Results 17,721-17,740 of 18,736 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Courts Service: Courts Service (1 Jun 2004)

Michael McDowell: Waiting times for the disposal of family law business in the Circuit and District Courts are generally satisfactory but there are delays in some circuits and districts. The waiting time for hearing family law cases in the High Court will be improved as the President of the High Court has indicated his intention to assign an additional judge to family law business in the autumn. The question...

Written Answers — Judicial Appointments: Judicial Appointments (1 Jun 2004)

Michael McDowell: The Government has provided significant additional resources for the Judiciary and the number of judges attached to all courts has been increased in recent years. Seven additional judges were appointed under the provisions of the Courts and Court Officers Act 2002, two in the High Court, two in the Circuit Court and two in the District Court, and a further two judges of the High Court were...

Written Answers — Legal Aid Service: Legal Aid Service (1 Jun 2004)

Michael McDowell: The cost of criminal legal aid between 1999 and 2003 was: 1999, €22.45 million; 2000, €25.11 million; 2001, €25.19 million; 2002, €28.88 million; and 2003, €37.35 million.

Written Answers — Garda Promotions: Garda Promotions (1 Jun 2004)

Michael McDowell: On 28 May 2004 the number of women serving who have been promoted to the senior ranks was: one assistant commissioner, one chief superintendent and four superintendents. The number in these ranks on 31 December 2000 was one chief superintendent and two superintendents. The Garda Síochána is committed to and supports equality of opportunity in employment regardless of gender, creed, colour...

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (1 Jun 2004)

Michael McDowell: The personnel strength of the Garda Síochána, all ranks, on 28 May 2004 was 11,964. Of this figure, 1,888 are female. The total number of female members of the Garda Síochána in May 1999 was 1,120, all ranks. This represents an increase of 768, or 68.6%, in the number of female gardaí serving in the Garda Síochána.

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (1 Jun 2004)

Michael McDowell: The personnel strength of each Garda division in the Dublin metropolitan region as of 28 May 2004 is detailed in the following table. Division Strength as at 28 May, 2004 Strength as at May, 1999 South Central 678 673 North Central 634 565 Eastern 516 519 Western 626 538 Northern 570 550 Southern 537 459 For operational and security reasons it is not Garda policy...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (1 Jun 2004)

Michael McDowell: The number of organised criminal groups is determined each year using the European Union definition of organised crime to compile the EU situation report on organised crime. Statistics supplied by the Garda Síochána to Europol during 2003 for inclusion in its annual report identified 17 major criminal gangs and approximately 100 groups overall operating in this country at that time. The...

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (1 Jun 2004)

Michael McDowell: A new Garda station in Leixlip is much needed, and I am anxious that it be provided without undue delay. Projects such as this can be slow to progress for several, including negotiations by the Office of Public Works for the purchase of sites, the planning process etc. In this case, it was necessary for the Office of Public Works to source and secure a suitable site in Leixlip, which took...

Written Answers — Citizenship Laws: Citizenship Laws (1 Jun 2004)

Michael McDowell: The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform is not responsible to the Dáil for communications between governments of the kind to which the Deputy refers.

Written Answers — Registration of Title: Registration of Title (1 Jun 2004)

Michael McDowell: The Registrar of Titles informs me that this is an application for a transfer order which was lodged on 21 February 2003. Dealing No. D2003GY001932M refers. Queries issued to the lodging party on 27 May 2004 and the application cannot proceed until these queries have been satisfactorily resolved. However, I can assure the Deputy that, on receipt of a satisfactory reply, the matter will...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (1 Jun 2004)

Michael McDowell: The person in question arrived in the State in October 2002 and made an application for asylum. His wife arrived in the State in July 2002, and made an asylum application. She had a child in September 2002. Both withdrew their asylum applications and applied for residency on the basis of parentage of an Irish born child. Following the decision of the Supreme Court in the cases of L & O, the...

Road Safety. (1 Jun 2004)

Michael McDowell: This is the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister, Deputy Brennan. I am not passing the buck or trying to abdicate responsibility but, as far as the legislation is involved, responsibility for developing policy and choosing different systems rests primarily with the Department of Transport. It used to lie with the Department for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. I agree...

Prisons Building Programme. (1 Jun 2004)

Michael McDowell: The Office of Public Works was asked earlier this year to assist in the identification of possible sites for a complex to replace the current prison facilities centred around Mountjoy Prison. The Office of Public Works subsequently made inquiries which included the placing of advertisements in the national press and, arising from this process, approximately 30 potential sites have been...

Prisons Building Programme. (1 Jun 2004)

Michael McDowell: I detect a certain reluctance on the part of Deputy Costello to see this change take place. If I thought for a minute that it made sense to continue developing the city centre location as a prison site, I would have found that much more convenient, but it is not acceptable. It is not possible to provide a proper modern prison on the Mountjoy site with all the necessary medical and other...

Prisons Building Programme. (1 Jun 2004)

Michael McDowell: Regarding the timescale, I aim to make an early decision on this project. We have under consideration approximately 30 sites proffered by their current owners. Some of these appear to be suitable for our purpose. I do not propose to publish this list for the obvious reason that these people have tendered their land in confidence and have indicated prices.

Prisons Building Programme. (1 Jun 2004)

Michael McDowell: They are all within easy access of Dublin city.

Prisons Building Programme. (1 Jun 2004)

Michael McDowell: What was Deputy O'Keeffe's other question?

Prisons Building Programme. (1 Jun 2004)

Michael McDowell: While it is difficult to put an exact value on the complex of buildings at Mountjoy in the context of redevelopment, I imagine it is somewhere between €40 million and €80 million. The cost of acquiring the land for a new premises would be possibly between €7 million and €15 million in current use terms.

Prisons Building Programme. (1 Jun 2004)

Michael McDowell: Depending on what is built, the new buildings would cost approximately €100 million to €120 million.

Prisons Building Programme. (1 Jun 2004)

Michael McDowell: It depends on how many cell spaces are put into the prison and its exact configuration. While I am not in a position to give an exact number at this stage, it would be substantially larger accommodation. There is also the question of the Dóchas women's centre, which is a high quality facility but grossly inadequate in terms of capacity for the needs for which it was established. I am sorry...