Results 9,641-9,660 of 18,761 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (15 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: The first named person arrived in the State on 25 June, 1999 and applied for asylum. The second named person arrived in the State on 23 May, 2000 and applied for asylum. Their applications were refused following consideration of their cases by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner and, on appeal, by the Refugee Appeals Tribunal. Subsequently, in accordance with Section 3 of the...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (15 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: The refugee in question made an application for Family Reunification for her daughter who she stated was a minor. The application was approved in February 2005 and a visa was issued around that time. Subsequently, information became available to my Department which raised serious doubts as to whether the person concerned was a minor. The matter is now being reviewed in that context and a...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (15 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: The person concerned arrived in the State on 30 January, 2002 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 7 April, 2005, that the...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (15 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: There has been an increase in the number of applications being made for permission to remain in the State on the basis of marriage to an Irish national since 2001. The statistics in this regard are as follows: 156 — 2001 191 — 2002 271 — 2003 326 — 2004 256 — 2005 176 — 2006 ( to 31 May) Applications of this type, in fairness to all other such applicants, are dealt with in...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (15 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: An application for a certificate of naturalisation by the person referred to by the Deputy was received in the Citizenship Section of my Department on 30 November 2004. Applications received in the first half of 2004 are currently being processed and there are approximately 2,500 applications awaiting processing before that of the person in question. It is likely that processing of the...

Written Answers — Ombudsman Services: Ombudsman Services (14 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: In relation to services within my remit, I should explain that the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005, is empowered to directly and independently investigate complaints against members of the Garda Síochána. It is also empowered to investigate any matter, even where no complaint has been made, where it appears that a Garda may have...

Written Answers — Anti-Social Behaviour: Anti-Social Behaviour (14 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: As the Deputy will be aware, primary responsibility for cleaning up graffiti rests with Local Authorities under the Litter Pollution Act, 1997. However, my Department, in conjunction with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs has initiated a pilot project aimed specifically at combating graffiti in Dublin...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (14 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities that the personnel strength (all ranks) of the Garda Síochána increased to a record 12,641 on Thursday 8 June with the attestation of 273 new members. This compares with a total strength of 10,702 (all ranks) as at 30 June 1997 and represents an increase of 1,939 (or 18.1%) in the personnel strength of the Force during that period. I am advised...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (14 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: Citizens of Japan who wish to take up employment in this State are required to hold a valid work permit. Such work permits are issued by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. Information regarding the issue of work permits may be found on that Department's website www.entemp.ie.

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (14 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform may, in his absolute discretion, grant an application for a certificate of naturalisation provided certain statutory conditions are fulfilled. One of these conditions is that the applicant has had a period of one year's continuous residency in the State immediately before the date of the application and, during the eight years immediately...

Written Answers — Registration of Title: Registration of Title (14 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I understand that the Land Registry has forwarded the information requested directly to the Deputy. I refer the Deputy to my letter of 26 May, 2006 to members of the Oireachtas regarding a new service for Deputies and Senators concerning the current status of Land Registry/Registry of Deeds applications. As outlined in my letter, the service was introduced, inter alia, to provide a speedier...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (14 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: The application referred to by the Deputy was received in my Department on 10 February 2006. The decision of the Visa Officer to refuse this application was taken on 23 February 2006. An appeal against the initial refusal decision was received on 25 April 2006. Following a re-examination of the case, the decision to refuse was upheld on 28 April 2006. As each applicant is entitled to one...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (14 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Community Alert programme is a community based crime prevention initiative in rural communities which was set up by Muintir na Tíre in association with the Garda Síochána in 1985. It is a national movement with its network comprising approximately 1,285 local Community Alert groups of which there are 53 schemes in Kildare dedicated to improving the quality of life of people in rural...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (14 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I wish to advise the Deputy that I have no plans at present to publish the submissions received to my discussion document — "Immigration and Residence in Ireland — Outline Policy Proposals for an Immigration and Residence Bill".

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (14 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the personnel strength (all ranks) of the Garda Síochána increased to a record 12,641 on Thursday 8 June with the attestation of 273 new members. This compares with a total strength of 10,702 (all ranks) as at 30 June 1997 and represents an increase of 1,939 (or 18.1%) in the personnel strength of the Force during that period. I am further...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (14 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: The persons referred to in the Deputy's question, the adult spouse of a naturalised Irish citizen and his adult son, submitted applications for certificates of naturalisation to the Citizenship section of my Department on 14 November 2005 and 6 February 2006 respectively. Parliamentary Question No 173 of 8 June 2006 referred only to two minor children of the same family. Officials in...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (14 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy will, of course, be aware that the question of the enforcement of employment permits legislation is a matter for my colleague, Minister Micheál Martin and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. With regard to residence permits, all non-EEA nationals wishing to remain in the State beyond the period of time granted by an Immigration Officer at the point of entry must...

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (14 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my response to Parliamentary Question No. 196 of 4 May 2006. The position remains unchanged.

Written Answers — Criminal Prosecutions: Criminal Prosecutions (14 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 207 and 209 together. I have been informed by the Garda authorities that the information requested by the Deputy is not readily available and is currently being researched. I will contact the Deputy again when the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Criminal Prosecutions: Criminal Prosecutions (14 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 208 and 210 together. The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) directs what charges if, any, are to be preferred against a person. As the Deputy will appreciate the DPP is statutorily independent in this function and it would not be appropriate for me to comment further. On Thursday, 8 June, I informed the House in the course of the reply to a Parliamentary...