Results 1,821-1,840 of 18,726 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (27 Jan 2005)

Michael McDowell: Over the period in question and in order to facilitate the conduct of official business, Visa cards have been issued to myself and five officials namely my private secretary, the secretary-general, the Department's finance officer, the head of IT and the Department's former secretary-general. Balances outstanding are paid directly by the Department subject to the normal Department of Finance...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (27 Jan 2005)

Michael McDowell: I wish to inform the Deputy that the number of offences recorded in 2003 in which a firearm was used are outlined in the following table: Year Murders Manslaughter Robberies Aggravated burglaries Possession of a firearm Discharge of a firearm 2003 20 0 251 62 374 210 A breakdown of the offences by reference to whether or not the weapon used was legally held is not readily...

Written Answers — Firearms Legislation: Firearms Legislation (27 Jan 2005)

Michael McDowell: The Criminal Justice Bill, as published, contains one proposal in relation to firearms which is to provide for their secure custody. Other provisions on firearms will be brought forward in the form of amendments to the Bill on Committee Stage. I propose to bring those amendments to Government shortly for approval. They will then be presented to the House in the normal way.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Bill 2002: Second Stage [Resumed]. (27 Jan 2005)

Michael McDowell: I thank Senators for their considered response to the Bill being debated over the past two days. I thank the generally supportive Senators for their comments also. I should explain the delay with this legislation. I introduced the legislation in 2002 in the Dáil where we had a very interesting Second Stage debate which was informed by a number of criticisms made of the Bill. Those criticisms...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Bill 2002: Second Stage [Resumed]. (27 Jan 2005)

Michael McDowell: Those who naively go along with the provisional agenda should think long and hard about it. It has been argued by those who write to the newspapers that I was a bit tough by stating that Sinn Féin is a Marxist party.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Bill 2002: Second Stage [Resumed]. (27 Jan 2005)

Michael McDowell: FARC is a Marxist communist group which used Provisional IRA methods and technology to herd a group of people into a church in Colombia and mortared the church destroying them. The provisional movement is the only political movement on this island — although it had some difficulty in admitting it — to keep a full-time representative in Havana, the capital of one of the last communist...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Bill 2002: Second Stage [Resumed]. (27 Jan 2005)

Michael McDowell: When I pointed out these Marxist characteristics and the deeply ingrained Marxist beliefs of leading provisionals who are still in office in a debate at Trinity College, the Sinn Féin general secretary, Robbie Smyth, said "So what?" It may be a question of "so what?" and people are entitled to be Marxists, but Irish-America should ask itself what it has in common with a party whose members...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (1 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that Coillte forest roads and paths do not come within the meaning of a public place under the Road Traffic Acts 1961 to 2004. Legislation governing lands owned by Coillte are a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture and Food, and I have been informed by her Department that there is no legislation governing the use of scrambling motorbikes...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (1 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: It is open to the person concerned to make an application for residency in the State on the basis of her parentage of an Irish born child born prior to 1 January 2005. The details of the revised arrangements for the consideration of applications for permission to remain in the State made by the non-national parents of Irish born children born before 1 January 2005 were publicly announced on...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (1 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 261 to 264, inclusive, together. I have been informed by the Garda authorities, which are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the Garda mounted unit has been deployed to all Garda regions in support of Garda operational requirements since its formation in 1998. The unit is deployed to Garda regions in mainly a crime...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (1 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: The applications in question were approved on 31 January. The persons concerned will be informed of this decision through the Irish mission in their country of origin.

Written Answers — Deportation Orders: Deportation Orders (1 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: The position is that the person concerned arrived in the State on 5 November 2002 and claimed asylum. His application was refused and he was notified of this recommendation by letter of 10 July 2003. His subsequent appeal was refused and he was notified of this recommendation by letter of 31 October 2003. He was notified of my decision to refuse him refugee status by letter of 25 February...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (1 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: My Department has recently been in correspondence with the refugee regarding documentation submitted in support of the application. On receipt of a response from the person in question, the application will be further considered.

Written Answers — Sexual Offences: Sexual Offences (1 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: As the Deputy will be aware, a key service required by women who have been victims of a sexual assault is medical treatment and counselling and these are the responsibility of the relevant health board. The services for which my Department has responsibility relate mainly to the civil and criminal justice systems. I can assure the Deputy that any sexual assault reported to the Garda...

Written Answers — Registration of Title: Registration of Title (1 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Registrar of Titles that this is an application under section 49, that is, acquisition of title by virtue of long possession, under the Registration of Title Act 1964, which was lodged on 10 April 2002 — dealing No. D2002GY003490D refers. I understand that due to their complicated nature, applications under section 49, which require detailed examination of claims for...

Written Answers — Asylum Support Services: Asylum Support Services (1 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: The Commissioners of Public Works, acting on behalf of the Reception and Integration Agency, RIA, which operates under the aegis of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, purchased Broc House in June 2000, for the provision of accommodation to asylum seekers. Following the purchase, judicial review proceedings were initiated against the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (1 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: In my reply to Question No. 320 of 14 December 2004 to the Deputy I outlined the reasons for the refusal of the visa application in question and the subsequent refusal on appeal. The onus is on the applicant to provide sufficient documentation to enable both the initial application and, where applicable, an appeal to be examined fully and in this case it was deemed that the evidence provided...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (1 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the information requested is not readily available and could only be obtained by the expenditure of a disproportionate amount of Garda time and resources which could not be justified in the circumstances.

Written Answers — Joyriding Offences: Joyriding Offences (1 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: As I am sure the Deputy will appreciate, so called 'joyriding' is a complex problem which, while requiring significant inputs from the criminal justice system, can only be tackled to lasting effect through a multi-faceted and multi-agency response involving both the community and relevant statutory bodies. I have been informed by the Garda authorities that the current policing strategies for...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (1 Feb 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 June 2004. Applications of this type are dealt with in chronological order and currently take approximately 16 months to process. I understand the person is question is the parent of an Irish-born child and therefore may also be entitled to claim residency...