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Garda Operations.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 January 2005

Wednesday, 26 January 2005

Questions (680, 681)

Finian McGrath

Question:

739 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of times to date on which section 24 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2002 which amends the Criminal (Public Order) Act 1994, has been used by the Garda Síochána; the number of times the legislation has been used and the object referred to it has been a caravan or other temporary dwelling; if it has been used principally to address unauthorised camping by a member of the Traveller community as was suggested when the legislation was introduced; the number of times the use of legislation has resulted in court proceedings; the number of times a caravan or caravans have been confiscated and impounded by the Garda under the powers conferred by the legislation; if these figures can be broken down by Garda divisional areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1262/05]

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Finian McGrath

Question:

740 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of times the powers granted to the Garda Síochána under section 24 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2002 have been invoked by a member of the Garda Síochána; the number of times any such invocation has resulted in arrest or charge; the number of times such arrest or charge has resulted in subsequent Court prosecution or conviction; the number of times a caravan or caravans have been impounded under the confiscate and impound legislation; if he will provide the foregoing figures by reference to Garda division; the categories of classification which are used in the statistics and the records maintained regarding the identity of persons against whom section 24 powers have been invoked; if categories of classification referred to in the statistics and the records maintained identify a class of persons affected as Travellers, the number of such Travellers who have been identified in the statistics as affected by the section; if categories of classification referred to in the statistics and the records maintained identify classes of persons as non-Traveller, the number of non-Travellers who have been identified in the statistics as affected by the section; if no such categories of classification are apparent from the statistics, if he proposes to direct that such categories be compiled to ascertain the impact of the legislation on the Traveller community; the provisions which have been made administratively for guidance and oversight for members of the Garda Síochána in the invocation of this provision; the directions, considerations and administrative guidelines which have been put in place either by him or the Garda Commissioner regarding the disposal or storage of property seized in this regard. [1263/05]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 739 and 740 together.

I wish to advise the Deputy that it has not been possible to compile the information requested in the timeframe allowed. In effect the Deputy's questions require extensive research right across the Garda force and the application of Garda time and resources which are needed for other purposes. I will arrange for the information to be forwarded directly to the Deputy at the earliest possible opportunity.

Question No. 741 answered with QuestionNo. 719.
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