Results 8,281-8,300 of 18,729 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Registration of Title: Registration of Title (4 May 2006)

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 — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (4 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: An application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to by the Deputy was received in the Citizenship section of my Department on 25 November 2004. The average processing time for such applications is 24 months at the present time. It is likely, therefore, that the application of the person concerned will be finalised in or around November 2006. I will advise both the...

Written Answers — Deportation Orders: Deportation Orders (4 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: There is no provision in Irish law for the automatic deportation of a non-national who has committed a criminal offence. It has long been the practice of Ministers for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to give consideration to deportation in particular cases where a non-national has been convicted of a serious offence. Until recent times such cases were relatively isolated and the volume was...

Written Answers — Deportation Orders: Deportation Orders (4 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: There are currently 226 non-Irish national prisoners serving sentences for a range of offences coming from 44 different countries. This figure includes 109 non-EU nationals. There is no provision in Irish law for the automatic deportation of a non-national who has committed a criminal offence. It has long been the practice of Ministers for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to give...

Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (4 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: As indicated in the Legislative Programme announced by the Chief Whip on 24 April 2006, the Coroners Bill is in the course of being drafted with a view to publication later in the year. My proposals for a Bill to comprehensively reform the legislation relating to coroners and the organisation of the coroner service are available on my Department's website having been approved by the...

Written Answers — Deportation Orders: Deportation Orders (4 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: The enforcement of Deportation Orders is an operational matter for the Garda National Immigration Bureau. My Department's records show that, at present, there are in excess of 7,300 persons evading Deportation Orders or Dublin II Regulation Transfer Orders. The Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) believe that most of these persons have already left the State but, if found here, they are...

Written Answers — Tribunals of Inquiry: Tribunals of Inquiry (4 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: I assume the Deputy's question relates to my official position as Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. My Department has not received any notification of a decision by the Tribunal of Inquiry into Certain Planning Matters pursuant to paragraph J(2) of its amended terms of reference. I have no official role in relation to any such notifications that may have been issued to...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (4 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 195 and 198 together. I would refer the Deputies to my Replies to Dáil Question No. 91 of Wednesday 23 November 2005 and No. 456 of Tuesday 7 February 2006 in this matter. My position is as outlined in those Replies.

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (4 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: A Detective Superintendent from outside the relevant Garda Division was appointed immediately after the incident to carry out a detailed investigation into all the circumstances surrounding the person in question's arrest, detention and removal to hospital. The Garda authorities submitted a file to the Director of Public Prosecutions on the matter and furnished a copy to me also. The Director...

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (4 May 2006)

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 (all ranks) of An Garda Síochána as at 31 March 2006 was 12,439. This compares with a total strength of 10,702 (all ranks) as at 30 June 1997 and represents an increase of 1,737 (or 16.2%) in the personnel strength of the Force during...

Written Answers — Garda Training: Garda Training (4 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda Authorities that An Garda Síochána is actively progressing additional facilities for the provision of firearms training. I have been further informed that while there was some backlog during the first quarter of 2006, it is expected that additional capacity will become available in the second half of the year and this will address the backlog.

Written Answers — Garda Training: Garda Training (4 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Garda Authorities have informed me that they discontinued use of the indoor firing range in Garda Headquarters on the 17th December, 2005. Alternative arrangements have been put in place to facilitate Garda training. For security reasons the details of these alternative arrangements cannot be released. A report from a company with specialist expertise in this area to identify the work...

Written Answers — Garda Reserve: Garda Reserve (4 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: As the Deputy will be aware, I attended the National Conference of the Special Constabulary of England and Wales which was held on the weekend 31 March to 2 April. I was invited to attend the Conference by Mr. Peter Fahy, Chief Constable of the Cheshire Constabulary, who also holds national responsibility for the promotion and development of the Special Constabulary in England and Wales. I...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (4 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Tribunals of Inquiry Bill gives effect to recommendations contained in the 2005 Report of the Law Reform Commission on Public Inquiries Including Tribunals of Inquiries. That final Report was preceded by the Commission's Consultation Paper of 2003. The Bill also gives statutory backing to several statements made by the Minister for Finance regarding fees payable to legal representatives...

Written Answers — Departmental Committees: Departmental Committees (4 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: The membership of my Department's Audit Committee is as follows: Mr. Jimmy Farrelly (chairperson), Ms Sylda Langford, Mr. Jim McHugh, Mr. Robert Woods and Mr. Frank Goodman.

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (9 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 308 and 309 together. There is no record of an application for a visa in respect of the person in question. However, I have been informed by my officials that an application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person concerned was received in the Citizenship section of my Department on 1 November 2005.The average processing time for such applications...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (9 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: An Garda Síochána maintains a register of non-nationals who have been granted permission to be in the State, in accordance with the provisions of section 9 of the Immigration Act, 2004. The information which is recorded in respect of non-nationals is set out in the Second Schedule of the Act. Permission to remain is granted to non EEA nationals who are undertaking voluntary work on the...

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (9 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 311 and 347 together. The current agreement with the Garda Associations provides that posts can only be civilianised through natural wastage, as a result of which, the Civilianisation Report completed in 2001, has a 20 year implementation timetable, with a significant proportion of the posts identified to be civilianised in 2021. I am therefore pleased to note...

Written Answers — Criminal Prosecutions: Criminal Prosecutions (9 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: The judgment of the European Court of Justice to which the Deputy refers annulled Framework Decision 2003/80/JHA on the Protection of the Environment. In that case, the Court said that the Community legislature can provide for the imposition of criminal sanctions where it is necessary to do so to protect against serious environmental offences. The European Commission is advocating an...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (9 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: The person concerned made an application for permission to remain in Ireland on the basis of being the parent of an Irish born child, born before 1 January 2005, under the revised arrangements announced by me on 15 January 2005. This application was submitted in March 2005 and is currently being processed. The applicant will be notified of the outcome in due course.