Results 8,581-8,600 of 18,729 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Drug Abuse: Motion (Resumed). (24 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am grateful to Members for enabling me to address this motion this evening. As the Minister of State at the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Noel Ahern, noted, the drug problem in Ireland and the way in which we respond to it are extremely important. Ireland is not unique. It is one of many western societies facing the drug problem. However, we are responsible...

Drug Abuse: Motion (Resumed). (24 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: That is the point. I agree with that, and I am adamant in that regard. I do not know what the percentage is and it is not easy to work out. However, I say to the Deputy that we cannot rest easy while drugs are in our prisons. I say with all my heart that it is not good enough to argue that if there are drugs outside there will be drugs inside. People in prison are there for the purpose of...

Written Answers — Prison Medical Service: Prison Medical Service (24 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: Where a prisoner is assessed as having a specific health related problem, steps are taken to provide assistance to address such problems while in prison. All prisoners have access to a range of therapeutic services, including psychiatric and psychology services. Referral to any particular service is on the basis of assessed need. While every effort is made within the resources available to...

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (24 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: The RAPID (Revitalising Areas by Planning, Investment and Development) programme targets the most concentrated areas of disadvantage in the State by ensuring that priority attention is given to these areas by Government Departments and State Agencies dealing with disadvantage and local development in the widest sense. The RAPID programme designated 45 areas for priority investment and...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (24 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: The application referred to by the Deputy was received in the Visa Office on 25 April 2006. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the visa application in question was approved on 22 May 2006.

Written Answers — Liquor Licensing Laws: Liquor Licensing Laws (24 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Government Legislation Programme provides for publication of the Sale of Alcohol Bill later this year. This Bill will repeal the Licensing Acts 1833 to 2004, as well as the Registration of Clubs Acts 1904 to 2004, and replace them with provisions more suited to modern conditions. The Bill will have regard to the reform recommendations of the Commission on Liquor Licensing and will update...

Written Answers — Disability Support Service: Disability Support Service (24 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: The closing date for submitting applications under Phase II of the Enhancing Disability Services Project Funding for 2007-2008 is 14 July 2006. The appraisal of the project proposals will be undertaken by Pobal on behalf of my Department and it is expected that Pobal will make their recommendations to the Enhancing Disability Services Expert Group by November of this year. I hope to be in a...

Written Answers — Registration of Title: Registration of Title (24 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 applications in question. I understand that, in circumstances where the completion of an application in a particular case is urgent, the Land Registry will make every reasonable effort to facilitate such requests on receipt of a written explanation as to the...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (24 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: An application for a certificate of naturalisation by the person referred to by the Deputy was received in the Citizenship Section of my Department in August 2005. It has been assigned reference no. 68/3030/05. Officials in Citizenship Section are currently processing applications received in the first quarter of 2004 and, at the present time, there are just over 6,000 applications awaiting...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (24 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that penalty points are not awarded on the roadside. Where a person is issued with a fixed charge notice for a penalty point offence, the notice sets out the amount of the fixed charge and the penalty points applicable to the offence. The person has an option to pay the fixed charge and as part of the payment process completes a declaration that he/she...

Written Answers — Disability Support Service: Disability Support Service (24 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: The situation of parents of children with disabilities was considered in the context of the review of the Parental Leave Act 1998 conducted by a Working Group chaired by my Department. The Working Group, which comprised the social partners, relevant Government Departments and the Equality Authority, recommended raising the age of eligibility in respect of a child with a disability to 16 years...

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

Michael McDowell: I wish to inform the Deputy that I have requested the Land Registry to contact her directly concerning the current position of the application in question. I understand that, in circumstances where the completion of an application in a particular case is urgent, the Land Registry will make every reasonable effort to facilitate such requests on receipt of a written explanation as to the reason...

Written Answers — Legal Aid Service: Legal Aid Service (25 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: I can inform the Deputy that the amount paid to solicitors operating under the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme was €21.472m in 2005. Statistics are not compiled in such a manner as to readily identify the amount paid to solicitors on a county by county basis.

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

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my answer to his Question No. 412 of 16 May 2006 in connection with the person in question. An Irish visa merely allows a person to travel to the State, it does not grant permission to enter the State or to remain in the State. A 'C' visa merely indicates that the holder may remain for up to a maximum of 90 days in the State. A 'C' visa was granted to the person in...

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

Michael McDowell: The requirement to hold a valid visa prior to entering the State was waived in recent years for certain persons travelling from Belarus with Chernobyl childrens' organisations. This practice was discontinued on 1st January, 2006. Changes in visa policy and the introduction of legislation including the Children Act, 2001 and the Immigration Act, 2003, necessitated a return to previous practice...

Written Answers — Closed Circuit Television Systems: Closed Circuit Television Systems (25 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: As the Deputy is aware, a key issue to be addressed in the installation of the Finglas Town Centre CCTV system is the provision of suitable accommodation to house the monitoring equipment. It was initially hoped that this could be accommodated in Finglas Garda station. However, the present station premises are not suitable for this purpose. I have already stated that immediate priority is...

Written Answers — Garda Equipment: Garda Equipment (25 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Government Road Safety Strategy for the period 2004-2006 proposes that 11.1 million vehicle speeding checks be carried out per year by the end of the Strategy. In order to enable this target to be achieved, the Strategy proposes that An Garda Síochána enter into arrangements for the engagement of a private sector concern for the purpose of the provision and operation of a nationwide...

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (25 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 223 and 224 together. 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...

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

Michael McDowell: I would refer the Deputy to my Reply to his Dáil Question No. 678 of 21 March 2006 in relation to this case and would like to advise the Deputy that I signed a Deportation Order in respect of the person concerned on 12 May 2006. Notice of the Deportation Order was served by registered post requiring the person concerned to present himself to the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) on...

Written Answers — Dublin-Monaghan Bombings: Dublin-Monaghan Bombings (25 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Remembrance Commission that payments have been made in respect of a number of applications which were submitted by the person in question and which fell within the terms of the Scheme of Acknowledgement, Remembrance and Assistance to Victims in this Jurisdiction of the Conflict in Northern Ireland. A number of other applications are being processed by the Commission, and...