Results 15,061-15,080 of 18,761 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Seanad: Registration of Deeds and Title Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: The transformation that is already taking place in the Land Registry represents good value for money. Some people see it purely as a stealth tax but it is more than that. It is an imposition designed to facilitate a badly needed modernisation drive. There is an infinite number of demands on the resources of the central Exchequer, including increased pensions, improved health services and so...

Seanad: Registration of Deeds and Title Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: As Senator Brian Hayes was speaking, an image of former Deputy Brian Lenihan, who spoke about the tyranny of consistency, floated before me. Tomorrow in this House we will hear the opposite point being made with regard to policing, namely that it is important to have an independent body and not to have ministerial control.

Seanad: Registration of Deeds and Title Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: I will make the point in that debate ——

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (2 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: With regard to crime figures, on becoming Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, I arranged for the publication of headline crime statistics on a quarterly basis 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 of office as Minister, the quarterly...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (2 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: It is my understanding that a significant amount of supporting documentation was absent when this application was submitted to my Department. My officials have written to the applicant in question requesting additional documentation to be supplied as soon as possible. Upon receipt of the requested documentation, the application will be assessed by my Department and a decision will be made.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (2 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the table.

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (2 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: The person concerned arrived in the State on 14 July 2002 and applied for a declaration as a refugee. His application was refused following consideration of his case by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner on 24 July 2002 and, on appeal, by the Refugee Appeals Tribunal on 28 November 2002. Subsequently, in accordance with section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999, as amended, he...

Written Answers — Vetting of Personnel: Vetting of Personnel (2 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: The Garda central vetting unit, GCVU, carries out criminal record vetting in respect of, inter alia, prospective full-time employees of the Health Service Executive and in certain agencies funded by the executive, as well as in respect of prospective child care workers on equal opportunities child care schemes funded by my Department. The unit currently deals with approximately 100,000...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (2 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 — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (2 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my answer to Question No. 831 on Tuesday, 31 May 2005. The information requested by the Deputy is given in the tables. With regard to crime figures, on becoming Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, I arranged for the publication of headline crime statistics on a quarterly basis to improve the quality of information available to the public. While caution should...

Written Answers — Parental Leave: Parental Leave (2 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am not in a position to provide the Deputy with the information requested as my Department does not compile statistics on uptake of parental leave. However, the Deputy may be interested to know that a survey was commissioned on the uptake levels of parental leave in the context of a review of the Parental Leave Act 1998 which was conducted by my Department in 2001. The survey, carried out...

Written Answers — Parental Leave: Parental Leave (2 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: My Department does not compile statistics on the uptake of additional unpaid maternity leave. Consequently, I am not in a position to provide the information sought by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (2 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: The person in question has an application for permission to reside in the State and this is currently under consideration. A request for further information recently issued to the person's legal representative in this regard. On receipt of the information requested a decision will be made on the application.

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (2 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to the reply I gave to Questions Nos. 214 on Thursday, 28 April 2005, and 133, on Thursday, 26 May 2005. Applications received under the revised arrangements announced by me on 15 January 2005 are currently being examined in respect of the persons concerned. I understand that the examination will determine whether there is a necessity for the applicants to travel outside...

Written Answers — Drug Seizures: Drug Seizures (2 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the establishment of a breakdown by district and value of the drugs seized would require an extensive manual search of records and would necessitate an inordinate commitment of resources. Details of figures for the number of cases in which proceedings were commenced can be found in the Garda Síochána annual reports for the years 1995 to 2003....

Written Answers — Drug Seizures: Drug Seizures (2 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the establishment of the drug type and the number of firearms involved in the seizures to which the Deputy refers would require an extensive manual search of records and would involve the expenditure of a significant level of resources. The table provides details of drugs seizures valued at over €10,000 where at least one firearm, within the...

Written Answers — Drug Seizures: Drug Seizures (2 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: It has not been possible within the timeframe available to collate the information required by the Deputy. I will contact the Deputy directly when information is to hand.

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (2 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: 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. I am informed by the Garda Síochána that the areas referred to by the Deputy receive regular attention from officers based at Kevin Street station and consists of patrolling by uniformed gardaí, detective...

Written Answers — Drug Seizures: Drug Seizures (2 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that all illegal drugs seized are initially conveyed to the forensic science laboratory, pending analysis. Once analysed, smaller quantities of seized drugs are returned to the Garda district or divisional headquarters of origin where they are stored in secure conditions in a safe for evidential purposes until no longer required. Volume drug seizures are...

Written Answers — Drugs in Prisons: Drugs in Prisons (2 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: The programme for Government gave a commitment to tackling the issue of drug use in Irish prisons. This includes treatment and rehabilitation, supply reduction and the introduction of mandatory drug testing. I am satisfied that mandatory drug testing can play an important role in the overall strategy for tackling the scourge of drug use among prisoners. Mandatory drug testing will provide...