Results 16,181-16,200 of 18,734 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (10 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the operational strength of the Garda national drugs unit is kept under review having regard to the issues of drug supply and criminality within the State, available resources and other policing priorities. The operational strength of the Garda national drugs unit will be reviewed having regard to the prevailing circumstances and the recent decision...

Written Answers — Garda Equipment: Garda Equipment (10 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 149 to 156, inclusive, together. In replies that I have given to parliamentary questions on PULSE on a number of occasions recently, I have addressed this matter in considerable detail. In that regard, I refer the Deputy to my most recent response to his Priority Question No. 59 on Wednesday, 16 February 2005. The specific additional information requested by...

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (10 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 157 to 161, inclusive, together. In the case of Finglas Garda station, which is not of an acceptable standard, I have already stated that immediate priority is being given to providing a new Garda station there. A suitable site has been identified by the Office of Public Works on the Mellowes Road, and I understand that it is in negotiation to agree the terms...

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (10 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: The Garda authorities do not prioritise Garda stations for repairs. I refer the Deputy to my response to Question No. 109, ref. 5080/05, of 16 February 2005 in which I stated, inter alia, that all Garda accommodation is continually under review to ensure that it meets the operational requirements of the Garda Síochána. As I indicated, where it does not meet those requirements, the required...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (10 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: I made the general scheme of the Bill available to the Human Rights Commission and to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Womens' Rights to encourage a broad debate on the proposals to be contained in the Criminal Justice Bill, prior to its publication. It is my intention to take the same approach to the proposed heads providing for amendments to the Bill as soon...

Written Answers — Immigration System: Immigration System (10 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: The Government has approved the establishment of the Irish naturalisation and immigration service, INIS, which will be an executive office within the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. A primary aim of the executive office will be to improve the customer services provided to migrants. It will incorporate the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform's current structures...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (10 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 165 and 166 together. The Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of Garda resources, including personnel, have stated that for security and operational reasons they do not disclose the number of personnel who will perform duty in any particular area over a certain period of time.

Written Answers — Probation and Welfare Service: Probation and Welfare Service (10 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: My predecessor, Deputy O'Donoghue, set up an expert group to examine the probation and welfare service under the chairmanship of Mr. Brian McCarthy. This group produced its first report in November 1998. The final report was published in May 1999 and made several recommendations. Many of the recommendations of the expert group report have been implemented by my Department. Staffing levels...

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (10 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: My proposal to increase the strength of the Garda Síochána to 14,000 members on a phased basis over a number of years was approved by the Government in October 2004 in line with the commitment in the agreed programme for Government. The number of gardaí assigned to the traffic corps, which was established in November 2004, will increase from the current level of approximately 530 to 1,200...

Written Answers — Garda Equipment: Garda Equipment (10 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 169 and 170 together. The type of speed detection equipment available to members of the Garda Síochána can operate effectively in the hours of darkness.

Written Answers — Garda Equipment: Garda Equipment (10 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: There are no proposals by the Garda authorities to acquire new speed detection equipment for the Garda Síochána. A working group on speed cameras chaired by my Department and consisting of representatives of the Garda Síochána, the Department of Transport and the National Roads Authority is examining a range of issues concerning speed cameras, including the parameters for outsourcing...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (10 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: The statistics for headline offences for each month for the years 2002 to 2004 are as set out in the table. It would not be possible to provide the other information requested by the Deputy without using a disproportionate amount of Garda time and resources. Headline Offences by month for the years 2002 to 2004. 2002 2003 2004 Recorded 11,014 10,021 9,445 January Detected...

Order of Business. (10 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: They will take a whole half hour.

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (9 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 238 and 259 together. I am informed by the Garda authorities that personnel across the organisation enforce the law in relation to the display of rear view number plates on heavy goods vehicles. PULSE records indicate the following number of prosecutions for failure to display a rear number plate on such vehicles for the years 2002, 2003 and 2004. Year No....

Written Answers — Prisons Building Programme: Prisons Building Programme (9 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: The person in question did not procure the site at Thornton. The site was offered to the Irish Prison Service. The role of the person in question did not change during the life of the expert committee. He acted as an adviser and liaised with the owners-agents of a number of the sites regarding price and other matters.

Written Answers — Prisons Building Programme: Prisons Building Programme (9 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: The Director General of the Irish Prison Service was of the view that there would be major operational difficulties if a new prison complex for the Dublin area was too far from the city, the other prisons, the courts and major access routes. In his view such operational difficulties would most likely arise if a site was further than eight kilometres outside the M50.

Written Answers — Prisons Building Programme: Prisons Building Programme (9 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: The price paid was the amount required to acquire a site suitable for the development of a new prison facility to allow the replacement of the Mountjoy Prison complex.

Written Answers — Prisons Building Programme: Prisons Building Programme (9 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 242 and 243 together. I understand that the committee considered and agreed what it considered to be the most relevant criteria in selecting a site and apportioned weightings on the basis of their judgment as to what was the relevant importance of each criterion.

Written Answers — Prisons Building Programme: Prisons Building Programme (9 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 244 and 245 together. Two members of the committee did visit the site but the committee did not consider it necessary for every member of the committee to visit all the sites which were considered suitable particularly when aerial photographs, detailed maps and engineering surveys were available. I do not accept that the committee rushed its consideration of...

Written Answers — Prisons Building Programme: Prisons Building Programme (9 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: I have not visited the site in question. The impact of the development on the local area cannot be fully assessed until the plans for the complex have been finalised.