Results 3,541-3,560 of 18,728 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Deportation Orders: Deportation Orders (19 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: I would refer the Deputy to the reply I gave to Questions Nos. 726 and 781 on Wednesday, 26 January 2005 and Question No. 129 on Thursday, 14 April 2005. The person concerned is awaiting deportation following a comprehensive examination of her asylum claim and of her application to remain temporarily in the State. Representations made regarding her medical condition, while not deemed to...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (19 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: My Department has no record of the most recent visa application to which the Deputy is referring reference number 0231150. However, an application with reference number 1516744 in respect of a person of the same name and date of birth as the applicant referred to, was approved under the delegated sanction scheme by the Department of Foreign Affairs on behalf of my Department in January 2005....

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (19 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 147 and 150 together. I am informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of Garda resources, including personnel, that the personnel strength of the Carlow-Kildare division as at 31 December 2002, 2003, 2004 and as at 18 May 2005 is as follows: Date Strength 31/12/2002 323 31/12/2003 323 31/12/2004 323 ...

Written Answers — Garda Transport: Garda Transport (19 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the total number of vehicles allocated to the division are as follows: Vehicle Type Number Car 37 Van/Personnel Carrier 3 Motorcycle 5 4x4 1 I am further informed that the Kildare-Carlow division has a fleet of modern vehicles and that the average age of vehicles in this division is 2.25 years. Transport resources are allocated by...

Written Answers — Garda Equipment: Garda Equipment (19 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that there are 11 interview rooms in six Garda stations in the Carlow-Kildare Garda division which have been equipped with the specialised audio-video equipment for the recording of Garda questioning of detained persons. I understand from the Garda authorities that a working group is examining the extension of these facilities to other Garda stations.

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (19 May 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 in July, 2004. The average processing time for such applications is currently 24 months. It is likely therefore that a decision will be made in this case sometime around July, 2006. I will inform both the applicant and the Deputy as soon as I...

Written Answers — Legal Aid Service: Legal Aid Service (24 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: My Department provides for wide access to civil legal advice and assistance via the Legal Aid Board and its nationwide network of law centres. The board's services are available to persons of modest means and at little cost. Funding for the board has been increased by 16% since last year to €21.362 million in 2005. An annual grant is also made to the free legal advice centres organisation,...

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (24 May 2005)

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 of Mountmellick Garda station as at 20 May 2005 was five, all ranks. I am aware of the situation referred to by the Deputy and indeed I had a brief meeting on Monday 16 May 2005, with a small delegation from Mountmellick Town Council to...

Written Answers — Tribunals of Inquiry: Tribunals of Inquiry (24 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: The position in respect of the tribunal in question is that there are a number of parties who have been given the right of legal representation. The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the Garda Commissioner are two of these parties. It has been the practice, where legal teams are engaged on behalf of the State or its agencies, that they receive their fees as the work...

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (24 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my reply to his Question No. 312 of Wednesday, 2 February 2005 regarding this Garda station. I am informed by the Garda authorities that the position in relation to this Garda station remains unchanged.

Written Answers — Coroners Service: Coroners Service (24 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my answers to Questions Nos. 10 and 28 of 17 May 2005. The position has not changed.

Written Answers — National Identity Card: National Identity Card (24 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: At the outset, I should say that Irish immigration law, for which I have primary responsibility, does not confer the benefits of passport free travel within the common travel area on persons other than Irish or British citizens. I assume therefore that the implications to which the Deputy refers are implications for Irish and British citizens arising from the UK proposals in relation to ID...

Written Answers — Criminal Prosecutions: Criminal Prosecutions (24 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy will be aware that what is deemed to be illegal off-line is also illegal on-line, and this is the case in relation to the provisions of the Gaming and Lotteries Acts 1956 -1986. An interdepartmental review group, tasked to examine the Gaming and Lotteries Acts 1956-1986 noted that " liability issues in the internet gambling area are likely to be as complex as in other areas of...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (24 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: An application was received in my Department on 8 March 2005 from the person concerned seeking permission to remain in the State on the basis of his parentage of an Irish-born child under the revised arrangements announced by me on 15 January 2005. A letter has recently issued to the person concerned informing him that he has been granted permission to remain in the State for two years until...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (24 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: The person concerned arrived in the State on 18 June 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 22 April 2005 that the...

Written Answers — Asylum Support Services: Asylum Support Services (24 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: The procurement of suitable accommodation for asylum seekers continues to pose significant challenges for the Reception and Integration Agency, RIA. Since mid-December 2004 when the details were announced of the scheme for processing applications for leave to remain from non-national parents of Irish-born children, the numbers being accommodated have risen by more than 22%. The RIA is...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (24 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: The city and county child care committees, CCCs, have a broad membership drawn from statutory and non-statutory bodies and include parent and provider representatives and a wide representation of child care interests in the relevant county. The typical membership of a CCC would include representatives of the Health Service Executive, local uthority, social partners, VEC, FÁS or local...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (24 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: Over the years numerous organisations have requested and have been given the assistance of gardaí on a non-public duty basis. Traditionally, gardaí have been made available for the performance of such duties and the State has charged for their services. This work is done by members of the force who would otherwise be off duty. At present, organisers of events pay for the cost of non-public...

Written Answers — Tribunals of Inquiry: Tribunals of Inquiry (24 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 315 and 328 together. Investigations are undertaken as part of normal duties. Therefore the multitude of different costs incurred by the inquiry into the death of Mr. Barron and by the related investigations referred to by the Deputies were accounted for in the normal manner under the relevant general sub-heads of the Votes concerned. For this reason it would...

Written Answers — Tribunals of Inquiry: Tribunals of Inquiry (24 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: The selection of investigators was a matter for the tribunal. The practical arrangements necessary for their appointment were carried out by my Department. The Garda Commissioner had no involvement in the selection and appointment process.