Results 13,241-13,260 of 18,736 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Graffiti Offences: Graffiti Offences (8 Mar 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 — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (8 Mar 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 — Garda Training: Garda Training (8 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: The Advanced Driving Course is of three weeks duration and can only be conducted on completion of the Standard Car Course which is two weeks in duration. Eighty-three hours of instruction are provided in the Advanced Driving Course.

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (8 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: A fundamental requirement of the IBC/05 Scheme was the submission by the applicant of a valid passport/national identity document. In the absence of the provision of such identification the person in question was granted permission to remain in the State for a period of one year. This was granted as an exceptional measure to afford the person the opportunity to obtain the appropriate...

Written Answers — Criminal Prosecutions: Criminal Prosecutions (8 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: I have asked the Garda Commissioner for a report on the matter referred to and will revert to the Deputy once the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (8 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: As outlined in Parliamentary Question put down for answer on the 31st January 2007 (PQ No. 418) 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...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (8 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: All student visa applications (with the exception of those lodged in Beijing, Moscow and New Delhi) are determined by the Visa Office in Dublin. The turn around time for study visa decisions is currently between five and seven days and while there can be a delay in applications reaching Dublin I am satisfied that the service provided to the education sector has improved considerably and...

Written Answers — Refugee Status: Refugee Status (8 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: 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 Application Commissioner and the Refugee Appeals Tribunal which make recommendations to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform on whether such status should be granted. While it is not the practice to comment in detail on individual...

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (8 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following tabular statement: Name of Public Body Number of Appointments Censorship of Publications Appeal Board 1 Tribunal of Inquiry into Complaints Concerning some Gardaí of the Donegal Division * 1 The National Disability Authority 1 Judicial Appointments Advisory Board 3 Committee on Court Practice and Procedure 1 Refugee...

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (8 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following tabular statement: Name of Public Body Number of Appointments Property Registration Authority 1 Private Security Authority 1 Criminal Law Codification Advisory Committee 10 Refugee Appeals Tribunal 14 National Disability Authority 1 Castlerea Prison Visiting Committee 1 Cloverhill Prison Visiting Committee 6 Cork...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (8 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: The first person in question arrived in the State on 8 November 1999 and claimed asylum. The second named person arrived in the State on 15 March 1999 and also claimed asylum. Both persons withdrew their application on 8 March 2001 and applied for permission to remain based solely on their parentage of an Irish born child. They were granted residency in the State on this basis on 25...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (8 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Question Number 105 on Thursday 22 February 2007. The position remains as stated.

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (8 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: The person concerned became an Irish Citizen when he was granted a Certificate of Naturalisation on 15 February 2007. With regard to the Family Reunification I refer the Deputy to my previous answer to Question No. 357 of the 27th September 2006. I am informed by the Immigration Division of my Department that the Refugee Applications Commissioner has forwarded a report to my Department. This...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (8 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to Parliamentary Question No. 334 of Wednesday, 27th September, 2006 and the written reply to that Question. The position is unchanged.

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (8 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: Applications for certificates of naturalisation from the persons referred to in the Deputy's question were received in the Citizenship Section of my Department on 23 February 2006. The average processing time for applications for naturalisation for adults is approximately 30 months at the present time. However, I understand that the persons concerned are refugees. In accordance with the...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (8 Mar 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 March 2005. The processing of this application is near completion and officials in the Citizenship Section of my Department will be writing to the person in question in the very near future. I will be in touch with both the Deputy...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (8 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: The position is that the person concerned arrived in the State on 26 March, 2004 and claimed asylum on 30 March 2004. His application and subsequent appeal was refused and he was notified of my decision to refuse him refugee status by letter of 16 November, 2004 in which he was informed of the three options open to him at that point, i.e., to leave the State before his case was considered for...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (8 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to Parliamentary Question No. 149 of Thursday, 14th December, 2006 and the written reply to that Question. The position is unchanged.

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (8 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 173 of Wednesday, 6th December, 2006 and 158 of Thursday, 11th May, 2006 and the written replies to those Questions. The position is unchanged.

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (8 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: The application referred to by the Deputy was received in the Visa Office, Dublin on 15th December, 2006. The decision of the Visa Officer to refuse the application was taken on 5th January, 2007. The Visa Officer who examined the application was not satisfied, on the basis of the evidence provided, of a relationship being in existence prior to the marriage. An appeal against the refusal...