Results 12,241-12,260 of 18,736 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (1 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources that the personnel strength of An Garda Síochána increased to a record 13,000 following the attestation of 299 new members on 16 November, 2006. This compares with a total strength of 10,702 as at 30 June, 1997 and represents an increase of 2,298 (or 21.5%) in the strength of the...

Written Answers — Animal Welfare: Animal Welfare (1 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I have requested a Garda report in relation to this matter and I will contact the Deputy again when the report is to hand.

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (1 Feb 2007)

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 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 requirements. The...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (1 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: The person concerned arrived in the State on 27 January, 2004 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 29 July, 2005, that...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (1 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Immigration Division of my Department that the person in question made an application for Family Reunification in September 2004. The application was forwarded to the Refugee Applications Commissioner for investigation as required under Section 18 of the Refugee Act 1996. This investigation is completed and the Commissioner has forwarded a report to my Department. This...

Written Answers — Statutory Instruments: Statutory Instruments (1 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I can inform the Deputy that it is standard practice in my Department to place a notice of the making of Statutory Instruments (S.I.s) in Iris Oifigiúil and to lay copies of same before both houses of the Oireachtas. I can confirm that all S.I.s made in 2006 were published. In some instances, the requirement to issue copies of S.I.s to named bodies, for example, Chambers of Commerce, was...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (1 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: The person concerned arrived in the State on 18 December, 2002 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 19 August, 2004, that...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (1 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: Applications for naturalisation from the persons in question were received in the Citizenship Division of my Department on 10 February 2004. As each application for naturalisation is examined on its merits, it does not automatically follow that because one person is granted citizenship that a spouse or other family member will also be granted citizenship. Therefore, when I considered the...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (1 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: An application for naturalisation from the person in question was received in the Citizenship Division of my Department on 24 April 2006. Applications received in the second half of 2004 are currently being processed and there are approximately 7100 applications awaiting processing before that of the person in question. Applications for naturalisation, including those made from persons...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (1 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I refer to my responses to Parliamentary Questions, numbers 32499/06 of 12 October, 2006 and 33842/06 of 19 October, 2006 where I advised that my Department wrote to this applicant's legal representative inviting them to lodge further representations, regarding an application for leave to remain. To date, this Department has not received a response. My Department wrote again on 31/01/2007 to...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (1 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to Parliamentary Question No. 89 of Thursday 12 October, 2006 and the written reply to that Question. The position is unchanged.

Written Answers — Coroners Service: Coroners Service (6 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: The recognised way in law for a death to be investigated, where the circumstances surrounding it may be unclear, is by way of a coroner's Inquest. While I have no definite information on the coroner's intentions in this regard, I would be very surprised if an inquest were not held in this case. Such an inquest will enable the full details of the death concerned to emerge into the public arena.

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (6 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities. I will be in contact with the Deputy when this information is to hand.

Written Answers — Warrant Statistics: Warrant Statistics (6 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I regret that difficulties have arisen in collating the information in the format requested by the Deputy and I have directed that this matter be resolved without delay. I will be in touch directly with the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (6 Feb 2007)

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 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 requirements. The...

Written Answers — Closed Circuit Television Systems: Closed Circuit Television Systems (6 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the Garda CCTV Advisory Committee has recommended a Garda CCTV scheme for Kilkenny. The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform have sanctioned funding for CCTV Schemes. The CCTV budget allocation for 2007 is €7,514,000.00 which is divided between Garda Town Centre CCTV systems and Community Based CCTV systems. I am further informed that a...

Written Answers — Criminal Prosecutions: Criminal Prosecutions (6 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I commenced Part 11 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2006 regarding civil proceedings in relation to anti-social behaviour by an adult on 1 January, 2007. A person behaves in an anti-social manner if the person causes or, in the circumstances, is likely to cause, to one or more persons who are not of the same household as the person (a) harassment, (b) significant or persistent alarm, distress,...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (6 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: An invitation to tender for the provision of a Survey of Public Attitudes towards An Garda Síochána was advertised in the OJEC and on the e-tenders government web-site with a closing date for receipt of tenders of 7 November. Following evaluation of the tender proposals by the Garda Authorities, Millward Brown IMS was selected as the preferred bidder and a contract is due to be signed with...

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (6 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: On 18 January, 2007, Tetra Ireland Limited was selected by the Department of Finance as the preferred bidder for the provision of the National Digital Radio Services. The preferred bidder and the relevant Departments and Agencies have commenced work on a Service Performance Evaluation (SPE) which involves the provision of a live working system covering a significant part of Dublin and...

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (6 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: There are plans to update the Garda accommodation at Birr. In this regard, the Office of Public Works has been asked to acquire a property adjacent to the station to facilitate extension and renovation of the existing building. When this process has been completed, consideration will then be given on how best to progress this project. In the interim, any essential maintenance to the...