Results 1,861-1,880 of 18,726 for speaker:Michael McDowell

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

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to the reply to Question No. 412 on Tuesday, 30 November 2004. Since that reply the Garda national immigration bureau served a letter dated 16 November 2004 on the person concerned requiring him to present himself again to the bureau on 30 November 2004. He again failed to present himself on that occasion. He subsequently attended at Kilkenny Garda station on 8 December...

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

Michael McDowell: The refugee in question submitted four passports in respect of his wife and children in support of his application for family reunification under section 18 of the Refugee Act 1996. However, after initial examination by my Department, doubts arose as to the authenticity of the passports in question. The documents were subsequently examined by a technical expert in the area of documents who...

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

Michael McDowell: The person in question arrived in the State on 18 January 2001 and applied for asylum. Her application was refused following consideration of her case by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner and, on appeal, by the Refugee Appeals Tribunal. Subsequently, in accordance with the Immigration Act 1999, as amended, she was informed by letter, dated 31 December 2003, that it was...

Written Answers — Peace Commissioners: Peace Commissioners (1 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: There are 6,808 serving peace commissioners, of which 6,587 are available to the public and a further 221 were appointed in an ex officio capacity, mostly to prisons and places of detention but also to the Central Bank, the Revenue Commissioners, the Garda training college and a number of Departments. A peace commissioner is normally appointed to serve a county and the immediately adjoining...

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

Michael McDowell: My Department has no plans to introduce a specific cultural visa for artists intending to travel to the State. However, visas are issued for specific events such as public performances of the type referred to by the Deputy, subject to appropriate accompanying documentation. This includes a schedule of the dates of the performance or other events and a work permit or other written permission...

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 for a transfer order, which was lodged on 22 December 2004. Dealing Number D2004WS015439W refers. I am further informed that queries issued to the lodging party on 31 January 2005 and that the application cannot proceed until these queries have been satisfactorily resolved. However, on receipt of a satisfactory reply, the...

Community Development. (2 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: I thank the Deputy for raising the matter and giving me the opportunity to update the House on the important issue of child care and the project referred to in Limerick. I am glad the Deputy echoed the strong representations made by the Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children, Deputy Tim O'Malley, regarding this matter, as she generously acknowledged. Child care is an...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (2 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: The person in question made an application for permission to remain in the State to operate a business on 16 November 2004. A request for further information was issued on the same day. To date no reply has been received to that request for further information, and it is only on receipt of the information requested that consideration can be made on the application.

Written Answers — Victims' Commission: Victims' Commission (2 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: The issue of a charter of the kind referred to is under consideration in my Department.

Written Answers — Dublin-Monaghan Bombings: Dublin-Monaghan Bombings (2 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: On 29 April 2002, the Irish and British Governments entered into an intergovernmental agreement on police co-operation which provides for, inter alia: personnel secondments and exchanges; annual conference and liaison mechanisms; co-operation in the area of training; and joint disaster planning between the Garda Síochána and the Police Service of Northern Ireland. Effect has been given to...

Written Answers — Departmental Records: Departmental Records (2 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: Decisions regarding the retention, withholding and release for public inspection of 30 year old records are made pursuant to the provisions of the National Archives Act 1986. Responsibility for such decision-making rests with certifying officers at principal officer grade who apply their judgment in the application of primary legislation to particular instances. In the case of withheld...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (2 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy will be aware that the contemporary historical record already details the activities, actual and alleged, of the person in question. The release of any records held in this respect by public bodies, including by my Department and the Garda Síochána, is governed by the provisions of the National Archives Act 1986. According to those provisions, it is a matter for designated...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (2 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following tabular statement: Name of Consultancy/Work Group/Specialist Group Date established Expected date of report Helm Co-operation — re the establishment of a risk register in the Department December 2004 Mid 2005 Goodbody Economic Consultants — re evaluation of the European Refugee Fund 16...

Written Answers — Drugs in Prisons: Drugs in Prisons (2 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: Mindful of the commitments in the programme for Government, a group comprising Irish Prison Service management, prison governors, health authority representatives and clinicians has been consulted regarding a drugs policy for the Irish Prison Service. The policy will have regard to the commitment in the programme for Government to end all heroin use in Irish prisons and my commitment to...

Written Answers — Drugs in Prisons: Drugs in Prisons (2 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: I can confirm that an arrest took place recently regarding an attempt to smuggle a significant quantity of contraband, including what appeared to be several illicit substances, into Cork Prison. As this matter is currently the subject of a criminal investigation, I am sure that the Deputy can appreciate that it would not be appropriate for me to comment further on this matter, except to say...

Written Answers — Drugs in Prisons: Drugs in Prisons (2 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: It is extremely difficult to quantify the precise level of illegal drugs supplied or consumed by prisoners while in custody, particularly given the extremely covert nature of illicit drug supply and use in a custodial setting. However, an independent study by the Health Research Board, Drug Use Among Prisoners: An Exploratory Study, which was published in 2001, found that, "Once imprisoned,...

Written Answers — Censorship of Films Appeal Board: Censorship of Films Appeal Board (2 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: I can inform the Deputy that the details of the membership of the Censorship of Films Appeal Board is as follows: Chairman — Mr. Paul O'Higgins SC; and eight ordinary members — Ms Ann Walsh, Ms Cathy Herbert, Ms Sarah Moorhead, Mr. Kevin Myers, Ms Ann Mooney, Fr. Damien McNiece, Rev. Canon David Pierpoint and Ms Nicola Byrne. The terms of appointment of the members are in accordance with...

Written Answers — Film Censorship Laws: Film Censorship Laws (2 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: I can confirm to the Deputy that I am considering a review of the law in relation to this matter. Any such review will include the situation mentioned by the Deputy. Any proposals for changes to the legislation which might result from such a review would be brought before the Government and announced in the usual manner.

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (2 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: There are plans to provide an extension to Carndonagh Garda station and a sketch scheme of the proposed works is currently being considered by the Garda authorities. When the Garda authorities have signed off on the scheme, the Office of Public Works will be requested to progress the works to conclusion.

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (2 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that statistics are not compiled in such a way as to distinguish between prosecutions for speeding, and other safety related offences, in respect of heavy good vehicles and other vehicles. I am further informed by the Garda authorities that the information could only be obtained by the expenditure of a disproportionate amount of Garda time and resources...