Results 12,041-12,060 of 18,734 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Registration of Title: Registration of Title (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Registrar of Titles that the information provided in response to Parliamentary Question No. 479 of 31 January 2006 was in fact correct. I am further informed that subsequent to supplying the Deputy with this information, the Land Registry continued its work on the applications concerned and that both Dealing Number D2004SM006350T and Dealing Number D2005SM011496G are now...

Written Answers — Registration of Title: Registration of Title (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 157 and 160 together. I am informed by the Garda authorities that an investigation file in this matter was referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions who instructed that no criminal proceedings be taken in the matter. As I am sure the Deputy will appreciate, the Director of Public Prosecutions is independent in the performance of his functions and it is...

Written Answers — Public Order Offences: Public Order Offences (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: The legislation on noise pollution is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. His Department has issued a leaflet entitled A Guide to the Noise Regulations which outlines the steps which can be taken where a person is experiencing nuisance caused by noise. This is primarily a civil matter and as such is outside the remit of the Garda...

Written Answers — Garda Powers: Garda Powers (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: Section 12 of the Immigration Act 2004 provides for a member of the Garda Síochána and other persons who are immigration officers, to require a non-national to produce, on demand, at any time, a valid passport or equivalent document, with a view to establishing his or her identity. This will most frequently occur when non-nationals are landing in the State, and when such persons are...

Written Answers — Refugee Status: Refugee Status (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 162 and 163 together. The refugee in question made an application for family reunification in December 2004. The application was forwarded to the Refugee Applications Commissioner for investigation as required under section 18 of the Refugee Act 1996. The commissioner submitted a report on the investigation to my Department in October 2005. Further...

Written Answers — Departmental Offices: Departmental Offices (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 164 and 165 together. The 2006 budget allocations in so far as non-pay is concerned for the Refugee Appeals Tribunal, RAT, and the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner, ORAC, are €2,563,400 and €2,719,740, respectively. The budget allocations for the RAT and the ORAC form part of subhead D1 of my Department which funds the asylum, immigration...

Written Answers — Domestic Violence: Domestic Violence (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: The National Domestic Violence Intervention Agency is a non-governmental organisation which has received funding from my Department to carry out a pilot project on domestic violence intervention in the Bray-Dún Laoghaire areas over a period of three years from 2003 to 2005. Total funding provided since 2002 to date amounts to €460,024. My Department has engaged consultants to undertake an...

Written Answers — Prison Staff: Prison Staff (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: Two prison officers were assigned to the site for safety and security reasons and to ensure that the terms of a High Court order were fully complied with. The two staff were assigned there on a temporary basis on the 16 January and completed the assignment on 25 January.

Written Answers — Age Identification Cards: Age Identification Cards (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the application procedure for the age card is governed by the Intoxicating Liquor Act, 1988 (Age Card) Regulations, 1999, made under the provisions of section 40 of the Intoxicating Liquor Act 1988, and which provides for a voluntary age card scheme. Applicants who fail to meet the necessary application criteria may be refused an age card. In...

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 170 and 171 together. I am informed by the Garda authorities that the sharing of intelligence information held by the Garda Síochána in relation to matters concerning the security of the State is confined to legal obligation or necessity and then only to persons or organisations which have responsibilities in the area. Issues of security relating to the...

Written Answers — Deportation Orders: Deportation Orders (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: The person referred to by the Deputy was a dual asylum applicant. He applied for asylum in the State on two separate occasions, that is, 9 August 2000 and 7 November 2002. In each case, he used different identities. This came to light due to finger printing of the applicant in the second asylum application. His first asylum application was refused following consideration of his case by the...

Written Answers — Prison Staff: Prison Staff (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy may be aware that this case was the subject of a comprehensive investigation which culminated in a number of findings. Contrary to what is suggested, action consistent with the findings in respect of the officer concerned has been taken by the Prison Service, which continues to reserve the right to take further such action as it considers necessary.

Written Answers — Registration of Title: Registration of Title (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: I wish to inform the Deputy that I have requested the Land Registry to contact him directly concerning the current position of the application in question. I understand that, in circumstances where the completion of an application in a particular case is urgent, the Land Registry will make every reasonable effort to facilitate such requests on receipt of a written explanation as to the reason...

Written Answers — Deportation Orders: Deportation Orders (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my answer to his Dáil question of Wednesday, 1 February 2006 in respect of this case. My position is as outlined therein.

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: The residency status of the person in question is that she was originally granted permission to remain in the State on the basis of parentage of an Irish-born child on 30 September 2002. I understand from records available to my Department that she currently has residency status in the State up to 20 September 2007.

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: It is absurd to state that there has been a dramatic increase in headline crime for 2005 when the level of headline crime for 2005 is 4.4% lower than the level for 2002. I did not hear the Deputy opposite state that there was a dramatic fall in headline crime when there was a decrease of 3% recorded for 2003 compared to 2002 and a further decrease in headline crime of 4% recorded for 2004...

Written Answers — Crime Prevention: Crime Prevention (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: It is absurd to state that there has been a dramatic increase in headline crime for 2005 when the level of headline crime for 2005 is 4.4% lower than the level for 2002. I did not hear the Deputy state that there was a dramatic fall in headline crime when there was a decrease of 3% recorded for 2003 compared to 2002 and a further decrease in headline crime of 4% recorded for 2004 compared to...

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 181 and 183 together. On 31 December 1997 the personnel strength of the Garda Síochána stood at 10,968. Under this Government's first term in office, the strength of the force was increased steadily and when I took up office as Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform in June 2002, the strength of the Garda Síochána stood at 11,748. After June 2002,...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: It is absurd to state that there has been a dramatic increase in headline crime for 2005 when the level of headline crime for 2005 is 4.4% lower than the level for 2002. I did not hear the Deputies opposite state that there was a dramatic fall in headline crime when there was a decrease of 3% recorded for 2003 compared to 2002 and a further decrease in headline crime of 4% recorded for 2004...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that Irish organised criminal groupings can be divided into two general categories. The first category consists of individuals or groups that are well-established and tightly structured and are involved in drug trafficking, armed robbery and firearms offences. The second category involves groups whose activities are characterised by less cohesive group...