Results 10,081-10,100 of 18,761 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (31 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: The application referred to by the Deputy was received in my Department on 8th May, 2006 and is currently awaiting examination by a visa officer. The application will be considered in the coming weeks.

Written Answers — Sentencing Policy: Sentencing Policy (31 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: As I have informed the House previously, this matter has been through the courts and a conviction recorded. The court also ordered compensation to be paid, and I understand this was done. As the Deputy is aware, the courts are, subject only to the Constitution and the law, independent in the exercise of their judicial functions and it is not open to me to comment or intervene in any way on...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (31 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: Under Section 9 of the Refugee Act 1996, an asylum applicant shall not seek or enter employment before the final determination of his or her application for a declaration of refugee status. It is not proposed to allow asylum applicants take up paid employment pending a final decision being made on their applications. I am convinced that any extension of the right to work generally to asylum...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (31 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: I do not accept that the Irish asylum system lacks fairness and transparency. As the Deputy is aware, there is a transparent statutory framework governing the asylum determination process in Ireland set out in the Refugee Act 1996. The 1996 Act established two independent statutory offices to consider applications and appeals in respect of refugee status and to make recommendations to the...

Written Answers — Prison Medical Service: Prison Medical Service (31 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Irish Prison Service is not in a position to provide the statistical information requested by the Deputy, however, he can be assured that Court recommendations are treated appropriately and every effort is made to manage a prisoner's sentence in a manner consistent with any such recommendation. The Deputy must appreciate though that this may not always be possible for a number of reasons,...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (30 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Immigration Division of my Department has recently been in correspondence with the person concerned requesting documentation regarding his current position in the State. On receipt of this documentation his case will be further considered.

Written Answers — Alarm Systems: Alarm Systems (30 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Private Security Authority was established under the Private Security Services Act 2004 as a statutory independent body to regulate and license the Irish private security industry. Installation of security equipment is one of the security services for which licences will be required. I am informed that the PSA has commenced issuing licences to contractors installing intruder alarms and...

Written Answers — Electronic Communications: Electronic Communications (30 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 482 to 485, inclusive, together. By its very nature, the Internet lends itself to being used for a wide range of criminal activities. This can include illegal pornography, racist or hate materials, financial fraud, intimidation or any other criminal activity carried out via the Internet. Combatting such illegal, harmful and predatory use of the Internet...

Written Answers — Liquor Licensing Laws: Liquor Licensing Laws (30 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 486 and 498 together. The Government Legislation Programme provides for publication of the Sale of Alcohol Bill later this year. 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 — Deportation Orders: Deportation Orders (30 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to the Reply I gave to Dáil Question No. 709 of 26 January 2005, No. 456 of 4 October 2005, No. 410 of 13 December 2005 and No. 570 of 21 February 2006. Since then, the person concerned has presented himself to the Garda National Immigration Bureau on a number of occasions and is due to present again on 8 June 2006. The acquisition of travel documents for the person...

Written Answers — Courts Service: Courts Service (30 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: Section 4 of the Courts and Courts Officers Act 1995 provides that, upon commencement, cases currently dealt with by the Court of Criminal Appeal would be transferred to the Supreme Court. In 2003, the Working Group on the Jurisdiction of the Courts, which was chaired by Mr. Justice Fennelly, published a report which, inter alia, recommended against the abolition of the Court of Criminal...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (30 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: The person referred to by the Deputy arrived in Ireland on 20 May 1999 and claimed asylum. His case was examined by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner who recommended to me in February 2001 that he be granted refugee status. The applicant was subsequently convicted of people trafficking in the Dublin District Court in April 2001 for which he received a four months prison...

Written Answers — Garda Recruitment: Garda Recruitment (30 May 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 as at 31 March 2006 was 12,439. This compares with a total strength of 10,702 (all ranks) as at 30 June 1997 and represents an increase of 1,737 (or 16.2%) in the personnel strength of the Force during...

Written Answers — Gambling Casinos: Gambling Casinos (30 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 491 to 494, inclusive, together. Public policy in the matter of casino gambling in Ireland is as set out in the Gaming and Lotteries Acts. These Acts prohibit casino-type operations, and I am strongly of the view that there should be no departure from settled policy in this area. It is my view that casinos are socially undesirable and I think that is the view...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (30 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by officials in the Citizenship Section of my Department that there is no record of an application for Irish citizenship through the process of naturalisation having been received from the person referred to by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Prison Staff: Prison Staff (30 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: A response has been given to all queries received in relation to the promotion competition for Prison Officers. The Irish Prison Service (IPS) has consulted with the firm of Occupational Psychologists involved in running these tests on the concerns raised by candidates and is satisfied that a re-sit of the test is not warranted. The concern regarding the sequence of pages in the exam in...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (30 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: I can inform the Deputy that a wide and evolving range of public bodies are associated with my Department or come within its general aegis. The table sets out those appendixed to my Department's Strategy Statement for 2005-2007. The nature of the Department's relationship with each body varies according to its function and statutory basis, as appropriate. Information concerning the...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (30 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: Applications for certificates of naturalisation are generally dealt with in chronological order and this practice is not deviated from except in exceptional circumstances. Officials in Citizenship Section are currently processing applications received in the first quarter of 2004 and, at the present time, there are approximately 7,000 applications awaiting processing before that of the person...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (30 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: The application referred to by the Deputy was received in the Visa Office in Moscow on 25th April, 2006. The decision of the Visa Officer to refuse this application was taken on 28th April, 2006. An appeal in respect of this application was received in Moscow on 25th May, 2006 and is awaiting examination by a Visa Appeals Officer. A decision is expected shortly.

Written Answers — Registration of Title: Registration of Title (30 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 501 to 504, inclusive, together. I refer the Deputy to my reply to Questions Nos. 708 to 711, inclusive, of 25 April, 2006. The position remains unchanged since that date.