Results 9,101-9,120 of 18,729 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Anti-Social Behaviour: Anti-Social Behaviour (14 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: As the Deputy will be aware, primary responsibility for cleaning up graffiti rests with Local Authorities under the Litter Pollution Act, 1997. However, my Department, in conjunction with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs has initiated a pilot project aimed specifically at combating graffiti in Dublin...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (14 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities that the personnel strength (all ranks) of the Garda Síochána increased to a record 12,641 on Thursday 8 June with the attestation of 273 new members. This compares with a total strength of 10,702 (all ranks) as at 30 June 1997 and represents an increase of 1,939 (or 18.1%) in the personnel strength of the Force during that period. I am advised...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (14 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: Citizens of Japan who wish to take up employment in this State are required to hold a valid work permit. Such work permits are issued by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. Information regarding the issue of work permits may be found on that Department's website www.entemp.ie.

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (14 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform may, in his absolute discretion, grant an application for a certificate of naturalisation provided certain statutory conditions are fulfilled. One of these conditions is that the applicant has had a period of one year's continuous residency in the State immediately before the date of the application and, during the eight years immediately...

Written Answers — Registration of Title: Registration of Title (14 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I understand that the Land Registry has forwarded the information requested directly to the Deputy. I refer the Deputy to my letter of 26 May, 2006 to members of the Oireachtas regarding a new service for Deputies and Senators concerning the current status of Land Registry/Registry of Deeds applications. As outlined in my letter, the service was introduced, inter alia, to provide a speedier...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (14 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: The application referred to by the Deputy was received in my Department on 10 February 2006. The decision of the Visa Officer to refuse this application was taken on 23 February 2006. An appeal against the initial refusal decision was received on 25 April 2006. Following a re-examination of the case, the decision to refuse was upheld on 28 April 2006. As each applicant is entitled to one...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (14 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Community Alert programme is a community based crime prevention initiative in rural communities which was set up by Muintir na Tíre in association with the Garda Síochána in 1985. It is a national movement with its network comprising approximately 1,285 local Community Alert groups of which there are 53 schemes in Kildare dedicated to improving the quality of life of people in rural...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (14 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I wish to advise the Deputy that I have no plans at present to publish the submissions received to my discussion document — "Immigration and Residence in Ireland — Outline Policy Proposals for an Immigration and Residence Bill".

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (14 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the personnel strength (all ranks) of the Garda Síochána increased to a record 12,641 on Thursday 8 June with the attestation of 273 new members. This compares with a total strength of 10,702 (all ranks) as at 30 June 1997 and represents an increase of 1,939 (or 18.1%) in the personnel strength of the Force during that period. I am further...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (14 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: The persons referred to in the Deputy's question, the adult spouse of a naturalised Irish citizen and his adult son, submitted applications for certificates of naturalisation to the Citizenship section of my Department on 14 November 2005 and 6 February 2006 respectively. Parliamentary Question No 173 of 8 June 2006 referred only to two minor children of the same family. Officials in...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (14 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy will, of course, be aware that the question of the enforcement of employment permits legislation is a matter for my colleague, Minister Micheál Martin and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. With regard to residence permits, all non-EEA nationals wishing to remain in the State beyond the period of time granted by an Immigration Officer at the point of entry must...

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (14 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my response to Parliamentary Question No. 196 of 4 May 2006. The position remains unchanged.

Written Answers — Criminal Prosecutions: Criminal Prosecutions (14 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 207 and 209 together. I have been informed by the Garda authorities that the information requested by the Deputy is not readily available and is currently being researched. I will contact the Deputy again when the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Criminal Prosecutions: Criminal Prosecutions (14 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 208 and 210 together. The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) directs what charges if, any, are to be preferred against a person. As the Deputy will appreciate the DPP is statutorily independent in this function and it would not be appropriate for me to comment further. On Thursday, 8 June, I informed the House in the course of the reply to a Parliamentary...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (14 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: The person concerned arrived in this State on 23 March 2005 and claimed asylum on the same date. His application was considered at first instance by the Refugee Applications Commissioner and, on appeal, by the Refugee Appeals Tribunal, both of whom concluded that the person concerned did not meet the criteria for recognition as a refugee. The person concerned was notified, by letter dated 22...

Written Answers — Coroners Service: Coroners Service (14 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I can inform the Deputy that the position under section 23 of the Coroners Act, 1962 is that, where a coroner has reason to believe that a death has occurred in or near his district in such circumstances that an inquest is appropriate but the body is either destroyed or irrecoverable, the Minister may direct that an inquest be held in relation to that death. In the absence of further details,...

Written Answers — Immigration Issues: Immigration Issues (15 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: Temporary Leave to Remain in the State, pursuant to the provisions of Section 3 of the Immigration Act, 1999, is normally granted for an initial twelve month period. A person granted such temporary leave to remain in the State is advised, in writing, of the requirement that they observe the laws of the State and be of good behaviour during this period. Towards the end of this period, an...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (15 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: The correspondence in question, from the Gaming and Leisure Association of Ireland, a body representing some operators of casinos, seeks to change the present policy of the Gaming and Lotteries Acts that makes such operations unlawful. Officials from my Department met recently with representatives of the Association in question and made it clear to them that I have no proposals to alter that...

Written Answers — Prison Staff: Prison Staff (15 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my reply of the 3rd May, 2006 to Question number 469 on this matter. I can now advise the Deputy that following receipt of the information requested from the Public Appointments Service, a submission was sent to the Department of Finance for observations. That Department has now advised the Irish Prison Service that the essential requirements of the competition from...

Written Answers — Garda Training: Garda Training (15 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that all Gardaí throughout the country are trained in the use of the blow in the bag alcolyser. In the Longford/Westmeath Division, which covers the counties of Longford and Westmeath, 91 Gardaí (all ranks) are trained in the use of the hand held alcometer (roadside breath testing instrument for the presence of alcohol) and 79 Gardaí (all ranks) are...