Results 4,941-4,960 of 18,728 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Departmental Telecommunications: Departmental Telecommunications (3 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I can inform the Deputy that callers contacting my Department's Head Office during office hours are generally put immediately through to the relevant officials or Division requested. Insofar as applicants for visas, citizenship, residency status and related immigration matters are concerned, the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service, which forms part of my Department, operates four...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (3 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: It appears that the Deputy's question relates to the entitlement to Irish citizenship of children born outside the State to Irish parents. As the information provided is insufficient to enable me to respond to the individual cases cited by the Deputy, I propose to answer the question in general terms. The entitlement to Irish citizenship of a child born outside of the island of Ireland is...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (3 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I wish to refer the Deputy to my response to Parliamentary Question 132 of 8th February 2007, in which I indicated that it is open to the person in question to make a new Family Reunification application. I am informed that to date no such application has been received.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (3 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am advised by the Garda authorities that they do not approve for payment expenses that may be incurred by members of the force in connection with the use of private mobile phones. The policy of the Garda Commissioner is to promote the use of the organisation's radio systems as the approved communication system of the Force. I have provided the Commissioner with significant funding to both...

Written Answers — Garda Equipment: Garda Equipment (3 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by Garda Authorities that any broadband service used to carry PULSE data must satisfy stringent security requirements in keeping with Garda IT and Communications Security policies. An Garda Síochána have no preference for wired over wireless broadband services provided the broadband service provider can meet these requirements.

Written Answers — Drugs in Prisons: Drugs in Prisons (3 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Irish Prison Service that the cost of introducing mandatory drug testing along the lines described by the Deputy would be in the region of €300,000, not including staff and other costs. However costs would obviously differ depending on the frequency of testing, whether all prisoners would always be tested or whether a random or targeted testing model was to be used.

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (3 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I understand from the Immigration Division of my Department that a decision on the residency application of the person concerned has recently issued.

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (3 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: The person concerned arrived in the State on 25 April 2005 and applied for asylum. 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. The person concerned was informed by letter dated 29 September, 2005, that the Minister proposed to make a deportation order in respect of him...

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (3 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that they are not aware of any search being carried out on the premises referred to on 6 May, 2004. I understand however that a search of the home of the person referred to was carried out on 6 May, 1994 and that the person referred to requested and received a copy of the search warrant in 1995.

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (3 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am 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 13,178 following the attestation of 273 new members on Wednesday 14 March, 2007. This compares with a total strength of 10,702 (all ranks) on 30 June, 1997 and represents an increase of...

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (3 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: The information which the Deputy has requested is not readily available and is being compiled. When the information is to hand, I will write to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Legal Aid Service: Legal Aid Service (3 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I can inform the Deputy that the Regulations in question were updated last year by means of the Civil Legal Aid Regulations, 2006 which came into effect from 1 September, 2006. Under these new Regulations the income limits and allowances which govern eligibility for civil legal aid were all increased significantly, thereby ensuring that the scheme continues to provide effective access to...

Written Answers — Garda Vetting Services: Garda Vetting Services (3 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that a request for vetting was received in respect of the person in question on 19 March, 2007, and that this request is currently being processed. I am further informed that a response will issue as soon as all necessary enquiries are completed. It is not possible to provide an exact time frame for the completion of this process.

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (3 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: The person concerned arrived in the State on 28 December 2005 and applied for asylum. 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. The person concerned was informed by letter dated 23 August 2006, that the Minister proposed to make a deportation order in respect of him...

Written Answers — Legal Profession: Legal Profession (3 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: A group claiming to represent victims of the legal profession were in contact with my office some months ago. I agreed to meet them but my offer was not taken up and I have had no further contact from them since.

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (3 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: As stated in my reply to Question No. 250 of 10 October 2006 and to Question No. 294 of 31 January 2007, processing of this file has commenced. However, I am informed by officials in the Citizenship section of my Department that they have been in touch with the person concerned requesting further documentation and to date this has not been received. As soon as this documentation is submitted...

Written Answers — Victims of Crime: Victims of Crime (3 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I wish to advise the Deputy that I am fully committed to giving victims of crime a central place in the criminal justice system. The Victims Charter entitled "Victims Charter and Guide to the Criminal Justice System" provides a written framework of rights and entitlements against which crime victims can measure the level and standard of treatment received in their dealings across all sections...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (3 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Immigration Division of my Department that the Family Reunification application from the person in question was refused on 18 January 2007. At present there is no Family Reunification application pending in respect of the above named.

Written Answers — Closed Circuit Television Systems: Closed Circuit Television Systems (3 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy will be aware that there are plans to provide a Garda Town Centre CCTV system for Finglas. I am informed by the Garda authorities that the selected contractors have been requested to commence the installation of all nine cameras that constitute the system. The completion date for installation will be subject to the planning process, permission for wayleaves and completion of...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (3 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I can inform the Deputy that one member of staff in my Department has been provided with two phone lines at his home, being separate phone and fax lines and warranted by the communications needs of his duties.