Results 8,301-8,320 of 18,729 for speaker:Michael McDowell

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

Michael McDowell: The Sex Offenders Act, 2001 sets out notification requirements under Part 2 of the Act. An Garda Síochána has responsibility for enforcement of the Act. I am informed by the Garda authorities that as of 5 May, 2006 there are 907 persons subject to the requirements of Part 2 of the Sex Offenders Act, 2001.

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

Michael McDowell: Applications for certificates of naturalisation on behalf of the person referred to and her two siblings, who were all minor children at the time, were received in the Citizenship Section of my Department on 11 June 2004. The applications were lodged by their father, a naturalised citizen. Section 16 of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act, 1956, as amended provides that I can exercise...

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

Michael McDowell: Operation Anvil commenced in the Dublin Metropolitan Region on 17 May, 2005. It is an intelligence-led policing initiative, the focus of which is the targeting of active criminals and their associates involved in serious crime by preventing and disrupting this criminal activity through extensive additional overt patrolling and static check points by uniform, mobile and foot patrols supported...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (9 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: The idea of a Human Rights Agency is included in the Hague Programme; Strengthening Freedom, Security and Justice in the European Union which was adopted on 4-5 November, 2004. In December, 2004 the European Council called for further implementation of the agreement to establish an EU Human Rights Agency. On 30 June, 2005 the European Commission published its proposal for the establishment of...

Written Answers — Data Protection: Data Protection (9 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: The general position is that images of individuals recorded on videotape fall within the definition of personal data for the purposes of the Data Protection Acts 1988 and 2003. These Acts set out the conditions under which such data may be processed, including requirements that personal data must be obtained and processed fairly and be kept only for one or more specified, explicit and lawful...

Written Answers — Deportation Orders: Deportation Orders (9 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: All categories of persons in the asylum system, including so-called 'aged-out minors', have their asylum applications or applications for permission to remain temporarily in the State dealt with in a fair, comprehensive and humane manner. All persons,who, having failed the asylum process and subsequently apply to remain temporarily in the State, are dealt with having regard to all of the...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (9 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: Details of the number of crimes recorded and detected in the Carlow/ Kildare Garda Division are available in the 2004 Garda Annual Report which is available in the Oireachtas Library. Figures for the number of crimes recorded and detected in the Division for 2005 will be available in the Garda Annual Report for 2005 which will be published shortly.

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (9 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: Details for the number of offences committed by persons while on bail are available in the 2004 Garda Annual Report which is available in the Oireachtas Library. Figures for offences committed by persons while on bail for 2005 will be available in the Garda Annual Report for 2005 which will be published shortly.

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

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 323 and 327 together. An application for a certificate of naturalisation was received in the Citizenship section of my Department from the person referred to by the Deputies on 21 February 2006. The average processing time for such applications is 24 months at the present time. It is likely, therefore, that the application of the person referred to will be...

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

Michael McDowell: Renewal of temporary leave to remain in the State for this family is currently receiving consideration and I expect a decision to issue to the persons concerned shortly.

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

Michael McDowell: On 28 February, 2006, the person in question consented in writing to the making of a deportation order in respect of her and her children. I expect the file to be passed to me in due course.

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

Michael McDowell: The persons concerned arrived in the State on 3 September, 2004 and applied for asylum. Their application was refused following consideration of their case by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner. Subsequently, in accordance with Section 3 of the Immigration Act, 1999, as amended, they were informed by letter dated 6 December, 2005, that the Minister proposed to make...

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

Michael McDowell: The Deputy is incorrect in stating that my Department "blocked" the appointment to which he refers. I am informed that the individual referred to, who is a Detective Garda, sought a secondment to the PSNI's Historical Inquiries Unit. However, current arrangements for the appointment by the PSNI of members of the Garda Síochána on secondment do not provide for the secondment of members at...

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

Michael McDowell: A distinction firstly needs to drawn between a 'refugee' and an 'asylum seeker'. A refugee in this State is a person whose asylum claim has been investigated and is found to meet the definition of 'refugee' as set out in Section 2 of the Refugee Act, 1996, as amended. By contrast, an 'asylum-seeker' is a person who has lodged an asylum claim but whose claim for refugee status has not been...

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

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the death of the person referred to was fully investigated. The investigation file was submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions who directed that a person be charged with an offence contrary to section 3 of the Non-Fatal Offences against the Person Act, 1997. In December, 2003 the person charged pleaded guilty to an offence contrary to...

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

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 331 and 368 together. I wish to refer the Deputies to my replies to the recent Parliamentary Questions No. 3 and No. 5 of 27 April, 2006 and also to my Press Release of 20 February, 2006 which comprehensively addresses the issues referred to by the Deputies concerning the Garda Commissioner's proposals for the Garda Reserve. The Deputies will recall that I...

Written Answers — Registration of Title: Registration of Title (9 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 — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (9 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: The person in question made an application to engage in business in the State in August 2005. Applications of this nature are dealt with chronological order, in fairness to all such applicants, and currently take approximately nine months to process. The application of the person concerned is currently being processed and it is expected that a decision will issue shortly.

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (9 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: My Department is considering, in consultation with other Departments, the legal and policy implications of ratification. The Government will consider whether or not to ratify based on a thorough review of the implications.