Results 12,441-12,460 of 18,736 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (14 Feb 2007)

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 13,000 following the attestation of 299 new members on Thursday, 16 November, 2006. This compares with a total strength of 10,702 (all ranks) as at 30 June, 1997 and represents an...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (14 Feb 2007)

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 6 July 2004. 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...

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (14 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that a number of allegations made by the person referred to have been investigated by An Garda Síochána and investigation files have been submitted to the Law Officers. In one case no prosecution was directed and in another directions are awaited. With regard to a number of allegations, no formal statements of complaint were made and so no...

Written Answers — Liquor Licensing Laws: Liquor Licensing Laws (14 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: Section 20 of the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2003 prohibits the supply of intoxicating liquor at a reduced price during a limited period on any day. It is intended to discourage practices which may lead to excessive consumption of intoxicating liquor, such as happy hours. For the purposes of section 20, reduced price is defined as a price less than that regularly being charged for the...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (15 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: The person concerned was granted a C visit visa to enter the State for a period of three months. It now appears that she is seeking an extension of her permission to remain in the State. A wrap-around information sheet accompanies every visa application form. That sheet makes it clear to the applicant that, in general, persons granted visas for particular purposes are not permitted to...

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (15 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 40 and 43 together. I am informed by the Garda authorities that the investigation into the murder of the person referred to is currently being reviewed with a view to establishing new lines of inquiry.

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (15 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that a Chief Superintendent has been appointed by the Garda Commissioner to carry out a fact finding investigation into the full circumstances of the failure to react to the Interpol communication and the subsequent statement to the effect that such a document had not been received by An Garda Síochána. I am awaiting the outcome of the investigation...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (15 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: The person in question made an application for asylum in March 2002. He subsequently withdrew that application and made an application for leave to remain on the basis of his Irish Born Child in April 2002. Representations were subsequently received from the legal representative of the person concerned in connection with his wish to take up employment as a Temporary Registered Doctor. In...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (15 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: The person in question currently has permission to remain in the State until July 2007 on the basis of being the spouse of a work permit holder. There is no record of a separate application for permission to engage in business in the State from the person concerned. As a Jamaican national, the person concerned would require permission to operate a business in the State. An application can...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (15 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: Following the submission to me in 2004 of a report and recommendations by an expert group on crime statistics, I decided that the compilation and publication of crime statistics should be taken over by the Central Statistics Office, as the national statistical agency, from the Garda Síochána. The Garda Síochána Act, 2005 consequently makes provision for this and the CSO has established a...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Accidents: Road Traffic Accidents (15 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that on the road referred to there were 117 collisions in 2006, with two people killed in one collision. In 2005 there were 127 collisions with one fatality.

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (15 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Immigration Division of my Department that the person in question made a Family Reunification application 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 report to my Department....

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (15 Feb 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). This Regulation is intended to prevent the phenomenon of 'asylum shopping' across Europe and sets out criteria for determining which Member State is responsible for examining an asylum application where applications have been lodged in more than one Member State or...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (15 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I would refer the Deputy to my reply to Dáil Question number 152 of 14 December, 2006, in respect of the mother in this instance. As you are aware, the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner, (ORAC), determined in accordance with the terms of the Dublin II Regulation, Council Regulation (EC) No. 343/2003, that France is responsible for examining the mother's asylum application in...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (15 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Immigration Division of my Department that a Family Reunification application by the person in question was refused in November 2006. The application was made on foot of a marriage which was by proxy. As with all proxy marriages cases in Family Reunification, the person in question was informed in his decision letter that this marriage does not appear to be valid under...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (15 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to Parliamentary Questions No. 377 of Wednesday, 31 January, 2007, No. 54 of Thursday 30 November, 2006, No. 83 of Thursday 26 October, 2006, and No. 187 of Thursday 1 June, 2006 and the written replies to those Questions. The position is unchanged.

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (15 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: As the Deputy may be aware, US citizens are exempt from Irish entry visa requirements. They are however, as are all non-EEA nationals, required to report to an Immigration Officer on arrival at an Irish port of entry to seek permission to enter the State. In addition, all non-EEA nationals, including US citizens, who wish to remain in Ireland for longer than three months are required to...

Written Answers — Prisoner Releases: Prisoner Releases (15 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: There are no proposals for the early release of the killers of Detective Garda Jerry McCabe.

Civil Unions Bill 2006: Second Stage (20 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: "That Dáil Éireann: Affirms that any legislative reform in this area must be fully consistent with the provisions of the Constitution and in particular the State's constitutional duty to protect with special care the institution of marriage; and accepts the need for legislative reform for the...

Civil Unions Bill 2006: Second Stage (20 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: We need to build on a number of developments which have already materialised. We should bear in mind that a major development in our constitutional jurisprudence will inevitably arise, one way or another, from the Supreme Court's decision on the Zappone appeal.