Results 16,461-16,480 of 18,734 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Crime Victimisation Survey: Crime Victimisation Survey (16 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: In July 2003, the Government approved my proposal that a regular national crime victimisation survey be carried out biennially as a valuable and useful complement to the information on crime already available, which includes the Garda Commissioner's annual report and the headline crime figures which I publish on an annual and quarterly basis. Such surveys would provide a more comprehensive...

Written Answers — Air Pollution: Air Pollution (16 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: Legislation governing road traffic law is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Transport, and I have been informed by his Department that there is no legislation in place governing air pollution limits for vehicles. However, I have been further informed by the Department of Transport that the Road Traffic (Construction, Equipment and Use of Vehicles) Regulations 1963, SI 190 of 1963,...

Written Answers — Review of Garda Structures: Review of Garda Structures (16 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: I have no plans to reduce opening hours or close any Garda station. It is the case that the use of Garda stations was considered as part of the major review of the Garda organisation structures under the strategic management initiative programme of modernisation which looked in detail at a range of areas within the organisation. The Garda SMI implementation steering group's final report,...

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (16 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 79, 92, 99 and 235 together. I have been informed by the Garda authorities, which are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the attested personnel strength of the Garda Síochána as of 11 February 2005 was 12,151, all ranks. The anticipated attested strength at end 2005 is 12,280, all ranks. The House will be aware...

Written Answers — Victim Support: Victim Support (16 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: In many European jurisdictions, victims have the status of a party to the proceedings and there is a much closer relationship between the civil and the criminal law. This jurisdiction, however, has a common law system, where the victim is a witness to, but not directly a party in, criminal proceedings. Provision for victims is made by a number of Government agencies as well as...

Written Answers — Missing Persons: Missing Persons (16 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the same level of investigation is undertaken in respect of all children who are reported missing in the State, regardless of nationality. When a person is reported missing the local Garda superintendent takes direct responsibility for the investigation and appoints an investigation team to include any specialised unit deemed necessary, for example,...

Written Answers — Documentation Costs: Documentation Costs (16 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: I wish to advise the Deputy that I have been made aware of reports that certain embassies may be charging particular amounts for the issue of passports to their nationals. However, the amount to be charged by a foreign embassy in this regard is not a matter for my Department, or for the Government, to determine. All applicants for permission to remain in the State on the basis of parentage of...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (16 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: The position is that the Government increased the strength of the Garda Síochána from under 10,800 in 1997 to 11,750 by June 2002. We have since increased the strength of the force to an historical high of over 12,200. As regards civilianisation, which is but one aspect of making more gardaí available on the streets, the Department is currently, as a matter of priority, reviewing the...

Written Answers — Sexual Offences: Sexual Offences (16 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: The tables below show the statistics in relation to rape offences from 2000 to 2004. The statistics for 2004 are provisional and are, therefore, subject to change. Comparable statistics for the years before 2000, which would show the current conviction rate, are unavailable and could not be obtained without the expenditure of a disproportionate amount of Garda time and resources. The...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (16 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities, which are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that on the afternoon of 9 February 2005, there was a uniformed patrol car and an unmarked detective patrol car in Ballyfermot available to deal with incidents.

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (16 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities, which are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that 1,421 recruits have graduated from the Garda college since 6 June 2002. This figure refers to those members who have successfully completed the student-probationer-education and training programme. I am further informed that a total of 1,177 members, all...

Written Answers — Omagh Bombing: Omagh Bombing (16 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: As outlined to Dáil Éireann on February 2004, the situation remains that I hope to be in a position to publish an edited version of the Nally report in the future. However, as I also indicated in the Dáil, this could not be done while criminal proceedings were outstanding against the person who made allegations to the Nally group. Notwithstanding the court outcome to which the Deputy...

Written Answers — Witness Security Programme: Witness Security Programme (16 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the review of the witness security programme, which operates under the direct control and administration of the Garda Commissioner, is at an advanced stage. The review includes consideration of, inter alia: the measures to support witnesses in court cases who may not wish to enter the programme; and current international best practice. I assure the...

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (16 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 89 and 108 together. In the case of Finglas Garda station, immediate priority is being given to build a new Garda station there and to that end I understand that the Office of Public Works has identified a suitable site at Mellowes Road, Finglas. I also understand that negotiations to agree terms for the purchase are being progressed by the Office of Public...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (16 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: The information on the process followed in the selection of the site to replace the Mountjoy Prison complex is available from the minutes of the committee which examined potential sites and which have been posted on my Department's website www.justice.ie. I have been advised that while the committee initially attributed a weighting to cost, it was decided at a later stage that this approach...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (16 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: I was pleased to note a decrease of 4% in the number of headline offences in the provisional crime statistics for 2004. The statistics show a decrease for the second year in a row. The year on year statistics also show decreases in some of the most serious offence categories. The 2004 figures show that, despite more precise and accurate recordings of crime by the Garda PULSE system, the crime...

Written Answers — Garda Disciplinary Proceedings: Garda Disciplinary Proceedings (16 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 93 and 201. I am informed by the Garda authorities that the Garda Síochána is currently engaged in discussions with the legal representatives of the family of the person referred to by the Deputies with a view to resolving the concerns of the family regarding the charging of the person. It would therefore be inappropriate for me to comment further at this...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (16 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: The information requested is contained in the following tables. 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 4,766 393 No. of recommendations to...

Written Answers — Driving Tests: Driving Tests (16 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that members of the Garda Síochána are allowed to drive official vehicles in two circumstances: they hold at least a class B driving licence and have been authorised to drive by the chief superintendent or they have completed an official driving course. The number of gardaí who have passed the official driving course is 5,386. This figure represents...

Written Answers — Disability Issues: Disability Issues (16 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 96 and 105 together. My colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Fahey, with special responsibility for equality in my Department, met the disability legislation consultation group, DLCG, on 27 October last, following publication of the Disability Bill 2004. It later forwarded a written submission on the Bill which included ten key concerns. He wrote to the...