Results 15,241-15,260 of 18,734 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Industrial Disputes: Industrial Disputes (17 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: As the Deputy will be aware it is the Government's intention, in the event of industrial action by the Prison Officers' Association, to deploy members of both the Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces as necessary. The Deputy will appreciate that, for obvious security reasons, I am not prepared to outline the details of the contingency plans being made. I hope that deployment of the Garda...

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

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the Garda investigation, which is extensive both within and outside the jurisdiction, remains ongoing and active. Upon completion, a file will be submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions. All possible avenues of information that might assist in furthering the case are being explored, and a key focus is the links between the money seized and...

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

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the number of personnel who have been dismissed from the Garda Síochána in each of the years 1995 to 2004 and from 1 January to 13 May 2005 was as set out as follows: Year 1995 2 1996 1 1997 1 1998 4 1999 0 2000 0 2001 3 2002 2 2003 0 2004 3 13/05/2005 2 In addition, the number of probationer gardaí whose...

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

Michael McDowell: The position is that persons in the State seeking asylum do not have the right to work pursuant to section 9(4)(b) of the Refugee Act 1996. However, as an exceptional measure — and before the commencement of the Refugee Act 1996 in November 2000 — the Government decided on 26 July 1999 to allow a certain category of asylum seeker to seek employment, while his-her asylum claim was being...

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

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my answer to priority Question No. 6 of today's date.

Written Answers — National Women's Strategy: National Women's Strategy (17 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: An interdepartmental committee, chaired by my Department, and comprising senior officials in relevant Departments was established in January 2005 to take responsibility for the drafting of the strategy. The chairperson has advised me that he is satisfied that the committee is on course to complete its work by end October. A consultation group made up of the social partners and the National...

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

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 38 and 260 together. I am informed by the Garda authorities that the following table shows the number of murders in which firearms where used in respect of each year from 1998 to 16 May 2005. As the Deputy is aware, the Director of Public Prosecutions is statutorily independent in the performance of his function and it would, therefore, be inappropriate for me...

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

Michael McDowell: The persons applied for and were granted the right to legal representation in July 2002. They were fully represented by counsel during the opening of the second module, the Barron investigation module, in Donegal in the summer of 2003. Work on that module was discontinued in September 2003 until June 2004, while the tribunal completed its hearings into and published its report on the first...

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

Michael McDowell: A contract has been signed for the purchase of the site and that plans are being formulated at present regarding the prison development. These will be made available in conjunction with the statutory planning process. In accordance with the Department of Finance regulations, the Prison Service is currently preparing a business case regarding the development for submission to the Government....

Written Answers — Irish Prison Service: Irish Prison Service (17 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my reply to priority Question No. 9 of today's date.

Written Answers — Refugee Appeals Tribunal: Refugee Appeals Tribunal (17 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 42 and 64 together. As the Refugee Appeals Tribunal, RAT, is a quasi-judicial body, the members of which are statutorily independent in the performance of their functions under the provisions of sections 15 and 16 of the Refugee Act 1996, as amended, it is a matter for the tribunal to decide on the nature of the statistical information which it publishes. Some...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (17 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: I expect to be in a position shortly to bring the scheme of a Judicial Council Bill to Government for approval with a view to publishing the Bill in the first half of this year. The preparation of the scheme of the Bill is at an advanced stage. I am engaged in a number of necessary consultations on the draft scheme at present. The Bill will establish a judicial council with responsibility for...

Written Answers — Claims against Gardaí: Claims against Gardaí (17 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: The information requested by the Deputy in regard to court awards and out of court settlements in actions taken against members of the Garda Síochána in respect of assault, unlawful arrest or other breaches of citizens' rights is set out in the following table. As of 31 December 2003, there were approximately 750 civil actions taken against members of the Garda Síochána on hand. A...

Written Answers — Children Act 2001: Children Act 2001 (17 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy will appreciate that the Children Act 2001 is very complex and comprehensive legislation and, for those reasons, provisions under the Act are being implemented on a phased basis, as was envisaged at the time of enactment. Responsibility for implementing the Children Act 2001 lies with three Departments, the Departments of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and Education and Science...

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

Michael McDowell: The information sought by the Deputy has been requested from the Garda authorities and will be forwarded to him as soon as it becomes available.

Written Answers — Asylum Support Services: Asylum Support Services (17 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: Since direct provision was introduced, the Reception and Integration Agency, RIA, has provided accommodation for more than 38,000 asylum seekers. The RIA currently operates four main reception centres, with capacity for 731 persons, in the Dublin area and 67 direct provision accommodation centres in 25 counties with capacity for 6,589 persons. In addition, the RIA operates 12 self-catering...

Written Answers — Garda Divisional Structures: Garda Divisional Structures (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 there are currently no plans to alter Garda divisional structures as they relate to north Kildare. The Deputy will, however, be aware that in October 2004 the Government approved my proposal to increase the strength of the Garda Síochána to 14,000 members on...

Written Answers — Sex Offender Treatment Programme: Sex Offender Treatment Programme (17 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: The report referred to, namely, An Independent Evaluation of the Irish Prison Service Sexual Offender Intervention Programme, was commissioned and funded by my Department. It provides a scientific evaluation of the Irish Prison Service sex offender programme. The report found that the sex offender programme complied with the highest international standards of programme delivery and that the...

Written Answers — Industrial Disputes: Industrial Disputes (17 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: I have no intention of renegotiating the proposal for organisational change which has already been arbitrated upon by the Civil Service Arbitration Board. Since I took office in 2002, I have allowed ample space and time for a mutually acceptable negotiated settlement to be reached between the Irish Prison Service and the Prison Officers' Association. Following on the rejection of an earlier...

Written Answers — Security Industry: Security Industry (17 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: The draft voluntary code of practice on the movement of cash in Ireland sets out the agreed principles for major cash movements in this country. The objectives of the code are to encourage the highest standards of operation and to implement integrated end-to-end solutions to create safe, secure and efficient cash handling. The forum that is meeting regularly to develop the code is made up of...