Results 941-960 of 18,726 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (25 May 2004)

Michael McDowell: I regret that my Department has no funds from which it can assist in the matter referred to by the Deputy. The body in question might wish to explore funding possibilities with the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and with the family support agency.

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (25 May 2004)

Michael McDowell: I do not consider that it would be in the public interest at this stage to go beyond what I have already said publicly about this matter.

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (25 May 2004)

Michael McDowell: The visa application to which the Deputy refers was made in December 2002. It was refused as it was not established on the basis of the documentation supplied that the applicant, a then 26 year old male, would observe the conditions of the visa. In particular, it was considered that the applicant had not displayed evidence of any obligations to return home following his proposed visit. The...

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (25 May 2004)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities that their investigations into this matter have been completed and a file forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions. I understand that the Garda authorities are awaiting directions in this case.

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (25 May 2004)

Michael McDowell: I understand from inquiries I have made that an application from this group for a substantial capital grant of more than €2.6 million was submitted in February 2003. All large-scale capital projects such as the application referred to by the Deputy are referred by ADM Limited to an independent external building specialist to assess the suitability of the proposal and its value for money....

Written Answers — Firearms Offences: Firearms Offences (25 May 2004)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 359 and 360 together. I refer the Deputy to my recent reply to Question No. 30 of 5 May 2004 on this matter. The position remains unchanged. I am examining proposals on a firearms amnesty and I will revert to the House in due course.

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (25 May 2004)

Michael McDowell: The reception and integration agency, RIA, which operates under the aegis of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, is responsible for meeting the accommodation needs of asylum seekers. The RIA has advised me that it is accommodating approximately 180 persons in total from the ten new EU member states. The position on the cohort of nationals of the ten new EU member states is...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (25 May 2004)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 362 to 366, inclusive, together. As the Deputy will be aware, under the Refugee Act 1996, two independent statutory offices were established to consider applications and appeals on refugee status and to make recommendations to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform on whether such status such be granted to asylum applicants. These two offices are...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (25 May 2004)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the area referred to by the Deputy forms part of the Kevin Street sub-district. The personnel strength of Kevin Street Garda station as at 24 May 2004 was 116, all ranks. The policing of this area consists of patrols by local uniformed gardaí, the district...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (25 May 2004)

Michael McDowell: The visa application in question has recently been approved.

Written Answers — Courts Service: Courts Service (25 May 2004)

Michael McDowell: Sections 13 and 14 of the Court and Court Officers Act 2002 provided for significant increases in the monetary and jurisdictional limits of the Circuit and District Courts. As the Deputy will be aware, the Personal Injuries Assessment Board, PIAB, has recently been established. I will consider the commencement of sections 13 and 14 when sufficient time has elapsed to consider the impact the...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (25 May 2004)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that statistics supplied by the Garda Síochána to Europol during 2003 for inclusion in its annual report of the organised crime situation across the EU listed 17 major criminal gangs and approximately 100 groups overall operating in this country at that time. However, the Deputy will appreciate that the position in relation to criminal gangs does not...

Written Answers — Closed Circuit Television Systems: Closed Circuit Television Systems (25 May 2004)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that an application for a Garda CCTV system in Mullingar has been received by the CCTV advisory committee. This committee was established by the Garda Commissioner to advise on all matters relating to CCTV systems. This application is under consideration by the advisory committee along with applications from other cities and towns throughout the country....

Written Answers — Registration of Title: Registration of Title (25 May 2004)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Registrar of Titles that this is an application for first registration which was lodged on 9 April 1998. Dealing number D1998GY002092A refers. I am further informed that this application was completed on 20 May 2003.

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (25 May 2004)

Michael McDowell: I was unable to establish from the information provided if the person has made a visa application. My Department has established a separate visa office in Beijing which processes all visa applications made in China. As the person in question is a Chinese national, she should contact that visa office, which is located at the Irish embassy in Beijing, to make her visa application to visit Ireland.

Written Answers — Anti-Racism Measures: Anti-Racism Measures (25 May 2004)

Michael McDowell: I understand from the NCCRI that the claims made by the Deputy, which I believe emanate from recent newspapers reports, are somewhat exaggerated and may be only partially correct. The Garda racial and intercultural office monitors racist incidents reported to the Garda Síochána and the office has informed me that there has not been a sharp increase in the number of racist incidents reported...

Seanad: Adoptive Leave Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (26 May 2004)

Michael McDowell: The Adoptive Leave Act 1995 requires that adoptive leave may only be taken from the date of placement. The purpose of the legislation is to provide an entitlement to leave from employment for adopting mothers, equivalent to that of maternity leave entitlement available to natural mothers, so that both natural and adoptive mothers, and children, can benefit from the full-time care and...

Seanad: Adoptive Leave Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (26 May 2004)

Michael McDowell: Reviewing statutory periods such as adoptive, maternity or parental leave, is a matter for consultation and negotiation, usually by Government with the social partners through the partnership process, where the views of all relevant stakeholders are taken into consideration. The current social partnership agreement, Sustaining Progress, includes a Government commitment to amend the Adoptive...

Seanad: Adoptive Leave Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (26 May 2004)

Michael McDowell: I do not agree with that proposition. The purpose of the Bill is simple. It is to give adoptive parents the same amount of time to bond with their child as natural parents have for their children. The two extra weeks to which we referred is not bonding time. They were given as a health and safety measure in the context of employment. The health and safety consideration simply does not exist...

Seanad: Adoptive Leave Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (26 May 2004)

Michael McDowell: This amendment would effectively grant an adopting father a minimum of eight weeks' additional adoptive leave and would be inconsistent with the leave provisions applicable to natural fathers in similar circumstances. In the context of its review, the maternity working group considered the periods of maternity leave available and made recommendations to increase both maternity leave and...