Results 4,801-4,820 of 18,728 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (28 Sep 2005)

Michael McDowell: It seems the man in question obtained Irish citizenship by registration in the foreign births register on 16 July 2001. The woman to whom the Deputy refers recently became an Irish citizen on foot of making a declaration of post-nuptial citizenship. Since all three children were born before the couple became Irish citizens, they cannot obtain Irish citizenship automatically through their...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (28 Sep 2005)

Michael McDowell: Applications for certificates of naturalisation from the persons referred to by the Deputy were received in the citizenship section of my Department on 21 January 2005. Based on the volume of applications on hand at the present time, it is likely the applications of the persons referred to, both of whom have refugee status in the State, will be finalised by the middle of 2006. I will inform...

Written Answers — Garda Recruitment: Garda Recruitment (28 Sep 2005)

Michael McDowell: Following the Government decision to approve my proposal to increase the strength of the Garda Síochána to 14,000, I asked the Garda Commissioner to review the eligibility criteria for entry to the force. I initially increased the maximum age of applicants from 26 to 35 in time for the recruitment competition in November 2004. That change has had a significant effect, with a significant...

Written Answers — Closed Circuit Television Systems: Closed Circuit Television Systems (28 Sep 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that it is intended to proceed with the installation of the proposed town centre CCTV system in Finglas. As the Deputy is aware, a key issue to be addressed in the installation of this system is the provision of suitable accommodation to house the monitoring equipment. It was initially hoped that this could be accommodated in Finglas Garda station....

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (28 Sep 2005)

Michael McDowell: In August 2004, I announced the allocation of €7 million in funding as part of phase II of the equality for women measure to fund projects specifically supporting the development of women located in areas of economic disadvantage. Following a call for proposals, funding applications were received from more than 130 organisations, including the group referred to by the Deputy. Each...

Written Answers — Prison Building Programme: Prison Building Programme (28 Sep 2005)

Michael McDowell: The committee was established to draw up and apply a matrix of objective criteria to assess the suitability of sites for the development of a prison facility to replace the Mountjoy complex and to short list a number of suitable sites for consideration by me. I am satisfied with the work of the committee and pleased that a suitable site with considerable potential for development has been...

Written Answers — Prison Building Programme: Prison Building Programme (28 Sep 2005)

Michael McDowell: I completely reject the suggestion that a prison site has been purchased at a cost considerably greater than the market value. Moreover, I have at present no statutory powers to acquire sites or land for the construction of new prison facilities through compulsory purchase orders. However, this is a matter I am reviewing.

Written Answers — Prison Building Programme: Prison Building Programme (28 Sep 2005)

Michael McDowell: No official under my direction either in the Department or in the Prison Service made such an approach and, to the best of my knowledge, no official from any other Department or agency made such an approach either.

Written Answers — Prison Building Programme: Prison Building Programme (28 Sep 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am totally satisfied with the conduct of all members of the committee, including advisers, and I reject any criticism of their conduct. No committee member or adviser identified the site. It was submitted by an agent for the vendor. A technical assessment of the site was carried out through the Office of Public Works on the same basis as that which applied to the other sites considered by...

Written Answers — Prison Building Programme: Prison Building Programme (28 Sep 2005)

Michael McDowell: I did not personally visit the site but was fully briefed on all matters relating to it and was provided with large-scale maps and aerial photographs.

Written Answers — Prison Building Programme: Prison Building Programme (28 Sep 2005)

Michael McDowell: Preliminary estimates of the cost of servicing the Thornton Hall site were prepared as part of the detailed site evaluation process which was carried out by engineering consultants on a number of sites. This placed the total estimated cost of providing mains water, foul sewer and power, including gas and electricity, to the site at €8.5 million. This figure is similar to the level of costs...

Written Answers — Prison Building Programme: Prison Building Programme (28 Sep 2005)

Michael McDowell: I assure the Deputy that appropriate arrangements will be put in place to deal with the transporting of prisoners to the courts. These measures will also deal with hospital visits, visitors and all other transport needs.

Written Answers — Prison Building Programme: Prison Building Programme (28 Sep 2005)

Michael McDowell: Specific consultations were not held with the Health Service Executive in this regard. The Minister for Health and Children was consulted on the general proposal to acquire a site for a development to replace the Mountjoy Prison complex in the context of the Government decision. The site selection committee did have regard to the location of emergency services, including hospitals, when...

Written Answers — Coroners Service: Coroners Service (28 Sep 2005)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1003 and 1004 together. The report of the coroners review group published in December 2000 recommended a comprehensive overhaul and modernisation of the coroners service in Ireland, with regard to the legislation governing the work of coroners, the support services available to coroners and the structural organisation of the coroners service. In keeping with...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (28 Sep 2005)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by officials in the citizenship section of my Department that there is no record of an application for naturalisation or a declaration of post-nuptial citizenship having been received from the person referred to by the Deputy. However, I understand the person concerned lodged an application on 2 June 2004 for permission to remain on foot of her marriage to an Irish...

Written Answers — Garda Recruitment: Garda Recruitment (28 Sep 2005)

Michael McDowell: An advertisement for new recruits to the Garda Síochána is due to appear in the national media and on the Public Appointments Service website on 29 September 2005.

Written Answers — Deportation Orders: Deportation Orders (28 Sep 2005)

Michael McDowell: It should firstly be stated that asylum seekers are not deported. In regard to a non-national who arrives in the State seeking refugee status, a deportation order is issued only after the asylum application has been investigated in full and has been found not to meet the criteria for recognition as a refugee as defined in section 2 of the Refugee Act 1996, as amended, and, moreover, when the...

Written Answers — Refugee Status: Refugee Status (28 Sep 2005)

Michael McDowell: It is not the practice to comment in detail on individual asylum applications. As the Deputy is aware, applications for refugee status are determined by an independent process comprising the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner and the Refugee Appeals Tribunal, which make recommendations to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform as to whether such status should be...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (28 Sep 2005)

Michael McDowell: When assessing any visa application, the visa officer will consider various matters, including whether it is reasonable in all the circumstances to conclude that the applicant would fully honour the conditions of the visa, for example, whether it is likely that the applicant would overstay the length of time applied for. The visa officer will also have regard to information provided and to...

Written Answers — Registration of Title: Registration of Title (28 Sep 2005)

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.