Results 4,841-4,860 of 18,728 for speaker:Michael McDowell

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

Michael McDowell: Applications for certificates of naturalisation from the person referred to by the Deputy and two members of her family were received in the citizenship section of my Department on 4 August 2005. The average processing time for standard adult applications is currently 24 months. It is likely, therefore, that the applications of the individuals concerned will be finalised in or around August...

Written Answers — Garda Complaints Procedures: Garda Complaints Procedures (28 Sep 2005)

Michael McDowell: The Garda Síochána Act 2005 provides for the establishment of a Garda Síochána ombudsman commission with equivalent powers in this jurisdiction to the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland. Under the provisions of the Act, the ombudsman commission will be empowered to directly and independently investigate complaints against members of the Garda Síochána. It will also be empowered to...

Written Answers — Criminal Prosecutions: Criminal Prosecutions (28 Sep 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the numbers of prosecutions for non-wearing of seat belts in the years 2000 to 2004 are shown in the following table: Year Proceedings Instituted 2000 16,912 2001 9,612 2002 10,492 2003 8,114 2004 4,003 The number of prosecutions in 2005 is not readily available and could only be obtained by the expenditure of a disproportionate...

Written Answers — Colombia Three: Colombia Three (28 Sep 2005)

Michael McDowell: There have been contacts regarding a request from the Colombian authorities for the extradition of three persons but there have been no discussions with respect to an extradition treaty between the two countries. With the appearance of the so called Colombia three in Ireland in August 2005, a major Garda investigation was immediately put in place. This investigation, which is ongoing and...

Written Answers — Colombia Three: Colombia Three (28 Sep 2005)

Michael McDowell: There have been contacts with the Department of Foreign Affairs regarding a request from the Colombian authorities for the extradition of three persons, but there have been no discussions with respect to an extradition treaty between the two countries.

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (28 Sep 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the Clare divisional traffic corps and the Ennis Garda district have been proactive in enforcing road traffic legislation so as to deter so called boy racers and that there have been a number of speeding detections in the area referred to by the Deputy. With regard to reviewing speed limits, the Garda authorities inform me that a Garda inspector has...

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

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the process to select a replacement garda for Ballingarry Garda station is currently being progressed.

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

Michael McDowell: The Deputy will be aware from previous replies that Kilfinane was one of eight Garda stations in counties Limerick and Tipperary which were selected by the Office of Public Works, following consultation with my Department and the Garda authorities, for inclusion in that office's pilot equity exchange programme which was publicised last year. The Office of Public Works considered that the...

Written Answers — Restorative Justice Projects: Restorative Justice Projects (28 Sep 2005)

Michael McDowell: My Department, through the probation and welfare service, provides funding to two restorative justice projects, the Nenagh community reparation project and the victim offender mediation project in Tallaght. Details of the total annual funding provided to these projects each year since 2000 follow. Year Nenagh Community Reparation Current Nenagh community Reparation Capital...

Written Answers — Prison Inspections: Prison Inspections (28 Sep 2005)

Michael McDowell: The office of the inspector of prisons and places of detention was established on a non-statutory basis in 2002. The annual budget for the prisons inspectorate is allocated from the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform Vote - Vote No. 19. The expenditure in question was met from that budget in the normal manner.

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

Michael McDowell: Neither I nor officials from my Department have at any time suggested to the Inspector of Prisons and Places of Detention, either by written communication or otherwise, that he should investigate private prisons or partially privatised prisons or the outsourcing of prison services. The inspector is independent in the exercise of his functions.

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

Michael McDowell: There is an extensive set of criteria applied when assessing any visa application. These criteria, to a large extent, depend on the context in which the application is made, the personal circumstances of the applicant, and the nature and purpose of the application itself. Government policy of the day will also have an influence on the assessment of applications falling into specific...

Written Answers — Missing Persons: Missing Persons (28 Sep 2005)

Michael McDowell: The Health Service Executive, HSE, has statutory responsibility for the provision of care to unaccompanied minors. I have been informed by the HSE that they report all cases of missing unaccompanied minors to local gardaí and the Garda national immigration bureau. I am unaware of any specific claims to which the Deputy might be referring. The Garda missing persons website is only one of a...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (28 Sep 2005)

Michael McDowell: On 18 December 2002, the third committee of the United Nations General Assembly adopted the draft Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment, OPCAT. Ireland, along with other EU partners, fully supported the draft optional protocol and worked for its adoption at the UN General Assembly and the Commission on Human Rights. The object of...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (28 Sep 2005)

Michael McDowell: Work on the completion of Ireland's first periodic report under the United Nations Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment is ongoing as a matter of urgency. Preparation of the report has involved my Department consulting with other Departments and bodies in respect of their responsibilities under the convention and that process is almost...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (28 Sep 2005)

Michael McDowell: I assume the Deputy is referring to the procedures under Articles 2 to 9 of the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, CEDAW, whereby the CEDAW committee may receive and consider communications from individuals and groups of individuals in the jurisdiction of a state party claiming to be victims of a violation by that state...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (28 Sep 2005)

Michael McDowell: I assume the Deputy is referring to the procedure under Article 14 of the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, CERD, whereby the CERD committee may receive and consider communications from individuals or groups of individuals in the jurisdiction of a state party claiming to be victims of a violation by that state party of any of the rights under the...

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

Michael McDowell: In 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, that is, if it is unlikely that the applicant would overstay the length of time applied for. The application in question was refused on 18 April 2005 because the visa officer...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (28 Sep 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am aware of media reports in respect of Martin Scheinin, the UN Commission on Human Rights' special rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism. However, I understand from the Department of Foreign Affairs that Professor Scheinin's office has confirmed that neither he, nor any other special rapporteur, is currently...

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

Michael McDowell: The person concerned was deported from the State on 17 November 2004 following the earlier refusal of his asylum claim and subsequent further consideration of his case under section 3(6) of the Immigration Act 1999, as amended, and section 5 of the Refugee Act 1996 (Prohibition of Refoulement). The effect of the deportation order is that the person concerned must leave the State and stay out...