Results 1,761-1,780 of 18,726 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (26 Jan 2005)

Michael McDowell: The guidelines on staffing of ministerial offices allows for the employment of a total of five staff in a Minister of State's constituency office. The total number of staff currently employed in the Minister of State's constituency office is five. My previous reply to the Deputy's Question No. 204 of 1 December 2004 indicated a total of seven staff employed in the constituency office. Since...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (26 Jan 2005)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 763 and 795 together. My Department has recently made a decision on the application in question. The person concerned has been informed of the options now open to her regarding her residency in the State.

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (26 Jan 2005)

Michael McDowell: An application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to by the Deputy was received in the citizenship section of my Department in July 2002. The application concerned is in the final stages of processing and I understand that it will be submitted to me in the very near future. I will inform both the Deputy and the applicant as soon as a decision has been reached in this...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (26 Jan 2005)

Michael McDowell: An application for permission to remain in the State based on marriage to an Irish national was received from the person concerned in December 2004. Applications of this type are dealt with in chronological order and currently take approximately 16 months to process.

Written Answers — Registration of Title: Registration of Title (26 Jan 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Registrar of Titles that is an application for transfer of part which was lodged on 10 February 2003. Dealing No. D2003SM01242C refers. I am further informed that this application was completed on 21 January 2005.

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (26 Jan 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the Garda evaluation team on duty in the tsunami-affected region is based in Thailand, where investigations are being headed by the national police authorities. Owing to the numbers of fatalities resulting and the large number of nationalities involved, a Disaster Victim Identification Information Management Centre was established, with agreed...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (26 Jan 2005)

Michael McDowell: I wish to inform the Deputy that the number of indictable offences recorded and detected, indictable offences committed by persons on bail and convictions for previous years are published in the annual reports of the Garda Síochána for the years 1994 to 1999. The 1999 annual report only provides indictable offences committed on bail and convictions for previous years for the first nine...

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (26 Jan 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that during the period in question there was one complaint of minor criminal damage in relation to the Dunhallow Hunt. However, the Garda could not advance the matter as the complainant did not wish to pursue the complaint.

Written Answers — Sexual Offences: Sexual Offences (26 Jan 2005)

Michael McDowell: I can inform the Deputy that my Department is represented on a working group looking at the question of the treatment services which should be available to victims of sexual violence, including the question of forensic medical examinations. This working group, which is under the auspices of the National Steering Committee on Violence against Women, is being chaired by the Department of Health...

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (26 Jan 2005)

Michael McDowell: While I am always anxious to reply comprehensively to questions from Deputies, I regret that in this instance, without specific details being made available by the Deputy, it is not possible for me to comment in relation to the incident to which he refers.

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (26 Jan 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that investigations are ongoing in the cases of non nationals murdered in 2004. The Deputy will appreciate it is not the practice to indicate whether arrests have been made or to speculate as to what motives may have been involved in the killings.

Written Answers — Drugs in Prisons: Drugs in Prisons (26 Jan 2005)

Michael McDowell: As envisaged in the Programme for Government, the introduction of mandatory drug testing will be central to supporting future policy on drug supply and demand reduction in prisons. Already prisoners accommodated in the open centres at Shelton Abbey and Loughan House and in the designated drug free areas of the training unit in the Mountjoy Complex, St. Patrick's Institution and Wheatfield...

Written Answers — Garda Band: Garda Band (26 Jan 2005)

Michael McDowell: In 1965, the then Minister for Justice announced his decision to dissolve the band which had a total strength at that time of 35. Following a recommendation in the report of the Conroy Commission (1970) the band was re-established by the Minister in 1972, in time for celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of the force, "because of its significance as a morale booster" for the force. The...

Written Answers — Electronic Tagging: Electronic Tagging (26 Jan 2005)

Michael McDowell: The use of electronic tagging systems to monitor offenders in other jurisdictions is an issue which my Department has kept under review for some time. As I have explained in my previous replies to the House on this matter, difficulties have been encountered in other jurisdictions in developing fully effective electronic tagging systems, but recent developments in technology may provide...

Written Answers — Drug Treatment Programme: Drug Treatment Programme (26 Jan 2005)

Michael McDowell: Drug treatment services for prisoners involve a significant multidimensional input by a diverse range of general and specialist services provided both by the Irish Prison Service and visiting statutory and non-statutory organisations. Particular initiatives put in place include drug detoxification, substitution therapies, drug free programmes involving one-to-one counselling, accommodation in...

Written Answers — Asylum Support Services: Asylum Support Services (26 Jan 2005)

Michael McDowell: As I have previously indicated in response to Parliamentary Questions No. 308 of 9 November 2004 and No. 429 of 30 November 2004, it is not proposed to allow asylum applicants to take up paid employment pending a final decision being made on their applications. I believe that extending the right to work to asylum seekers, which would require legislative change, would have a very negative...

Written Answers — Age of Criminal Responsibility: Age of Criminal Responsibility (26 Jan 2005)

Michael McDowell: I have no plans at present to raise the age of criminal responsibility.

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (26 Jan 2005)

Michael McDowell: The person in question, a Congolese national arrived in the State on 5 October 1998 and applied for asylum. His wife and two children arrived in the State on 7 March 1999. His application was refused following consideration of his case by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner and, on appeal, by the Refugee Appeals Tribunal. This person is the parent of Irish-born children....

Written Answers — Freedom of Information: Freedom of Information (26 Jan 2005)

Michael McDowell: The bodies under the aegis of my Department that are not subject to the Freedom of Information (FOI) Acts are Censorship of Films Appeals Board; Censorship of Publications Appeals Board; Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal; Human Rights Commission; Registration of Title Rules Committee; the Garda Síochána; Garda Síochána Complaints Board; Garda Síochána Complaints Appeal Board;...

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (26 Jan 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that there are currently no plans to extend the number of Garda stations open to the public on a 24-hour basis.