Results 15,221-15,240 of 18,734 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (18 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: My Department has no record of a visa application from the person named in the details supplied by the Deputy. I advise the Deputy to forward the reference number of the visa application in question to the immigration division of my Department to enable officials to check on the status of the application.

Written Answers — Tribunals of Inquiry: Tribunals of Inquiry (17 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: I agreed to meet two members of this family and their legal representatives together with two public representatives to discuss the legal representation of the family at the Morris tribunal. The meeting was arranged for the afternoon of 6 May. However, that morning I learned that the family would not be accompanied by its legal representatives and also that it proposed to have two other...

Written Answers — National Emergency Plan: National Emergency Plan (17 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 and 297 together. I am informed by the Garda authorities that a major emergency exercise, involving the south and south-eastern Garda regions, occurred on 22 March 2005 in Youghal on the inter-county boundary of Cork and Waterford. The exercise involved a simulated collision between a large passenger bus and a heavy goods vehicle with a hazardous load. The...

Written Answers — Deportation Orders: Deportation Orders (17 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: Charter flights are not the only means by which persons who are illegally resident here are removed from the State. For example, in 2004, a total of 599 persons were deported from the State, of whom 277 were removed on chartered aircraft and the remaining 322 on scheduled commercial aircraft. A further 65 persons who had first claimed asylum in another EU State were removed to that State...

Written Answers — Garda Personnel: Garda Personnel (17 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that as of the 13 May 2005 there were 86 juvenile liaison officer, JLO, gardaí and eight, JLO sergeants working in the various divisions throughout the country. In addition to this the National Juvenile Office has a staff of one superintendent, two inspectors and...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (17 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: The Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme, EOCP, 2000-2006, is a central pillar in the Government's child care strategy and is intended to increase the availability and quality of child care supports for parents in employment, education or training. The programme is funded by the Exchequer and the European Union Structural Funds as part of the regional operational programmes of the national...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (17 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: The information requested is set out as follows in tabular format. Table 1: Number of applications for asylum received and the number of recommendations by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner* to grant refugee status (at first instance) in 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005**. 2002 2003 2004 2005* No. of applications received 11,634 7,900 4,766 1,579 No. of...

Written Answers — Homophobic Crime: Homophobic Crime (17 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: I share the concern of the Deputy and this House, and that of the public in general, about attacks on members of the gay community and other minority groups in the community. Article 40.1 of the Constitution states: "All citizens shall, as human persons, be held equal before the law". I am informed by the Garda authorities that they are satisfied that the areas frequented by members of the...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (17 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: In 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 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...

Written Answers — Law on Defamation: Law on Defamation (17 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am pleased to inform the House that I am in the process of seeking the approval of the Government for the drafting of my proposals for a Defamation Bill. I intend to publish the details of my proposals following the Government decision on them.

Written Answers — Garda Equipment: Garda Equipment (17 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am aware of the matter referred to by the Deputy and of the strong views expressed by the Court of Criminal Appeal on the desirability of recording interviews with suspects in custody. The view of the court is very much at one with the conclusions reached by the steering committee on audio and audio-video recording of Garda questioning of detained persons in its latest report. The report,...

Written Answers — Public Order Offences: Public Order Offences (17 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: Strong provisions are already in place to combat vandalism and anti-social behaviour. The primary basis for the law regarding public order offences is the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994. Because of my concerns about the abuse of alcohol and its contribution to public order offending and broader social problems, I brought forward tough new provisions to deal with alcohol abuse and...

Written Answers — Immigrant Services: Immigrant Services (17 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: In March 2005 the Government approved the establishment on a non-statutory basis of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service, INIS, as an executive office within the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. It is intended to provide a "one stop shop" approach to services relating to the admission of migrants. This decision provides a platform for the establishment of the...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (17 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: The closing date for receipt of applications for the IBC/05 scheme, that is, the revised arrangements for consideration of applications for leave to remain for parents of children born in Ireland before 1 January 2005, was 31 March 2005. Some 18,000 applications were received. Of this number, more than 5,000 applicants have been granted temporary permission to remain and 27 applicants have...

Written Answers — Prisons Building Programme: Prisons Building Programme (17 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: The precise information requested by the Deputy is not readily available. However, an amount of approximately €45.375 million was spent on capital expenditure during the period 1995 to 2004, inclusive, on the Mountjoy Prison complex. The Mountjoy Prison complex includes Mountjoy male prison, St. Patrick's Institution, the Dóchas Centre and the training unit. This expenditure on capital...

Written Answers — Immigration Policy: Immigration Policy (17 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 26 and 62 together. Immigration policy is kept under review in my Department on an ongoing basis to ensure that the migration needs of the State are properly managed and that adequate structures and procedures are in place to do so. My Department has also progressed work on the development of the proposed Immigration and Residence Bill with a view to bringing...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (17 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: In 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 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...

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (17 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that substantial progress is being made with the investigation into the crimes referred to by the Deputy, with searches being conducted by members of the Garda Síochána resulting in 26 persons being arrested and questioned. Firearm, drugs, cash and other property were seized during these searches. Two persons have been charged and are currently before...

Written Answers — Bullying in the Workplace: Bullying in the Workplace (17 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: I have been advised by the Garda authorities that there is no evidence to support the claims made by the president of the Garda Representative Association. I am further advised that the Garda Síochána has a comprehensive policy in place to deal with issues relating to equality, bullying, harassment and sexual harassment supported by a well defined and robust investigative and grievance...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (17 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my reply of today's date to Questions Nos. 5 and 6.