Results 12,801-12,820 of 18,736 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (22 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 — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Immigration Division of my Department that the person concerned has recently renewed their permission to remain with the Garda National Immigration Bureau and has permission to remain until the 13 February 2008.

Written Answers — Deportation Orders: Deportation Orders (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: The deportation costs provided as follows refer to the deportation of either illegal immigrants, persons refused refugee status in the State or persons whose applications for asylum have been transferred to another country under the Dublin Convention/ Dublin II Regulations. The vast majority of the removals involved persons who were refused refugee status in the State. Set out as follows are...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy will appreciate that the Mahon tribunal does not operate under the aegis of my Department and, accordingly, it would not be appropriate for me, by way of answer to a Parliamentary Question, to add to the remarks which I have already made publicly about the matter. I have always been concerned about the cost of tribunals and for that reason I actively pursued the passage through...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that its records currently show there have been 269 individuals recorded who have a conviction for a headline offence which involved a firearm from 2002 to 2006. Operation Anvil is central to the strategy of the Garda Síochána in combating serious crime and in particular murder. The Operation has proven to be very successful in disrupting the...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: The information requested by the Deputy is currently being researched. I will contact the Deputy again when the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Prison Accommodation: Prison Accommodation (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: As of 20 February, 2007 the available bed capacity of the prison system was 3,415 and there were 3,296 persons in custody on that date. This represents an occupancy level of 97%. It should be noted that this issue is not simply one of matching the global prisoner population to a global figure for beds or cells. A number of factors have to be taken into account including the prisoner's age,...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda Authorities that, particularly as a result of the proactive role of the Criminal Assets Bureau and other specialist units in targeting the proceeds of crime in this jurisdiction, a number of Irish criminals have re-located to the continent. Some of these individuals continue to engage in criminal activity and this may impact on criminality in this jurisdiction....

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: The information requested by the Deputy is currently being researched. I will contact the Deputy again when the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: The information requested by the Deputy is currently being researched. I will contact the Deputy again when the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: The disability group concerned applied to my Department for funding of €99,945 under the Independent Living Support Programme to purchase and convert for accessible use two Renault Master vehicles. This application was appraised by an independent evaluation committee which recommended that they receive 50% of the funding sought, 90% of which (€44,975) to be paid on agreement of contract...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: An application for a certificate of naturalisation on behalf of the person in question, who is a minor, was received in the Citizenship Section of my Department on 6 October 2006. Due to the fact that applications on behalf of minors generally require less processing than standard adult applications, it is usually possible to finalise them more quickly. Based on current processing trends, it...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: An application for a certificate of naturalisation on behalf of the person in question, who is a minor, was received in the Citizenship Section of my Department on 6 October 2006. Due to the fact that applications on behalf of minors generally require less processing than standard adult applications, it is usually possible to finalise them more quickly. Based on current processing trends, it...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (27 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 217 and 245 to 247, inclusive, together. In view of the nature of the questions and in order to supply the details requested by the Deputy I am informed by the Garda authorities that it is necessary to make enquiries at each Garda Division. I will be in contact with the Deputy when the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (27 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the area in question is actively policed by Gardaí from Santry Garda station. Community policing is a central feature and core value of policing policy by local Garda management, who are aware of the difficulties being experienced by local residents with anti-social behaviour in the area. Additional foot, mobile and mountain bike patrols carried...

Written Answers — Maintenance Payments: Maintenance Payments (27 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: Where a spouse defaults in making agreed payments of maintenance or defaults in making payments ordered by a Court, the Court has at its disposal a system of enforcement of payments. These include an attachment of earnings order and, ultimately, committal for refusal to obey a court order to pay, the means having been assessed by the Court. District Court clerks are empowered, using a...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (27 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: The visa application referred to by the Deputy was submitted to the Visa Office by the person concerned in December 2002. At that time the words "no provision to grant this visa" were used in situations where, in particular circumstances there was no facility to grant a visa. Practices and procedures pertaining to the examination of visa applications have changed since 2002 and while the...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (27 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: As outlined in my answer to the Deputy's Question No. 214 of 6th February, 2007, the person concerned had permission to remain in the State up to 24 March, 2006. There is no record of any application from the person concerned for any further permission to remain since that date. The person concerned must contact the Immigration Division of my Department outlining the reasons, together with...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (27 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: From the point of view of immigration controls the person concerned, as a Bulgarian national, is subject to the European Communities (Free Movement of Persons) (No. 2) Regulations 2006. These Regulations apply to all EU citizens who move to and reside in Ireland. The Regulations mean, inter alia, that EU citizens can enter Ireland on production of a valid passport or national identity card...

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (27 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 223 to 239, inclusive, together. 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...