountjoy Prison or in any of the other penal institutions in the State. However, one of the major difficulties in prisons today lies in preventing access to contraband items, primarily mobile phones and drugs, which for obvious reasons are viewed as highly valuable commodities among elements of the prison...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (31 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: As the Deputy was informed in my reply to his parliamentary question of 12 April 2005, applications are not, in general, expedited. Contrary to the Deputy's suggestion, this application was not an appeal but was a stand-alone application and was dealt with as such. However, I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the visa application in question was approved by my Department on 23 May 2005....

Written Answers — Equality Issues: Equality Issues (31 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy will appreciate that it would not be appropriate for me, in the light of the independent role of the director of the Equality Tribunal in investigating or mediating complaints, to comment on any individual case, other than to indicate the following. Since October 2000 direct and indirect discrimination in the provision of goods and services is prohibited under the Equal Status Act...