Results 13,281-13,300 of 18,736 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (20 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: The person in question made an application for Family Reunification under Section 18 of the Refugee Act 1996 on behalf of her husband in October 2006. The application has recently been approved and the person in question has been informed of same.

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (20 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: An application for naturalisation from the individual in question was received in the Citizenship Section of my Department on 20 February 2006. Applications for naturalisation, including those from persons married to Irish citizens, are generally dealt with in chronological order as this method is deemed to be fairest to all applicants. Applications received in the second half of 2004 are...

Written Answers — Sexual Offences: Sexual Offences (20 Mar 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 An Garda Síochána within seven days of the conviction for the sexual offence concerned or, where the offender is sentenced to...

Written Answers — Prisoner Releases: Prisoner Releases (20 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am advised by the Director General of the Irish Prison Service that the information requested by the Deputy is set out in the table below. The vast bulk of the individuals granted temporary release — 70% — had a month or less of their sentence remaining. In fact, 31% were released in the final week of their sentence. Institution Number Arbour Hill Prison 10 Castlerea Prison 96...

Written Answers — Sexual Offences: Sexual Offences (20 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: The role of the Gardaí is to investigate alleged offences, to gather whatever evidence may be available and to submit a report to the Director of Public Prosecutions. The question of whether or not a particular person should be prosecuted and for what criminal offence is the responsibility of the DPP. The Director, who is independent in the performance of his functions, makes his decision...

Written Answers — Sexual Offences: Sexual Offences (20 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: Section 6 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 1993 created an offence of soliciting or importuning a person for the commission of an act which would constitute an offence under section 3, 4 or 5 of that Act or section 1 of the Criminal Law Amendment Act 1935. The maximum penalty on summary conviction was €1270 and/or 12 months imprisonment. Section 7 of the 1993 Act recreated in...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (20 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: The Competition Authority recommended that the existing Irish competency requirement should be abolished and replaced by a voluntary system of high level Irish language training. The Legal Practitioners (Qualification) Act 1929 provides that no person may be admitted by the Chief Justice to practise as a barrister-at-law in Irish courts unless he or she satisfies the Chief Justice that he or...

Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (20 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: The Secretary General of my Department did not issue a letter "complaining about the publication of an article" relating to the Bermingham report into the Dean Lyons case. A letter dated 14 August 2006 was issued to the Garda Síochána on his behalf stating that there was reason to believe that a person or persons who had received a draft of the report pursuant to section 34 of the...

Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (20 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: Last August, the Secretary General of my Department contacted me while I was on a family holiday and said that it appeared probable that a draft report of the Birmingham Commission of Investigation had been disclosed by a statutory recipient. He told me that he intended to report the alleged disclosure by the statutory recipient to the Garda Síochána. It was clear to me that it was to be a...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (20 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: I wish to inform the Deputy that my Department paid €1.292m in car mileage/km expenses in 2006, of which €445,000 related to payments made under the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme. In addition, €25,000 was paid in respect of rail and bus ticket expenses during the same period.

Written Answers — Land Registry: Land Registry (20 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: As the Deputy will be aware, under the provisions of the Registration of Deeds and Title Act 2006, the Property Registration Authority was established as and from 4 November, 2006. The Property Registration Authority replaces the Registrar of Deeds and Titles as the registering authority in relation to property registration in Ireland and, subject to the above Act, is independent in the...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (20 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: I can inform the Deputy that the cost of energy supplied to my Department's offices in 2002 amounted to €319,405. The cost for the year 2006 was €556,596. Data in relation to the quantity of energy supplied is not readily available, however, the Deputy should note that my Department has moved offices since 2002 and has in fact acquired additional accommodation to meet new service...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (20 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: I presume that the Deputy's question refers to administrative civil servants working in my Department and its Agencies. I have set out, in the table under, this information insofar as it relates to my Department and those Agencies whose staff are staff of the Department. It does not include Bodies which recruit their own staff (Courts Service, Legal Aid Board, Property Registration...

Written Answers — Gaming and Lotteries Acts: Gaming and Lotteries Acts (20 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: As the Deputy will be aware, it is not the function of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to provide legal advice. The position is as stated in my reply to Parliamentary Question 162 on the 7th March 2007.

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (20 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that local Garda management in the area referred to is aware of on-going difficulties being experienced by local residents in relation to untaxed and uninsured vehicles being parked on public roads and is examining how the situation can be improved. I am also informed that in respect of the two vehicles referred to, following receipt of a complaint to a...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (20 Mar 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 — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (20 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: I can confirm for the Deputy that the provision of upgraded facilities at Portlaoise station is a priority and that plans to address the accommodation needs there are well advanced.

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

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Immigration Division of my Department that the person referred to by the Deputy has recently been granted permission to remain in the State.

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

Michael McDowell: I have informed the Deputy in reply to Parliamentary Question No. 93 of 22 February 2007 that I have been informed by the Garda authorities that since the introduction of the Fixed Charge Processing System prosecutions have been initiated against 41,753 persons who had been issued with a fixed charge notice for a penalty point offence and had failed to pay the fixed charge. I am informed...

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

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 130 of Thursday, 8th March, 2007, and 149 of Thursday, 14th December, 2006 and the written replies to those Questions. The position is unchanged.