Results 7,061-7,080 of 18,729 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (21 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: There were 17,917 applications for permission to remain in the State on the basis of having an Irish born child prior to 1 January 2005, in accordance with the revised arrangements announced by me on 15 January 2005. As at 31 January 2006, over 1,100 applicants were refused residency under these revised arrangements. The reason for refusal decisions include lack of evidence that the applicant...

Written Answers — Drugs in Prisons: Drugs in Prisons (21 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: The information requested by the Deputy is not readily retrievable and the allocation of time and resources away from essential duties for this purpose cannot be justified. However, I am advised that incidents such as that outlined by the Deputy have been reported in Mountjoy Prison, Limerick Prison and Wheatfield Prison in the time period specified.

Written Answers — Courts Service: Courts Service (21 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: The District Court in Dublin sits each Saturday and on bank holidays. Provincial District Courts sit outside of normal hours at weekends and at night to deal with emergency matters, as required. Experience of the operation of court sittings continues to be reviewed. This is being done in conjunction with legislative measures aimed at increasing the effectiveness of the courts. I have in this...

Written Answers — Victims Commission: Victims Commission (21 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: My Department allocated the following amounts for the support of victims of crime from 1997 to 2005 — all pre-2002 figures are euro equivalences: Year Amount â'¬ 1997 355,526.66 1998 818,981.06 1999 826,599.49 2000 1,085,626.06 2001 1,102,132.65 2002 1,135,000.00 2003 1,077,000.00 2004 921,750.00 2005 950,750.00 Total 8,273,365.92 * Comprised...

Written Answers — Liquor Licensing Laws: Liquor Licensing Laws (21 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: I regret that it has not been possible in the time available to obtain the information requested by the Deputy. I will contact the Deputy again when the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (21 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities, which are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the personnel strength of each Garda divisional drug unit as of February, 2006 was as set out in the following table. Division Insp. Sgt. Gardaí Total DMR South Central - 3 15 18 DMR South - 3 20 23 DMR North - 3 19 22 DMR North...

Written Answers — Prison Education Service: Prison Education Service (21 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Irish Prison Service publication entitled, The Prison Adult Literacy Survey — Results and Implications, was published in September 2003. The major results of the survey showed that a significant number of prisoners had virtually no literacy skills — 52% of them were at level one or pre-level one literacy levels. In other words, more than twice as many prisoners are at the lowest level...

Written Answers — Taxi Licences: Taxi Licences (21 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the information requested by the Deputy is not readily available and is being researched. I will be in touch with the Deputy when the information comes to hand.

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (21 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 580 to 582, inclusive, together. I have been informed by the Garda authorities, which are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the personnel strength of Enniscorthy, Wexford, New Ross and Gorey Garda stations as at 17 February 2006 was as set out in the following table: Station Strength Enniscorthy 32 Wexford...

Written Answers — Registration of Title: Registration of Title (21 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: In my previous responses on this issue on 27 April 2005 and 16 June 2005, I set out in some detail the background to the change in Land Registry practice referred to. The Deputy should note that Office Notice 15/04 is simply the means by which the changes in practice referred to were communicated to Land Registry staff. I understand that Rule 57 was considered in respect of the drafting of...

Written Answers — Garda Equipment: Garda Equipment (21 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have asked the Garda Commissioner for the information requested. I will forward it to the Deputy as soon as it becomes available.

Written Answers — Missing Persons: Missing Persons (21 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: 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 that organisation received for the provision of services for victims of crime. This funding was provided subject to a number of conditions, including that audited accounts...

Written Answers — Garda Equipment: Garda Equipment (21 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that no rooms in Wexford Garda station were equipped with audio-video equipment on 10 October 2002. As I indicated in reply to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 532 of 8 November 2005 and 474 of 22 November 2005, the equipment was installed in Wexford town Garda station on 16 October 2002. I am aware that the Deputy has raised this question on a number of...

Written Answers — Courts Service: Courts Service (21 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: The increase in the fee for the Small Claims Court was introduced in conjunction with a substantial increase in the jurisdiction of the court from €1,269.74 to €2,000. The fee is still a modest one and generally falls far short of meeting the court's costs.

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (22 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 299 and 300 together. The Garda central vetting unit, GCVU, was established in 2002 and currently processes vetting requests in respect of, inter alia, prospective full-time employees of the Health Service Executive and certain agencies funded by the Health Service Executive as well as in respect of selected employments in other sectors. The unit currently...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (22 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: The persons concerned arrived in the State separately on 27 April 2000 and 8 August 2000 and applied for asylum. Their applications were refused following consideration of their case files 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, they were informed...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (22 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Waste Management Act 1996 prohibits the abandonment of vehicles on any land. The Act provides on summary conviction for a fine not exceeding €1,900 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or both or, on indictment, for a fine not exceeding €12.7 million or imprisonment for a term not exceeding ten years or both. Continuing offences carry a daily additional fine of up to...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (22 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: The person concerned arrived in the State on 09 January 2000 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 Refugee Appeals Tribunal. Subsequently, in accordance with section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999, as amended, he was informed by letter dated 22 August 2005 that the...

Written Answers — Taxi Regulations: Taxi Regulations (22 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the information requested is not readily available and is currently being researched. I will be in touch with the Deputy when the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Prisoner Transfers: Prisoner Transfers (22 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: The person was transferred to the Midlands Prison on 16 February 2006.