Results 10,261-10,280 of 18,733 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that Garda management within the Dublin Metropolitan Region has an excellent working relationship with the management of Dublin Bus. Regular contact is maintained and any issues raised are dealt with promptly. I am further informed that, while there are no dedicated patrols on Dublin Bus, An Garda Síochána carries out patrols to deal with specific...

Written Answers — Prisoner Releases: Prisoner Releases (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Director General of the Irish Prison Service that the person referred to by the Deputy failed to return to the Training Unit on 20 January, 2006 having been granted a short period of temporary release for humanitarian reasons. He was returned to prison custody by Gardaí on 5 June, 2006 and was transferred to the Midlands Prison on 8 June, 2006. His case was subsequently...

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 217, 229, 234, 237 and 239 together. I am informed by the Garda authorities that the death of the person referred to is under review by a senior Garda Officer. It is expected that the investigation file will be completed shortly. As the Deputies will appreciate it would be inappropriate for me to comment further before completion of the review.

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: The person concerned arrived in the State on 21 January, 2003 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 23 September, 2004,...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: An application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to in the Deputy's question was received in the Citizenship section of my Department on 4 September 2006. Applications received in the second half of 2004 are currently being processed and there are approximately 11,000 applications awaiting processing before that of the person in question. It is likely that...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: As I informed the Deputy in my responses to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 243 of 16 February 2006 and 68 of 15 June 2006, officials in the Citizenship section of my Department were not satisfied that the person referred to in the Deputy's question fulfilled one of the key statutory conditions for obtaining post-nuptial citizenship, i.e. that she and her Irish spouse were living together as...

Written Answers — Prison Committals: Prison Committals (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Director General of the Irish Prison Service that there were 3,080 prisoners in custody on 1 September, 2006 which equates to approximately 91% of the total bed capacity.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: The average cost of keeping a prisoner in custody in 2005 was €90,900. The cost of keeping a prisoner in custody in Portlaoise Prison in 2005 was €240,700. The average cost of keeping an offender is calculated by averaging out the current running costs of the prisons and places of detention against the average number of offenders in those institutions. These costs include certain items...

Written Answers — Community Service Orders: Community Service Orders (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Criminal Justice (Community Service) Act, 1983 provides for the performance of unpaid work in the community by a person who is 16 years or over, who has been convicted of an offence, for which the appropriate penalty would be an immediate custodial sentence and who has given his/her consent to the Court. The precise information requested by the Deputy is not readily available. The...

Written Answers — Garda Communications: Garda Communications (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: An Garda Síochána currently records Garda radio traffic and emergency 112/999 calls. An Garda Síochána depends on the public to provide information to assist in preventing and detecting crime and such information is provided on a confidential basis, often by telephone. Prisoners detained in custody in Garda Stations are entitled to telephone their family and their legal representatives...

Written Answers — Prison Building Programme: Prison Building Programme (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 225 and 226 together. I am advised by the Office of Public Works that the appropriate planning procedure for a bridge to Spike Island which will address environmental concerns and other issues will commence shortly. The entire project, including detailed design, tendering, commissioning and construction will take between 18 months and two years and building is...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: The application referred to by the Deputy was received in the Dublin Visa Office on 28th September, 2006 and is awaiting examination by a Visa Officer. A decision in respect of this application will be made in the coming weeks.

Written Answers — Prison Visits: Prison Visits (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Director General of the Irish Prison Service that the norm in Cloverhill Prison is that, with the exception of professional visits, all visitors are separated from prisoners by a screen. There are specific visiting booths, equipped with telephones, which are available to prisoners or visitors who experience hearing difficulties. This policy is, in my view, an...

Written Answers — Internet Usage: Internet Usage (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: By its very nature, the internet lends itself to being used for a wide range of criminal activities. This can include illegal pornography, racist or hate materials, financial fraud, intimidation or any other criminal activity carried out via the internet. Combating such illegal, harmful and predatory use of the internet requires a response at national, EU and wider international levels....

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 692 of 25 April, 2006 wherein I indicated that processing of the application for a certificate of naturalisation for the person concerned has commenced and that the file will be presented to me for a decision in the near future. This remains the position.

Written Answers — Refugee Status: Refugee Status (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: The correspondence that the Deputy refers to has not been received and I am not aware of widespread non-recognition of the Irish travel document. Travel documents issued by my Department to persons granted refugee status are done so under the provisions of the Refugee Act 1996 which incorporates the 1951 Convention on the Status of Refugees. Such documents issued are in compliance with the...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: An application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to in the Deputy's question was received in the Citizenship section of my Department on 24 May, 2006. Applications are currently taking approximately twenty-four months to process. It is likely therefore that the case will be forwarded to me for the decision around mid 2008. I will advise both the Deputy and the...

Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 235 and 236 together. I should inform the Deputies that I received representations from the person concerned in July and September of 2004. I referred the correspondence to the Garda authorities for their views. The Garda authorities stated that all matters raised were fully investigated and it was found that there was no evidence to support the claims made....

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: An application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to in the Deputy's question was received in the Citizenship Section of my Department on 28 July, 2004. I understand that processing of the application has commenced and that the case file will be submitted to me for a decision in due course. I will advise the Deputy and the person in question once I have reached a...

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (3 Oct 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 increased to a record 12,762 on Friday 8 September following the attestation of 249 new members. This compares with a total strength of 10,702 (all ranks) as at 30 June, 1997 and represents an increase...