Results 5,421-5,440 of 18,761 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Prison Committals: Prison Committals (20 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: I have honoured my commitment to abolish the use of old style padded cells with the introduction of newly designed and improved cells. Information relating to the instances of placement of prisoners in close supervision and special observation cells are set out in the following table. These figures are composite in nature and include placement in both types of cells. On occasion, it is a...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (20 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: Applications for certificates of naturalisation from the persons referred to in the Deputy's question were received in the Citizenship Section of my Department on 29 June 2006. Applications received in the second half of 2004 are currently being processed and there are approximately 8,500 applications awaiting processing before those of the persons in question. It is likely that the...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (20 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: An Garda Síochána invokes a number of broad strategic responses in combating the drugs trade. These include the following: identifying, targeting and dismantling national and international drug trafficking networks which supply and distribute illegal drugs within this state; conducting intelligence driven operations focusing on all aspects of the illicit drugs trade including commodity,...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (20 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: An application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to in the Deputy's question was received in the Citizenship Section of my Department on 31 October 2006. Applications received in the second half of 2004 are currently being processed and there are approximately 11,400 applications awaiting processing before that of the person in question. Applications for...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (20 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: I understand the Immigration Division has recently been in contact with the person concerned regarding his request for a review of his Family Reunification Application in respect of his wife. The person concerned has been advised to make a new application at his nearest Irish Embassy or Consulate.

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (20 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: The person concerned, a Nigerian national, arrived in the State on 28 April, 2003 and applied for asylum. Her application was refused following consideration of the case by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner on 12 February, 2004 and on appeal by the Refugee Appeals Tribunal on 22 April, 2004. Subsequently, in accordance with section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999, as...

Written Answers — Public Order Offences: Public Order Offences (20 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: Section 184 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2006 provides for fixed charge offences in respect of section 4 (intoxication in a public place) and section 5 (disorderly conduct in a public place) of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act, 1994. Work by An Garda Síochána is ongoing to facilitate the implementation of the section. I intend to commence the section in the near future.

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (20 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: An application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to by the Deputy was received in the Citizenship section of my Department on 22 November 2005. The application was examined and it was determined that the person in question did not have the five years reckonable residency required and consequently was not eligible to apply for a certificate of naturalisation at that...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (20 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: Work is well advanced on the procurement process for the provision and operation of safety cameras by a private service provider. Following a call for expressions of interest, a number of candidates have been awarded pre-qualification status. The next stage is the issue of a Request for Tender to the shortlisted candidates which will take place shortly. The tenders received will be...

Written Answers — Tribunals of Inquiry: Tribunals of Inquiry (20 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: The person concerned, although a vital witness at the Morris Tribunal, has a civil action against the State arising from events which did not come within the terms of reference of that Tribunal and thus were not determined upon by that Tribunal. I am therefore constrained in any comment I might wish to make. What I can say however is that in civil action cases arising from the events in...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (20 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: The Reception and Integration Agency is responsible for the accommodation of asylum seekers through the Government policy of direct provision and dispersal. Through direct provision, asylum seekers are provided with full board accommodation and ancillary services. The accommodation centre at Kinsale Road also facilitates Community Welfare Services, medical supports and VEC training on-site...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (20 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: The person in question made an application for Family Reunification under Section 18 of the Refugee Act 1996 on behalf of her husband in October 2006. The application has recently been approved and the person in question has been informed of same.

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (20 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: An application for naturalisation from the individual in question was received in the Citizenship Section of my Department on 20 February 2006. Applications for naturalisation, including those from persons married to Irish citizens, are generally dealt with in chronological order as this method is deemed to be fairest to all applicants. Applications received in the second half of 2004 are...

Written Answers — Sexual Offences: Sexual Offences (20 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: The Sex Offenders Act which commenced on 27 September 2001 sets out the obligations on persons convicted of a range of sexual offences against both children and adults. A convicted sex offender must notify his/her name(s), date of birth and current home address to An Garda Síochána within seven days of the conviction for the sexual offence concerned or, where the offender is sentenced to...

Written Answers — Prisoner Releases: Prisoner Releases (20 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am advised by the Director General of the Irish Prison Service that the information requested by the Deputy is set out in the table below. The vast bulk of the individuals granted temporary release — 70% — had a month or less of their sentence remaining. In fact, 31% were released in the final week of their sentence. Institution Number Arbour Hill Prison 10 Castlerea Prison 96...

Written Answers — Sexual Offences: Sexual Offences (20 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: The role of the Gardaí is to investigate alleged offences, to gather whatever evidence may be available and to submit a report to the Director of Public Prosecutions. The question of whether or not a particular person should be prosecuted and for what criminal offence is the responsibility of the DPP. The Director, who is independent in the performance of his functions, makes his decision...

Written Answers — Sexual Offences: Sexual Offences (20 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: Section 6 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 1993 created an offence of soliciting or importuning a person for the commission of an act which would constitute an offence under section 3, 4 or 5 of that Act or section 1 of the Criminal Law Amendment Act 1935. The maximum penalty on summary conviction was €1270 and/or 12 months imprisonment. Section 7 of the 1993 Act recreated in...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (20 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: The Competition Authority recommended that the existing Irish competency requirement should be abolished and replaced by a voluntary system of high level Irish language training. The Legal Practitioners (Qualification) Act 1929 provides that no person may be admitted by the Chief Justice to practise as a barrister-at-law in Irish courts unless he or she satisfies the Chief Justice that he or...

Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (20 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: The Secretary General of my Department did not issue a letter "complaining about the publication of an article" relating to the Bermingham report into the Dean Lyons case. A letter dated 14 August 2006 was issued to the Garda Síochána on his behalf stating that there was reason to believe that a person or persons who had received a draft of the report pursuant to section 34 of the...

Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (20 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: Last August, the Secretary General of my Department contacted me while I was on a family holiday and said that it appeared probable that a draft report of the Birmingham Commission of Investigation had been disclosed by a statutory recipient. He told me that he intended to report the alleged disclosure by the statutory recipient to the Garda Síochána. It was clear to me that it was to be a...