Results 12,061-12,080 of 18,736 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Naturalisation and Immigration Services: Naturalisation and Immigration Services (31 Jan 2007)

Michael McDowell: I can inform the Deputy that the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service operates four helplines for applicants for visas, citizenship, residency status and related immigration matters. I am informed that callers to the helplines are greeted by an automated answering service with recorded information messages and a menu option which effectively asks them which of the four helplines they...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (31 Jan 2007)

Michael McDowell: An application for naturalisation from the person in question was received in the Citizenship section of my Department on 14 March 2006. Applications received in the second half of 2004 are currently being processed and there are approximately 6,300 applications awaiting processing before that of this applicant. It is likely that the processing of this application will commence in mid-2008....

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (31 Jan 2007)

Michael McDowell: The application referred to by the Deputy was received in the Visa Office, Dublin on 29th August, 2006. The decision of the Visa Officer to refuse the application was taken on 18th October, 2006. The Visa Officer who examined the application was not satisfied, on the basis of the documentation submitted, as to the bona fides of the applicant. An appeal against the refusal decision was...

Written Answers — Legal Services Ombudsman: Legal Services Ombudsman (31 Jan 2007)

Michael McDowell: The establishment of the office of Legal Services Ombudsman is provided for in the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006. Appointment of the Legal Services Ombudsman will follow enactment of the Bill which is at present awaiting Committee Stage in the House.

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (31 Jan 2007)

Michael McDowell: As I have indicated to the Deputy by way of response to his recent representations, the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended, provides that 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. In the case of a non-national applicant who...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (31 Jan 2007)

Michael McDowell: I understand from the Immigration Division of my Department that the person in question made a Family Reunification application on behalf her husband in October 2006. The application was forwarded to the Refugee Applications Commissioner for investigation as required under Section 18 of the Refugee Act 1996. When this investigation is completed, the Commissioner will prepare and forward a...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (31 Jan 2007)

Michael McDowell: The statistics requested by the Deputy are not readily available as they relate to a period more than 20 years ago before computer records were maintained. The retrieval of these statistics from paper files would require a large amount of time and resources and if they are to be provided this will impinge upon the delivery of services elsewhere.

Written Answers — Crime Prevention: Crime Prevention (31 Jan 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that local Garda management is aware of an increase in anti-social behaviour and vandalism incidents reported in the area concerned. An initiative has therefore been put in place, involving increased patrols by Gardaí during the times when these incidents are occurring, and this has resulted in the arrest of a number of persons for such incidents....

Written Answers — Garda Communications: Garda Communications (31 Jan 2007)

Michael McDowell: The Garda Síochána Information and Communications Technology (ICT) strategy identifies the requirement for an enterprise-wide email system within An Garda Síochána. Rollout, which is currently ongoing, provides external e-mail facilities to all Gardaí for Superintendent rank and above. Accordingly, all District headquarters can be contacted by members of the public via Email to the...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (31 Jan 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am aware of the introduction of a Corporate Manslaughter Bill in the UK in 2006. The offence was proposed in a UK Law Commission Report in 1996 and the Bill was introduced in Parliament last year. The current law in Ireland does allow for a corporate prosecution for manslaughter, but there is considerable uncertainty as to the precise form of that liability. In the context of an amendment...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (31 Jan 2007)

Michael McDowell: The visa officer examining this application was not satisfied with the bona fide of the documentation supplied by the applicant, specifically in relation to the proof of his divorce. The documentation provided is not recognised in this state and is therefore deemed insufficient to warrant approval of the visa application. If the applicant provided legally recognised documentation which...

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (31 Jan 2007)

Michael McDowell: I understand that the Garda authorities are considering a range of options in relation to the station referred to in the Deputy's question. I should add that the formulation of proposals in relation to the opening and closing of Garda stations is a matter, in the first instance, for the Garda Commissioner in the context of the annual policing plan, as provided for in section 22 of the Garda...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (31 Jan 2007)

Michael McDowell: I informed the Deputy in my responses to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 395 on 27 September 2006, 425 on 16 May 2006 and 189 on 2 February 2006 that it was likely that the application on behalf of the person concerned would be finalised in the early part of 2007. However, given the very large volume of applications on hand, I have been informed by officials in the Citizenship section of my...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (31 Jan 2007)

Michael McDowell: The person referred to in the Deputy's question arrived in the State in August 2000 and applied for asylum. She was granted refugee status in May 2003 and applied for a certificate of naturalisation in June 2003. Section 15 of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended, provides that an applicant for naturalisation must have one year's period of continuous residence in the...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (31 Jan 2007)

Michael McDowell: I informed the Deputy in my responses to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 392 on 27 September 2006, 385 on 6 December 2005, 366 on 12 October 2005 and 988 on 28 September 2005 that it was likely that the application on behalf of the person concerned would be finalised in or around the end of last year. In this regard it is expected that the application will be dealt with shortly.

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (31 Jan 2007)

Michael McDowell: The case referred to by the Deputy falls under the scope of the Dublin II Regulation, (Council Regulation (EC) No. 343/2003). Following investigation by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner a Transfer Order was signed in respect of the person concerned on 13 October, 2005, obliging her to present to the Garda National Immigration Bureau, (GNIB), in order for arrangements to be...

Written Answers — Deportation Orders: Deportation Orders (31 Jan 2007)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my reply to his Dáil Question No. 154 of 14 December 2006. The status of the person concerned remains as set out in that Reply. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Deputy might wish to note that, in addition to the eleven factors contained in Section 3(6) of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended), I must also have regard for Section 5 of the Refugee Act 1996 (as...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (31 Jan 2007)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my previous replies of 27 September 2006 and 09 November 2006 in relation to the person in question. The person in question had applied for permission to remain in the State on the basis of being the parent of an Irish born child. This was received by my Department on 28 February 2005. The application was refused on 7 December 2005. My Department has received...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (31 Jan 2007)

Michael McDowell: The first person in question was granted permission to remain in the State on 8th September 2005 for two years under the revised arrangements announced by me on 15 January 2005 for non-national parents of Irish children born prior to 1 January 2005 and commonly referred to as the IBC/05 scheme. Advertisements inviting applications for renewal of permission to remain granted under the IBC/05...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (31 Jan 2007)

Michael McDowell: The mother of the person in question was granted permission to remain in the State under the revised arrangements for parents of Irish children born prior to 1 January 2005, commonly referred to as the IBC/05 scheme. An application for permission to remain in the State on the basis that the person in question is part of a family unit where adults of the unit have been granted residency in the...