Results 2,501-2,520 of 18,727 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (8 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: During the summer of 2004, my Department published a comprehensive review of progress under the equal opportunities childcare programme 2000-2006 entitled Developing Childcare In Ireland. This document was circulated to all Members of the Oireachtas and was also posted on the Department's website. Much of the information the Deputy is seeking concerning the period up to the end of 2003 is...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (8 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: An application for naturalisation from the person referred to by the Deputy was received in the citizenship section of my Department on 11 June 2004. The average processing time for such applications is 24 months and it is likely, therefore, that the application of the individual concerned will be finalised in or around June 2006. I will inform both the applicant and the Deputy as soon as I...

Written Answers — Registration of Title: Registration of Title (8 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Registrar of Titles that this is an application under section 49 — pertaining to the acquisition of a title by virtue of long possession — of the Registration of Title Act 1964, which was lodged on 8 March 2004. Dealing No. D2004WS002605V refers. I am further informed that this application was completed on 25 January 2005.

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (8 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: The current staffing in my private and constituency office is as follows. In my private office, there is one special adviser, one higher executive officer, serving as a private secretary, two executive officers and one clerical officer. In the constituency office, there is one executive officer, one personal secretary, one personal assistant and three clerical officers. I also have shared...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (8 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: The persons concerned made an application for permission to remain in the State on the basis of their parentage of an Irish citizen child under the revised arrangements on 7 February 2005. Their applications were acknowledged on 22 February 2005. I advise the Deputy that applications are being dealt with in order of receipt in so far as is possible and as expeditiously as possible. The...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (8 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: My Department is responsible for the co-ordination of child care service delivery during the period of the National Development Plan 2000-2006. My Department established the equal opportunities child care programme in April 2000 to increase the number of child care facilities and places in Ireland, to improve the quality of child care services available and to put new structures in place for...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (8 Mar 2005)

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 13 April 2004. The average processing time for such applications is 24 months and it is likely, therefore, that the application of the individual concerned will be finalised around April 2006. I will inform both the applicant and the Deputy...

Written Answers — Legal Aid Service: Legal Aid Service (8 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: In general, witness expenses are paid by the person who has called the witness. In criminal cases, expenses may be paid by the prosecution, the defence or the court itself in cases where it has requested a report. In civil cases, expenses are payable by the party calling the witness. No change is contemplated in these arrangements. Any delay in the hearing of cases is regretted. There will...

Written Answers — Prisons Building Programme: Prisons Building Programme (8 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 371 to 376, inclusive, together. This project is at a very early stage and, as such, the specific details as mentioned by the Deputy will not be available for some time.

Written Answers — Garda Complaints Procedures: Garda Complaints Procedures (8 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: On 24 February 2005, the Garda Síochána issued a public apology to the family of the late Dean Lyons, stating that they were satisfied that he had no participation in the horrific murders of Sylvia Shiels and Mary Callinan. I fully appreciate the hurt and embarrassment that Mr. and Mrs. Lyons and their family have suffered as a result of criminal charges preferred against Dean and...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (8 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: The visa applications in question were for the purposes of allowing the children of a non-EEA national employed in the State under the working visa scheme, to travel to Ireland for the purposes of residing in the State with their mother. A worker employed under the work permit scheme may be joined by his or her spouse and minor children after the worker has been in the State for one year and...

Written Answers — Garda Recruitment: Garda Recruitment (8 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: The Public Appointments Service administers a recruitment competition on behalf of the Garda Síochána which was launched on 25 November 2004. The service, which is independent in the exercise of its functions, will have details of the number of applicants who were deemed successful and will subsequently be called for interviews and when the interviews will be held. More than 10,600...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (9 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 238 and 259 together. I am informed by the Garda authorities that personnel across the organisation enforce the law in relation to the display of rear view number plates on heavy goods vehicles. PULSE records indicate the following number of prosecutions for failure to display a rear number plate on such vehicles for the years 2002, 2003 and 2004. Year No....

Written Answers — Prisons Building Programme: Prisons Building Programme (9 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: The person in question did not procure the site at Thornton. The site was offered to the Irish Prison Service. The role of the person in question did not change during the life of the expert committee. He acted as an adviser and liaised with the owners-agents of a number of the sites regarding price and other matters.

Written Answers — Prisons Building Programme: Prisons Building Programme (9 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: The Director General of the Irish Prison Service was of the view that there would be major operational difficulties if a new prison complex for the Dublin area was too far from the city, the other prisons, the courts and major access routes. In his view such operational difficulties would most likely arise if a site was further than eight kilometres outside the M50.

Written Answers — Prisons Building Programme: Prisons Building Programme (9 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: The price paid was the amount required to acquire a site suitable for the development of a new prison facility to allow the replacement of the Mountjoy Prison complex.

Written Answers — Prisons Building Programme: Prisons Building Programme (9 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 242 and 243 together. I understand that the committee considered and agreed what it considered to be the most relevant criteria in selecting a site and apportioned weightings on the basis of their judgment as to what was the relevant importance of each criterion.

Written Answers — Prisons Building Programme: Prisons Building Programme (9 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 244 and 245 together. Two members of the committee did visit the site but the committee did not consider it necessary for every member of the committee to visit all the sites which were considered suitable particularly when aerial photographs, detailed maps and engineering surveys were available. I do not accept that the committee rushed its consideration of...

Written Answers — Prisons Building Programme: Prisons Building Programme (9 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: I have not visited the site in question. The impact of the development on the local area cannot be fully assessed until the plans for the complex have been finalised.

Written Answers — Prisons Building Programme: Prisons Building Programme (9 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: If a delegation from the group in question wishes to come in and meet with me and set out the issues it wishes to discuss, I would be happy to meet with the members.