Results 16,201-16,220 of 18,761 for speaker:Michael McDowell

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

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities who are responsible for the detailed allocation of Garda resources, including personnel, that the Drimnagh area is policed by gardaí attached to Crumlin and Sundrive Road Garda stations. The personnel strength of Crumlin Garda station as at 9 March 2005 was 88 including all ranks. The personnel strength of Sundrive Road Garda station as at 9 March 2005...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (10 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: The person concerned arrived in the State on 5 January 2004 and claimed asylum. His application was refused by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner and on appeal by the Office of the Refugee Appeals Tribunal. He was notified of my decision to refuse him refugee status by letter of 20 October 2004 and afforded three options: to leave the State before his case was considered for...

Written Answers — Prisoner Transfers: Prisoner Transfers (10 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: My Department has not as yet received a formal application for a transfer to this country under the Council of Europe convention on the transfer of sentenced persons in respect of this person from the United Kingdom authorities. My Department has made inquiries of the United Kingdom authorities in this case and has been informed that the United Kingdom authorities are currently collating the...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (10 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: A person who is lawfully resident in the State is under a legal obligation to register with the Garda Síochána. Thus, even though a person has the permission of the Minister to be in the State, he may be in breach of immigration law if he or she fails to register. However, the converse of this situation is that if a person has, through some error or omission, failed to obtain a stamp in his...

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

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 144 and 145 together. I am informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the personnel strength, by rank, of the Garda national drugs unit as at 9 March 2005 was as set out hereunder: Rank Number Chief Superintendent 1 Superintendent 2 Inspectors 3 Sergeants 10 ...

Written Answers — Drug Seizures: Drug Seizures (10 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda Síochána that for security reasons it would be inappropriate to detail the quantity of drugs stored at any particular location at any given time.

Written Answers — Drug Seizures: Drug Seizures (10 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the number of seizures and the value of drugs seized by the national drugs unit in the years 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004 are as in the table. Year No. of Seizures Estimated Street Value â'¬ 2001 31 29,584,250 2002 29 29,856,000 2003 39 39,129,200 2004 31 20,129,200 The second table sets out details of joint operations carried...

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.