Results 5,001-5,020 of 18,728 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Probation and Welfare Service: Probation and Welfare Service (11 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: I can inform the Deputy that my Department, through the Probation and Welfare Service, has provided current funding to the Ballymun youth action project since 1989. Current funding of €66,700 was advanced to the project in 2004, and a similar grant has been paid in the current year. As part of the regeneration of Ballymun, the tower block which housed the project was demolished. The future...

Written Answers — Registration of Title: Registration of Title (11 Oct 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.

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (11 Oct 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 each Garda station in the Waterford-Kilkenny division — since constituency boundaries do not correlate with Garda divisional boundaries — at the end of each year from 1997 to 2004, inclusive, and as at 8 October 2005, is as set...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (11 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: Applications from the couple concerned for leave to remain in Ireland under the revised scheme announced by me on 15 January 2005 for the non-national parents of Irish-born children born before 1 January 2005 were approved on 23 June 2005. As the Deputy may be aware, all applicants are obliged to submit several identity documents, including the birth certificate of the Irish-born child, to...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (11 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: The visa applications in question were received in my Department on 15 August 2005. An extensive set of criteria is applied when assessing any visa application. Those 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...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (11 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: The person concerned lodged a declaration of accepting Irish citizenship as post-nuptial citizenship with my Department on 5 May 2005. The average time for the finalisation of the examination of such declarations is between ten and 12 months at present. Consequently, it is likely that the declaration of the person concerned with be finalised in or around May 2006. If the person concerned, who...

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (11 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: I currently have no plans to increase the retirement age for members of the Garda Síochána who were recruited to the force prior to 1 April 2004. The changes in the retirement age for members of the Garda Síochána outlined in the Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2004 will apply only to new entrants recruited to the Garda Síochána after 1 April 2004. Regarding...

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (11 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am aware of a research project proposal of the type described by the Deputy. I understand that the proposers of the project have been in consultation with Garda management on the matter. I have asked the Garda Commissioner for details of the outcome of his considerations. I will communicate further with the Deputy in due course.

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (11 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: It is my intention to draw up proposals for the establishment of a DNA databank which would, having regard to constitutional requirements and the requirements of the European Convention on Human Rights, permit as extensive a databank as possible. As I have previously indicated to the House, the Law Reform Commission is examining the issues surrounding the establishment of a DNA databank. The...

Written Answers — Legal Aid Service: Legal Aid Service (11 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 371 and 373 together. The number of staff posts at the offices of the Legal Aid Board in Caherciveen is 44, including three dual location posts. The breakdown of the grades involved is as follows: Grades Chief Executive Officer 1 (dual location post) Principal Officer 2 (one dual location post) Assistant Principal Officer 3 (one dual location...

Written Answers — Legal Aid Service: Legal Aid Service (11 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: Section 9(1) of the Civil Legal Aid Act 1995 provides that the Legal Aid Board shall make, not later than 30 September each year, a report to the Minister of its activities during the preceding year. The Deputy should also note that the Civil Legal Aid Act requires that the board's accounts be submitted for audit to the Comptroller and Auditor General and that the report of that audit be laid...

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (11 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: Each year leading up to Hallowe'en, special efforts are made to combat the illegal importation of fireworks. This year an intelligence-led operation called Operation Tombola, which aims to prevent and detect the organised importation for sale of fireworks, has been put in place by the Garda Commissioner. In this context, chief superintendents throughout the country have been instructed to...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (11 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: I presume the Deputy refers to the recent proposal from the European Commission for a directive on common standards and procedures in member states for returning third country nationals staying illegally on their territories. The objective of the proposal is to provide for clear, transparent and fair common rules concerning return, removal, use of coercive measures, temporary custody and...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (11 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: The disbursement of funding to victims of crime is now a matter for the commission for the support of victims of crime. The commission is an independent body established in March 2005 with a remit to devise an appropriate support framework for victims of crime into the future and disburse funding for victim support measures. I decided to terminate funding for the Victim Support organisation...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (11 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: As the Deputy is aware, the equal opportunities child care programme provides capital and current funding to child care providers to develop services which support parents in employment, education or training. Since the programme began, I have approved more than €16.3 million, of which €12 million relates to capital projects, in grants to services located in County Waterford. This...

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (11 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: The Explosives Act 1875 provides for the control of the importation, manufacture, storage and sale of fireworks. Last February, I published a document on fireworks policy and initiated a process of consultation with a view to bringing forward proposals for amending and strengthening the provisions in the 1875 Act. My Department has received a wide range of submissions in response to the...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (11 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: I regret that it has not been possible in the time available to obtain the information requested by the Deputy. I will be in contact with him when it becomes available.

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (11 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: Applications from the couple concerned for leave to remain, under the revised scheme announced by me on 15 January 2005 for the non-national parents of Irish born children born before 1 January 2005, are being processed and a decision on their applications will be made shortly.

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (11 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 381 to 387, inclusive, together. In 2004, my Department published a comprehensive review of progress under the Equal Opportunities Child Care Programme 2000 — 2006, EOCP, entitled Developing Child care In Ireland, which was circulated to all Members of the Oireachtas. It was also posted on the Department's website at www.justice.ie and much of the detailed...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (11 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: The information requested was supplied in response to Question No. 366 of 29 June 2005. In regard to crime figures, the Deputy is aware that on becoming Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, I arranged for the publication of headline crime statistics on a quarterly basis in order to improve the quality of information available to the public. While caution should be exercised in...