Results 12,541-12,560 of 18,761 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (20 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: The application referred to by the Deputy was received in the Visa Office, Moscow on 22nd November, 2006. The decision to refuse the application was taken on 12th January, 2007. The application was refused based on the immigration history of the person in question. Details of the appeals process is available on my Department's website (www.justice.ie).

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (20 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 in August 2006. Applications received in the second half of 2004 are currently being processed and there are approximately 9,000 applications awaiting processing before that of the person in question. It is likely that the processing...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (20 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my answer to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 40 and 43 on 15 February, 2006.

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (20 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Immigration Division of my Department that the review of the Family Reunification application of the person in question was recently completed. A decision on the application has issued to the legal representatives of the person concerned.

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (20 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: It is not the practice to comment in detail on individual asylum applications. As the Deputy will be aware, applications for refugee status in the State are determined by an independent process comprising the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner and the Refugee Appeals Tribunal which make recommendations to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform on whether such status...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (20 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my answer to Parliamentary Question 397 of 31st January, 2007. As the appeal against the initial refusal decision has been upheld no further review in this application can be facilitated. However, if the person in question still wishes to travel to Ireland they may submit a new application, complete with supporting documentation, to their nearest Irish Embassy or...

Written Answers — Garda Transport: Garda Transport (20 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the number and type of vehicles currently available for use by members of An Garda Síochána are as follows: Cars Vans Bikes 4×4's M/Buses Lorries Total 1639 245 209 92 56 6 2247 The Garda Fleet is currently undergoing a major investment programme and an expansion in specific areas which will target organised crime, public order and traffic in...

Written Answers — Sex Offenders Register: Sex Offenders Register (20 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: The Sex Offenders Act, 2001 which commenced on 27 September 2001 sets out the notification obligations on persons convicted of a range of sexual offences against both children and adults. A convicted sex offender must notify his/her name(s), date of birth and current home address to the Garda Síochána within seven days of the conviction for the sexual offence concerned or, where the...

Written Answers — Sex Offenders Register: Sex Offenders Register (20 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: The Sex Offenders Act which commenced on 27 September 2001 sets out the obligations on persons convicted of a range of sexual offences against both children and adults. A convicted sex offender must notify his/her name(s), date of birth and current home address to the Garda Síochána within seven days of the conviction for the sexual offence concerned or, where the offender is sentenced to...

Written Answers — Restorative Justice: Restorative Justice (20 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: As the Deputy will be aware, I view Restorative Justice as an important element in the way we deal with offending behaviour. I am committed to fostering and developing further such initiatives over time. We must, of course, learn from the experience of how restorative justice has worked both here in Ireland — in Tallaght and Nenagh — and also look to international developments so that...

Written Answers — Stolen Property: Stolen Property (20 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: The information requested by the Deputy in respect of the years 2002 to 2005 is available in the relevant Garda Annual Reports, copies of which are available in the Oireachtas Library. 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...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (20 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 243 to 246, inclusive, together. An application for Leave to Remain in the State made pursuant to Section 3 (6) of the Immigration Act, 1999 arises where a non-Irish national is served with a notice of intent to deport under section 3 (3) (a) of the Immigration Act, 1999. A person served with such a notice of intent to deport is afforded three options, viz....

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (20 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: Since 1 January 2007, on the accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the European Union (EU), citizens of those countries are, in terms of immigration controls, covered by the provisions of the European Communities (Free Movement of Persons) (No. 2) Regulations 2006. They have the same rights of access to the Republic of Ireland as a citizen of an existing EU member state with the exception of...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (20 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 — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (20 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I understand the Immigration Division of my Department are currently considering an interdepartmental report. They will be in touch with the applicant in due course.

Written Answers — Drug Seizures: Drug Seizures (20 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities that the following table shows the drugs seized, by type, quantity and approximate street value for the years 2005 and 2006 for Gorey Garda District, which includes the area of Arklow. Garda Drug Seizures — Gorey Garda District 2005-2006 Drug Type Quantity Estimated Street Value € 2006 * Amphetamine 706.782 grams 10,616 Cannabis...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (20 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities that housing estates not yet taken in charge by local authorities are a public place for the purpose of enforcement of road traffic legislation. The taking in charge by the local authority of estates is not a prerequisite for the prosecution of offences under road traffic legislation. I am further informed that offences which are contingent on...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (20 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: Under my Department's Decentralisation Programme, around nine hundred posts are scheduled to transfer from twelve agencies to seven locations around the country. To date, one hundred and thirteen civil servants from within my Department have been re-assigned to provincial locations. By the second half of this year, we will have a presence in all seven locations when over four hundred posts...

Seanad: Defamation Bill 2006: Committee Stage (20 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: This is getting very hopeful.

Seanad: Defamation Bill 2006: Committee Stage (20 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I have done a fair amount of libel law in my time and watched many other lawyers do much more than I ever did but I never heard of a case in which a secretary was sued for typing a letter. I have never even heard of a case in which there was a threat to sue a secretary for typing a letter. In respect of the definition of the term "secretary" there would be cases in which an employee,...