Results 7,481-7,500 of 18,761 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (23 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed that applications for Family Reunification that were received in the period from July to August, 2005 are currently being dealt with in my Department. However, the recent assignment of additional resources to the area should have a positive impact in reducing processing times. Applications for Family Reunification are normally dealt with in chronological order, but may...

Written Answers — Garda Training: Garda Training (23 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the personnel strength (all ranks) of An Garda Síochána increased to a record 13,000 on Thursday, 16 November, 2006, following the attestation of 299 new members. This compares with a total strength of 10,702 (all ranks) as at 30 June, 1997 and represents an...

Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (23 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Government Legislation Programme provides for publication of the Sale of Alcohol Bill in 2007. This Bill will repeal the Licensing Acts 1833 to 2004, as well as the Registration of Clubs Acts 1904 to 2004, and replace them with provisions more suited to modern conditions.

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (23 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: The person concerned was granted permission to enter the State as a dependant of his wife. He has permission on this basis until the 1 December 2006. Should he wish to enter employment, there are two main ways in which he can seek to enter employment. The first option open to him is to source a prospective employer who can seek to obtain a Employment Permit on his behalf. The second option...

Written Answers — Parliamentary Questions: Parliamentary Questions (23 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: The information sought by the Deputy is set out in the following Table. As the Deputy will appreciate, the number, range and complexity of the questions tabled to my Department is considerable and yet the overwhelming majority of questions are answered within the few days usually provided for answer. In certain instances and despite every effort, however, some questions cannot be answered...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (23 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the personnel strength (all ranks) of An Garda Síochána increased to a record 13,000 on Thursday, 16 November, 2006, following the attestation of 299 new members. This compares with a total strength of 10,702 (all ranks) as at 30 June, 1997 and represents an...

Written Answers — Deportation Orders: Deportation Orders (23 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to Parliamentary Question No. 94 of Thursday, 16th November, 2006 (ref: 38448/06) and the written reply to that Question. The position is unchanged.

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (23 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: The person concerned arrived in the State on 10 October, 2003 and applied for asylum. Her application was refused following consideration of her case by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner and, on appeal, by the Refugee Appeals Tribunal. Subsequently, in accordance with Section 3 of the Immigration Act, 1999, as amended, she was informed by letter dated 18 August 2005, that...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (23 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to Parliamentary Question No. 162 of Thursday, 11th May, 2006 and the written reply to that Question. The position is unchanged.

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (23 Nov 2006)

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 7 June 2006. An examination of his application revealed that he did not have 5 years reckonable residency in the State prior to him submitting the application. He was informed of this on 21 October 2006. The Minister for Justice,...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (23 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my response to Parliamentary Question No. 97 on 9 November, 2006 and can confirm that no original documentation accompanied the application for naturalisation in this case. Separately however, the individual concerned submitted her travel document to the General Immigration Office at 13/14 Burgh Quay, Dublin 2 for renewal in July of this year. This document has now been...

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (23 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: As the Deputy will be aware, very significant levels of funding are being provided to community based drugs projects under the Government's National Drugs Strategy through the Local and Regional Drugs Task Forces initiative as well as the Young People's Facilities and Services fund under the aegis of the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. My own Department's remit in this...

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (23 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Government's National Strategy 2001-2008 addresses the problem of drug misuse under pillar headings of education and prevention, supply reduction, treatment and rehabilitation and research and is firmly founded on the principle that drug misuse needs to be addressed in an integrated manner across these headings through a co-operative approach involving the statutory, community and...

Seanad: Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages (23 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: As I explained on Committee Stage, I do not propose to accept this amendment. Introducing the words "or otherwise" without any definition of what "otherwise" might mean could render the section vague and uncertain. The provisions in section 33 which replaced the provisions of the Prescription Acts 1832 and 1858 are based on detailed Law Reform Commission recommendations set out in its...

Seanad: Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages (23 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: These are minor drafting amendments and I commend them to the House.

Seanad: Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages (23 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: Although one can call it the building owner or use the phrase, "builder", we are dealing with one neighbour and another neighbour. One neighbour wants something to happen and is the active neighbour. We do not see any reason a passive neighbour would want to go to court if the active neighbour who wanted to do something did not want to go to court. We do not want a situation where if...

Seanad: Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages (23 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: I agree with the Senator. Most fair and reasonable solicitors should now inform their clients. The superior courts in England have now come to the point where they direct solicitors who fail to inform their clients about alternative dispute resolution, including conciliation and arbitration, that the solicitor may be liable for the costs of going to court. Without being too prescriptive...

Seanad: Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages (23 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: As I said on Committee Stage, I fully sympathise with the motive for this amendment. It is really a planning Act matter and is something which should not end up in land law courts. It would be a mistake to put it into a Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Bill. It is well worthwhile pursuing and I will write to the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Roche, and...

Seanad: Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages (23 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: This amendment was discussed on Committee Stage. Section 3 of the Conveyancing Act 1881 provides that subject to certain exceptions, a purchaser is precluded from requiring production of any title documents dated or made before the time prescribed by law or stipulated in the contract for the commencement of the title and from making requisitions, objections or inquiries as to such prior...

Seanad: Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages (23 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: This amendment arises from a discussion on Committee Stage about formalities required for deeds. Section 62 of the Bill gives effect to the Law Reform Commission's report on land and conveyancing law and further general proposals in the execution of deeds. The commission recommended the inclusion of a reference to the sealing of documents to take account of the long-established common law...