Results 6,461-6,480 of 18,729 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (25 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: Statistics relating to penalty points are a matter for my colleague the Minister for Transport. I am informed by the Garda authorities that statistics relating to detections for exceeding the temporary speed limit at the location mentioned are not readily available and could only be obtained by the expenditure of a disproportionate amount of Garda time and resources, which could not be...

Written Answers — Ministerial Statements: Ministerial Statements (25 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1070 to 1073, inclusive, together. I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 368 of 6 December 2005 and my comprehensive statement to Dáil Éireann on 13 December 2005. I am satisfied that I have acted in this matter strictly in accordance with my responsibilities, duties and obligations as Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform.

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (25 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: The refugee in question made an application for family reunification under section 18 of the Refugee Act 1996 in May 2005. A decision has recently been made on this application and the person in question has been informed of same.

Written Answers — Missing Persons: Missing Persons (25 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1075, 1076, 1082, 1084, 1086, 1087, 1091, 1108, 1120, 1149 and 1156 together. Funding of €110,000 in respect of a national missing persons helpline made available by my Department in 2002 and 2003 was channelled through the Victim Support organisation and was in addition to the ongoing funding which that organisation received for the provision of services to...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (25 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: Responsibility for the National Child Care Investment Programme 2006-2010 has been assigned to the Department of Health and Children as part of the establishment of the new office of the Minister of State with responsibility for children under Deputy Brian Lenihan. With regard to the application for capital grant assistance under the equal opportunities child care programme 2000-06, I...

Written Answers — Crime Prevention: Crime Prevention (25 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1078 and 1079 together. There is a comprehensive range of civil and criminal justice measures in place to tackle violence against women and the operation of the law in this area is kept under ongoing review. My Department chairs and provides the secretariat to the national steering committee on violence against women, NSC. The committee's remit is to provide a...

Written Answers — Garda Ombudsman Commission: Garda Ombudsman Commission (25 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: I made an order on 12 December 2005 under the provisions of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 establishing the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission. The Government decided on 13 December 2005 to nominate the following persons for appointment by the President to be members of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission: Mr. Justice Kevin Haugh to be chairperson, Ms Carmel Foley and Mr. Conor Brady....

Written Answers — Asylum Support Services: Asylum Support Services (25 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: The direct provision system seeks to ensure that the accommodation and ancillary services provided by the State meet the requirements of asylum seekers during the period in which their requests for asylum are being processed. In addition, a direct provision allowance of €19.10 per adult and €9.60 per child was introduced some years ago and is paid by community welfare officers, operating...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Reserve: Defence Forces Reserve (25 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities that, in accordance with Regulation 7(d) of Defence Force Regulations, R.5, New Series, Reserve Defence Force of 1 October 2005, a member of the Garda Síochána shall be ineligible for enlistment in the Defence Forces Reserve for service in the enlisted personnel, Army Reserve, or the enlisted personnel, Naval Service Reserve.

Written Answers — Deportation Orders: Deportation Orders (25 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: The person concerned arrived in the State on 17 December 1999 and applied for asylum. His application was refused following consideration of his case by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner and, on appeal, by the Office of the Refugee Appeals Tribunal. The person concerned was informed by letter dated 31 December 2002, that the Minister proposed to make a deportation order in...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (25 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: As the Deputy may be aware, responsibility for the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010 has been assigned to the Department of Health and Children as part of the establishment of the new Office of the Minister for Children under the Minister of state with responsibility for children, Deputy Brian Lenihan. With regard to the application for capital grant assistance under the Equal...

Written Answers — Registration of Title: Registration of Title (25 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have requested the Land Registry to contact the Deputy directly concerning the current position of the application in question.

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (25 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: The refugee in question made an application for family reunification in respect of her five children under section 18 of the Refugee Act 1996. In support of her application she submitted five passports. During the course of processing this application, questions arose with regard to the authenticity of documentation submitted. Following checks by document experts in the Garda technical...

Written Answers — Parental Leave: Parental Leave (25 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 288 of 14 December 2005. In the interests of maintaining the parity of entitlements between adopting and natural mothers paid adoptive leave will be increased to 20 weeks in March 2006 and to 24 weeks in March 2007. Unpaid adoptive leave will be increased to 12 weeks in March 2006 and to 16 weeks in March 2007. I intend to implement...

Written Answers — Land Registry: Land Registry (25 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Land Registry operates within the resources assigned to it and decides accordingly on priority areas. Staff are assigned taking into account the demand for services in each area of activity. I understand that there are no proposals to assign additional arbitrators to the ground rent section at present.

Written Answers — Tribunals of Inquiry: Tribunals of Inquiry (25 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my answer to Parliamentary Question No. 491 on 8 November 2005. As I explained in that reply, I am constrained in what I can say because the person concerned has a civil action in being arising from the events in Donegal. The issues raised in this particular case are being carefully examined so as to ensure that they are responded to fully and appropriately in the...

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (25 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that there is no allegation of fraud in the ESB made by the person referred to by the Deputy currently under investigation by the Garda Síochána. If the Deputy provides further information, or if a criminal complaint is made to the Garda authorities by the person referred to by the Deputy, I will have further inquiries made in the matter.

Written Answers — Registration of Title: Registration of Title (25 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1096 and 1130 together. The Registrar of Titles has informed me that the temporary stay that she placed, with effect from 7 December 2005, on the processing of applications based on adverse possession of land was temporary, pending consideration of the European Court of Human Rights, ECHR, judgment in the case of JA. Pye (Oxford) Ltd. v. the United Kingdom....

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (25 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: An application for permission to remain in the State based on marriage to an Irish national was received from the person concerned in April 2005. Applications of this type, in fairness to all other such applicants, are dealt with in chronological order and currently take approximately 16 to 18 months to process. It should be noted that marriage to an Irish national does not confer an...

Written Answers — Stardust Inquiry: Stardust Inquiry (25 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1098 and 1150 together. I can advise the Deputies that in 2004, following a number of meetings between representatives of the Stardust victims committee and officials from my Department, the Department of Health and Children and the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, a submission was presented to my Department on behalf of the...