Results 17,821-17,840 of 18,736 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Seanad: Good Friday Agreement: Motion. (19 May 2004)

Michael McDowell: We are now beyond that point. Ambiguity is now unambiguously destructive on the question of paramilitarism and the relationship between the IRA and Sinn Féin. As we have reached the point where all ambiguity is now destructive and fundamentally corrosive of democratic values, the moment of truth has come for the provisional movement to make its choice. Whichever way it makes its choice, we...

Written Answers — Court Procedures: Court Procedures (18 May 2004)

Michael McDowell: The enforcement of court judgments does not come within the remit of my Department. Under the Constitution, the courts are independent in the exercise of their judicial functions.

Written Answers — Peace Commissioners: Peace Commissioners (18 May 2004)

Michael McDowell: Some 6,840 peace commissioners are entered on the current roll of peace commissioners. The roll is appointment based and there is no statutory retirement age for peace commissioners. For that reason, and because my Department relies on the peace commissioners and other interested parties to advise of changes which occur subsequent to appointment, the roll is not automatically updated to take...

Written Answers — Child Care Programme: Child Care Programme (18 May 2004)

Michael McDowell: I understand that the future funding of the group in question is being administered by the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, which will contact the group in the near future to arrange a meeting and to agree a work plan.

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (18 May 2004)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that Garda investigations into the alleged incursion at Edentubber, County Louth, are ongoing.

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (18 May 2004)

Michael McDowell: I am advised by the Garda authorities that homes are being visited in Shannon, County Clare, as part of ongoing security preparations for the visit of the US President in June 2004 in the context of ensuring adequate security for the visit while, at the same time, minimising disruption for people in the localities affected.

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (18 May 2004)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities which are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the total number of gardaí, of all ranks and inclusive of probationer gardaí on first allocation, who transferred into the Dublin metropolitan region between 1 May 2003 and 30 April 2004 was 489. The total number of gardaí of all ranks who transferred out...

Written Answers — Garda Complaints Procedures: Garda Complaints Procedures (18 May 2004)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities that the persons in question met with an assistant commissioner and chief superintendent from the Garda Síochána on 26 March 2002. Communication since then has been made by the Garda authorities through correspondence with the persons concerned and their solicitor.

Written Answers — Deportation Orders: Deportation Orders (18 May 2004)

Michael McDowell: I assume the Deputy is referring to the safety of persons recently deported from the State. The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform is obliged to consider the issue of risk to a person before, not after, a deportation order is made in respect of that person. The Minister is obliged to consider the prohibition of refoulement which is contained in section 5 of the Refugee Act 1996, as...

Written Answers — Prisoner Complaints Procedures: Prisoner Complaints Procedures (18 May 2004)

Michael McDowell: There are several provisions which set out an employer's statutory and common law duty to take all reasonable steps to ensure the protection of an employee from bullying, harassment and sexual harassment in the workplace. To comply with such provisions, the Civil Service policy document, entitled A Positive Working Environment, was introduced in June 2000. This policy is applicable to all...

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (18 May 2004)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the Scariff area is policed by Scarriff Garda station in the Killaloe district. The current personnel strength of Scariff Garda station is five — all ranks. The personnel strength of the Killaloe district is 36 — all ranks. Resources at Scarriff Garda station are...

Written Answers — Crime Prevention: Crime Prevention (18 May 2004)

Michael McDowell: I understand that the data referred to by the Deputy are contained in a report of the Northern Ireland organised crime task force, specifically its threat assessment and strategy for 2004, which was published recently. I am informed that the source of the information on criminal gangs is data collected by the Police Service of Northern Ireland and its assessment of the threat there from...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (18 May 2004)

Michael McDowell: The mother of the six year old person in question applied for a short term visa in 2001 for the stated purpose of attending a short conference. She entered the State on 28 April 2001. She remained in the State and on 28 May 2001 gave birth to a child. She applied for permission to reside on the basis of parentage of that Irish born child and this was granted on 3 December 2001. The father of...

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (18 May 2004)

Michael McDowell: I have had inquiries made on this matter and I am informed by the Garda authorities that the installation of a quality bus corridor and a no right turn in the vicinity of this location has led to an increase in vehicle traffic at the location in question. I am further informed by the Garda authorities that the location is monitored by them in relation to breaches of the three tonne limit. The...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (18 May 2004)

Michael McDowell: The reception and integration agency, RIA, which operates under the aegis of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, is responsible for meeting the accommodation needs of asylum seekers. It has no role in respect of the provision of accommodation to former asylum seekers. Entitlement to social assistance payments is a matter in the first instance for the Minister for Social and...

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (18 May 2004)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that Galway city is policed by gardaí from Mill Street Garda station and Salthill Garda station. The combined personnel strengths — all ranks — of these stations for the years 2000 to 2003 and currently is as set out hereunder: Year Mill Street Salthill 2000...

Written Answers — Equality Legislation: Equality Legislation (18 May 2004)

Michael McDowell: It is open to any person to seek enforcement of their constitutional rights through the courts. Since October 2000 direct and indirect discrimination in the provision of goods and services is prohibited under the Equal Status Act 2000 on nine grounds including disability. The Act covers all goods and services which are available to the public, whether on payment or not. Services are defined...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (18 May 2004)

Michael McDowell: The person in question applied for family reunification under the Refugee Act 1996 in respect of her husband, her daughter, her three sisters and her brother. Visas were recently approved in respect of her husband and daughter enabling them to join her in the State. The other applications for visas were refused in May 2004 and the applicant was notified of the decision and the reasons for the...

Written Answers — Prison Committals: Prison Committals (18 May 2004)

Michael McDowell: The information requested by the Deputy in relation to figures for the past 12 months is not readily available. I will, however, forward the information to the Deputy once the figures have been compiled by the Irish Prison Service. The most accurate figures available to me relate to 17 May 2004. On that day there was a total of 38 persons in prison custody for non-payment of fines. Twelve of...

Written Answers — Criminal Prosecutions: Criminal Prosecutions (18 May 2004)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda that the number of persons convicted to date under section 15A of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977 to 1984, as inserted by the Criminal Justice Act 1999, since it became law on 26 May 1999 stands at 180. Under this provision, the number of persons who had received prison sentences of ten years or more to date stands at 12. I am further informed by the Garda that in the...