Results 8,681-8,700 of 18,729 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (31 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: The application referred to by the Deputy was received in my Department on 8th May, 2006 and is currently awaiting examination by a visa officer. The application will be considered in the coming weeks.

Written Answers — Sentencing Policy: Sentencing Policy (31 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: As I have informed the House previously, this matter has been through the courts and a conviction recorded. The court also ordered compensation to be paid, and I understand this was done. As the Deputy is aware, the courts are, subject only to the Constitution and the law, independent in the exercise of their judicial functions and it is not open to me to comment or intervene in any way on...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (31 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: Under Section 9 of the Refugee Act 1996, an asylum applicant shall not seek or enter employment before the final determination of his or her application for a declaration of refugee status. It is not proposed to allow asylum applicants take up paid employment pending a final decision being made on their applications. I am convinced that any extension of the right to work generally to asylum...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (31 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: I do not accept that the Irish asylum system lacks fairness and transparency. As the Deputy is aware, there is a transparent statutory framework governing the asylum determination process in Ireland set out in the Refugee Act 1996. The 1996 Act established two independent statutory offices to consider applications and appeals in respect of refugee status and to make recommendations to the...

Written Answers — Prison Medical Service: Prison Medical Service (31 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Irish Prison Service is not in a position to provide the statistical information requested by the Deputy, however, he can be assured that Court recommendations are treated appropriately and every effort is made to manage a prisoner's sentence in a manner consistent with any such recommendation. The Deputy must appreciate though that this may not always be possible for a number of reasons,...

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (1 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities that the Gardaí have been operating from the new Station at Derrinturn since yesterday.

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (1 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: The person in question made an application for residency on the basis of being a family dependent of a person who was granted permission to remain in the State as the parent of an Irish born child. The application was received in May 2006. Applications of this nature are dealt with in chronological order, in fairness to all other such applicants and currently take approximately four months to...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (1 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to Parliamentary Question No. 444 of Tuesday, 16 May, 2006 (ref18428/06) and the written reply to that question. There is no record of receipt to date of a new visa application from the person in question.

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (1 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: The person concerned arrived in the State on 15 March, 2003 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 5 November, 2004, that the...

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (1 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: Section 4 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 2003 provides for a member of an Garda Síochána, not below the rank of Inspector, to apply to the District Court for an order to temporarily close catering premises in certain specified circumstances as defined in the Act. Section 4 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 2003 provides the procedures by which a closure order may be...

Written Answers — Alcohol Offences: Alcohol Offences (1 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have made enquiries with the Garda authorities in relation to the information requested by the Deputy. Details of the number of on the spot fines issued by an Garda Síochána for breaches of the control of consumption and possession of alcohol by-laws in Maynooth, Leixlip and Celbridge, County Kildare in 2005 are as outlined in the table below.

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (1 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: Officials in the Citizenship Section of my Department wrote to the person referred to by the Deputy on 21 October 2005 seeking a copy of her expired passport or her expired Garda Certificate of Registration in order to determine if she satisfies the statutory residency requirements for naturalisation. A reminder was issued to the individual in question on 4 March 2006. To date, a response has...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (1 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: Further to the Deputy's question of 19 May 2006 and the person's application for Family Reunification. Following a review of the application and the verification of the authenticity of the documents, mentioned in the Deputy's previous question, by the embassy of the issuing country, a decision was made to grant the application for Family Reunification. I hope that this clarifies the matter.

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (1 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: The position in relation to granting long term residency is as follows: Persons who have been legally resident in the State for over five years (ie: 60 months) on the basis of work permit/work authorisation/work visa conditions may apply to the Immigration Division of my Department for a five year residency extension. In that context they may also apply to be exempt from employment permit...

Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (1 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I would draw the Deputy's attention to the Council Framework Decision laying down minimum provisions on the constituent elements of criminal acts and penalties in the field of drug trafficking that was adopted at the Justice and Home Affairs Council on 25 and 26 October 2004 (OJ L 335/8 11.11.2004). The objective of that instrument is to target illicit drug trafficking by providing a common...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (1 Jun 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 Investigations: Garda Investigations (1 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 184 and 185 together. The Gardaí are in fact conducting a crackdown on drug-related crime in West Dublin. Elements of this crackdown include "Operation Anvil", which in the Dublin Metropolitan Region includes monitoring of pharmacies, "Operation Clean Street", which targets street dealers and the local "Dial to Stop Drugs" programme. The Garda National Drugs...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (1 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I assume that the greenbook the Deputy refers to is the Certificate of Registration issued to non EU nationals which records an individuals legal residency status in the State. The person in question was granted permission to remain under the revised arrangements for non EU national parents of Irish children born before 1 January 2005. On registration the person in question was granted leave...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (1 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: The person concerned arrived in the State on 22 May, 2002 and applied for asylum. Her application was refused following consideration of her 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, she was informed by letter dated 20 September, 2004, that...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (1 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: There is no record of any current visa applications received in my Department in respect of the persons in question.