Results 16,481-16,500 of 18,734 for speaker:Michael McDowell

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

Michael McDowell: I would advise the Deputy that neither I nor my Department can procure the court records the Deputy refers to. However, I can assure the Deputy that the Government and I remain willing to assist the survivors and relatives of the Omagh bombing with their civil action to the greatest extent possible allowed by law. Section 8(7) of the National Archives Act 1986 provides for the transfer of...

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

Michael McDowell: The final report of the Garda SMI implementation steering group made a number of recommendations in relation to the regional-divisional-district structure currently in place in the Garda Síochána. The report did not identify which districts, divisions or regions would be affected. The Garda Síochána Bill 2004, which proposes the most fundamental modernisation of the Garda Síochána since...

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

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 100, 247 and 248 together. Ireland has extensive legislation in place to tackle money laundering activities with the main provisions in Irish law relating to money laundering being set out in section 31 of the Criminal Justice Act 1994, as amended by section 21 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001, sections 32 and 57 of the Criminal...

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

Michael McDowell: The contract signed for the purchase of the 150 acre site at Thornton Hall, The Ward, County Dublin, for the replacement of Mountjoy Prison cost €29.9 million, or just under €200,000 per acre. Land owners were invited by public advertisement to put forward suitable sites for sale in the greater Dublin area. The average asking price of land owners who responded to that advertisement was...

Written Answers — Defamation Law: Defamation Law (16 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: I propose take Questions Nos. 102 and 203 together. I refer the Deputies to the details of my answer to Question No. 407 of 8 February 2005. I have nothing further to add to that reply other than to say that I intend to bring proposals with regard to the reform of the law on defamation to Government in the near future.

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

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities which are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the personnel strength of Carrick Garda station as at 11 February 2005 was one Garda. I am also informed that the personnel strength of Glencolmcille Garda station as at 11 February 2005 was one Garda. In relation to Garda resources generally, I am pleased that the...

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

Michael McDowell: I have previously made clear to the House that allegations of serious wrongdoing by members of the Garda Síochána, such as those broadcast on the "Prime Time" programme, are of serious concern to me. Some of the cases featured in the television programme of 8 January 2004 were previously reported and in the public domain. A number of the cases have been dealt with in the courts or by the...

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

Michael McDowell: In respect of the report of the NGO Alliance and the steps being taken to combat racism I would refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 734 of 26 January 2005. The Deputy will also be aware that on 27 January last the Government launched the national action plan against racism. The plan provides strategic direction to combat racism and to promote the development of a more inclusive,...

Written Answers — Electronic Tagging: Electronic Tagging (16 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 107 and 222 together. The use of electronic tagging systems to monitor offenders in other jurisdictions is an issue which my Department has kept under review for some time. My Department has looked at the experience of a number of countries in the operation of these systems. These include the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Sweden and Australia....

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

Michael McDowell: I have already acknowledged that not all Garda accommodation is of an acceptable standard. That said, however, one of my priorities as Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform is to ensure, as far as is practicable, that fully adequate accommodation is available for the Garda Síochána. While this is a difficult task, in view of the large number of stations involved and the fact that...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (16 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: I understand that the NESC report referred to by the Deputy has not yet been published and therefore I am not in a position to comment on any findings it might contain until such time as it is published and available to me for consideration. My Department has responsibility for the development of child care to meet the needs of working parents and those in education and training preparatory...

Written Answers — Prisoner Releases: Prisoner Releases (16 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: I have not, to date, received recommendations from the parole board in the two cases referred to by the Deputy.

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

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 112 and 202 together. 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...

Written Answers — NESF Report: NESF Report (16 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: I have received a copy of the report which has been circulated within my Department. I welcome the report and am pleased to note that considerable progress has been made in recent years concerning many of the areas covered by the report such as equality issues, child care and reintegration of prisoners. In the case of other matters referred to in the report, these are being examined by my...

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

Michael McDowell: Up to and including Friday, 11 February 2005, a total of 5,843 applications had been received for permission to remain under the revised arrangements for the consideration of applications for permission to remain made by the non-national parents of Irish born children born before 1 January 2005. Of this number, 1,191 applicants have been granted temporary permission to remain. To date no...

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

Michael McDowell: As I have outlined previously, I have secured sanction from the Government for a core budget of €1 million per annum for each year of the life of the national action plan against racism 2005-08. This money will be used to further the goals of the plan and in particular to: make strategic interventions in the implementation of the plan; pursue specific research or consultancy projects in...

Written Answers — Departmental Assistance: Departmental Assistance (16 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: There are already inquiry lines in place in relation to some of the services available from my Department involving large volume of transactions, such as the Land Registry and immigration, citizenship and visa applications. My Department's website also contains details of the functions of my Department. I have no plans to provide further inquiry lines at this stage. However, I can inform the...

Written Answers — Search Warrants: Search Warrants (16 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: I assume the Deputy is referring to the Supreme Court judgment in the case of Dylan Creaven, Silicon Technologies (Europe) Limited & Anor v. CAB & Anor. This case concerned the validity of a number of search warrants issued by the District Court. The Supreme Court found inter alia that where a district judge issues a search warrant he or she should be sitting within the District Court...

Written Answers — Criminal Prosecutions: Criminal Prosecutions (16 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: The number of violent deaths, murder and manslaughter, recorded in 2004 is 45, the lowest number recorded in ten years, despite our population increasing by 400,000 during the same period. I am informed by the Garda authorities that murders involving the use of firearms tend to have lower conviction rates than other murders. This is not unique to Ireland. The worldwide experience of murders...

Written Answers — Prison Accommodation: Prison Accommodation (16 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: I have been advised that the Irish Prison Service steering committee which oversaw the development of the special cells referred to by the Deputy had access to the expertise considered necessary for the task assigned to them. The design of these cells was finalised following a thorough examination of all requirements and issues involved.