Results 16,881-16,900 of 18,734 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (1 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: An application for permission to remain in the State based on marriage to an Irish national was received from the person concerned in June 2004. Applications of this type are dealt with in chronological order and currently take approximately 16 months to process. I understand the person is question is the parent of an Irish-born child and therefore may also be entitled to claim residency...

Written Answers — Departmental Appointments: Departmental Appointments (1 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: The information requested by the Deputy is set out as follows: Appointed to Name Date of Appointment National Disability Authority Mr. James Martin 21 October, 2004 Equality Authority Ms. Sally Ann Kinahan 7 October, 2004 Refugee Appeals Tribunal Mr. Declan McHugh BL 10 October, 2004* Ms Judy Blake BL 20 October, 2004 Mr. Sean Deegan BL 20 December, 2004 Mr. Noel...

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (1 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of Garda resources, including personnel, that there are 34 Garda stations within the Wexford-Wicklow division. The six Garda stations in the above division are open to the public on a 24 hour basis are Wexford, New Ross, Enniscorthy, Gorey, Arklow and Wicklow. The remaining 28 Garda stations open on...

Written Answers — Criminal Prosecutions: Criminal Prosecutions (1 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: The 45 persons referred to by the Deputy were arrested following an operation by local Garda management to target individuals who were suspected of throwing packages over the perimeter walls of Mountjoy prison and the conveyance of drugs by visitors into the prison. The persons concerned were arrested outside the prison. Three persons have been charged under section 15 of the Misuse of Drugs...

Written Answers — Criminal Assets Bureau: Criminal Assets Bureau (1 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that most Criminal Asset Bureau actions relate to assets suspected to derive from drug trafficking, money laundering, prostitution, fraud, corruption, receiving stolen property and tax fraud. Data on such actions cannot be neatly categorised in terms of area of criminal activity because usually there are overlaps. Statistics on moneys seized or collected...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (1 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: I presume the Deputy's question refers to the arrangements which I announced on 24 January 2005 and which came into operation on 25 January 2005, for the speedier processing of asylum applications in respect of nationals of five states which are the subject of prioritisation orders made by me under section 12 of the Refugee Act 1996, as inserted by the Immigration Act 2003. The new...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (1 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: I occasionally meet my British colleague at Justice and Home Affairs Council meetings, during which we have discussions at the margins of the meeting. There are also regular meetings between senior officials of my Department and Home Office officials in order to exchange information on issues of mutual interest and policy developments. The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, who is...

Written Answers — Crime levels: Crime levels (1 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: While accurate figures relating to rates of recidivism in the prisoner population are not yet available, the computerisation of prisoner records from 2001 will in future provide a more detailed view of a prisoner's past committal history. The director general of the prison service recently commissioned a major three year research project on this topic which, it is expected, will present an...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (1 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to section C of the Government legislative programme which was published by my colleague, Deputy Kitt, the Government Chief Whip, on 25 January last. In line with that programme, I expect to publish later this year an immigration and residence Bill which will replace existing immigration law and provide a statutory framework for the development and implementation of...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (1 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: A number of significant changes to the Irish prison system are in the process of being introduced. The Deputy will be aware of my position regarding the elimination of the unsustainable burden of chronic overtime in the prison service with a view to delivering a more efficient and cost effective service. My proposal involves the implementation of a programme of detailed staffing and work...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (1 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: The measures undertaken by the Garda Síochána to address drug trafficking and distribution centre around the issues of strategy, structures and resources. At a strategic level, the Garda Síochána is committed to rigorous enforcement of the laws on drug misuse. Each division is required to produce a divisional drug policing plan which contributes to the overall goals of the national plan,...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (1 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: The Garda Síochána is undergoing the most far reaching programme of reform in its history. The Garda Síochána Bill will comprehensively modernise the law governing the force. It will set out the role and objectives of the force and clarify its relationship with the Minister and Government of the day. There will be provision for the setting of policing priorities and the establishment of...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (1 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: Ireland has established and effective protections which provide for and promote equality in the workplace and in the provision of goods and services on nine discriminatory grounds. These grounds are gender, marital status, family status, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, race and membership of the Traveller community. The legislation underpinning this framework is the Employment...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (1 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: I regard the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, in particular the section dealing with rights, safeguards and equality of opportunity, wherein the parties affirm their commitment to the mutual respect, the civil rights and the religious liberties of everyone on the island of Ireland, as the main text with regard to this matter. I respectfully draw the attention of the Deputy to paragraphs 9 and 10...

Written Answers — Crime Prevention: Crime Prevention (1 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: The Government places a high priority on putting into place measures aimed at tackling crimes of domestic violence, rape, sexual assault and other crimes of violence against women. My Department, which is one of five Departments with responsibilities in this area, plays a major role. It has responsibility for legislative initiatives, preventative measures such as intervention programmes for...

Written Answers — Cross-Border Projects: Cross-Border Projects (1 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: In each of the last two years, my Department and the Northern Ireland Office have facilitated the organisation of a joint Garda-PSNI conference to enhance cross-Border co-operation in tackling organised crime. At last year's conference in September, the Garda and the PSNI launched the first joint threat assessment on cross-Border organised crime. Since then, the two police forces have begun...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (1 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: In the time available for answering parliamentary questions, it has not been possible to compile the detailed information requested by the Deputy. The information sought is being compiled and I will forward it to the Deputy as soon as it is available. Decisions on the outsourcing of designated services within the remaining lifetime of the 29th Dáil will be considered at future dates as the...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (1 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: In the time available, it is not possible to provide the information requested by the Deputy. There are numerous areas throughout the prison service where private services are contracted such as psychiatric services, medical locum services and education and training services. There are also numerous small cleaning and maintenance contracts in place. There are two major private service...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (1 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: In the time available for answering parliamentary questions, it has not been possible to compile the detailed information requested. The information sought is being compiled at present and I will forward it to the Deputy shortly.

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (1 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: The full information sought by the Deputy could only be obtained by the expenditure of an inordinate amount of time and resources which is not justifiable at this time. However, details of payments in excess of €1,000, for the year ended 31 December 2004 for consultancy services provided to the Garda Síochána together with details of Garda cleaning contracts awarded for 2004 are being...