Results 5,481-5,500 of 18,728 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (8 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to Parliamentary Question No. 334 of Wednesday, 27th September, 2006 and the written reply to that Question. The position is unchanged.

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (8 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: Applications for certificates of naturalisation from the persons referred to in the Deputy's question were received in the Citizenship Section of my Department on 23 February 2006. The average processing time for applications for naturalisation for adults is approximately 30 months at the present time. However, I understand that the persons concerned are refugees. In accordance with the...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (8 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: An application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to in the Deputy's question was received in the Citizenship Section of my Department in March 2005. The processing of this application is near completion and officials in the Citizenship Section of my Department will be writing to the person in question in the very near future. I will be in touch with both the Deputy...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (8 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: The position is that the person concerned arrived in the State on 26 March, 2004 and claimed asylum on 30 March 2004. His application and subsequent appeal was refused and he was notified of my decision to refuse him refugee status by letter of 16 November, 2004 in which he was informed of the three options open to him at that point, i.e., to leave the State before his case was considered for...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (8 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to Parliamentary Question No. 149 of Thursday, 14th December, 2006 and the written reply to that Question. The position is unchanged.

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (8 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 173 of Wednesday, 6th December, 2006 and 158 of Thursday, 11th May, 2006 and the written replies to those Questions. The position is unchanged.

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (8 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: The application referred to by the Deputy was received in the Visa Office, Dublin on 15th December, 2006. The decision of the Visa Officer to refuse the application was taken on 5th January, 2007. The Visa Officer who examined the application was not satisfied, on the basis of the evidence provided, of a relationship being in existence prior to the marriage. An appeal against the refusal...

Written Answers — Garda Equipment: Garda Equipment (8 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that there are 64 evidential breath testing instruments (intoxilysers) in use in Garda stations and 439 instruments in use for road-side screening (alcometers) which are allocated on a Divisional basis as shown in the following table. Division Alcometers Intoxilysers Carlow / Kildare 19 3 Cavan / Monaghan 19 3 Clare 9 4 Cork City 24 1 Cork North...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (8 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: The application referred to by the Deputy was received in the Irish Consulate in Damascus and sent to the Irish Embassy in Cairo for processing. The decision of the Visa Officer to refuse this application was taken on 5th March, 2007. The application was refused because the Visa Officer was not satisfied, on the basis of the documentation supplied, that the applicant had demonstrated a...

Prisons Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (8 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am not in a position to answer off the top of my head as to whether the prison rules as drafted provide for it. I will undertake that we will insert a paragraph in the rules to mirror section 31(7).

Prisons Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (8 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: I appreciate what the Deputy is driving at. To be honest, transport vehicles could involve Garda cars and vans being inspected, and the amendment could also require the inspector to go to all the courthouses around the country to look at cells there.

Prisons Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (8 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: Courthouse accommodation is being upgraded.

Prisons Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (8 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: There is no rehabilitative aspect in those courthouse cells. Most of them are now up to a good standard.

Prisons Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (8 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: They are very bare and temporary and are simply places where a prisoner sits for a very short period. They are not a prison and are effectively under the jurisdiction of the Courts Service. I do not want to extend the inspector's role to that particular semi-State organisation.

Prisons Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (8 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: There has been no undue delay in the publication of reports, with the exception of one incident where there was a disagreement on the content of the report. This was not from the perspective of its criticism but on the question of whether it was legal to be published in the form I received it. When these reports come in, it is reasonable for Department officials to read and consider them.

Prisons Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (8 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: They should be in a position to draw to the Minister's attention aspects of the report that are critical.

Prisons Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (8 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: If there is an aspect relevant to Government, the Minister should be in position to notify the Government that a particular report could have national or governmental significance. With the way bureaucracy works, a period of between eight and 12 weeks for the report to be digested and considered at the appropriate levels is reasonable. It is reasonable for the Minister also, if there is...

Prisons Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (8 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: Sometimes the Minister might have to wait for a response. The day the report is published the Minister will be asked what the response is to it.

Prisons Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (8 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: If, for instance, there is an indictment of the prison system, the Minister should be in a position to have the other side of the story heard before he or she comments. One cannot just reply "I do not know" to whether an issue is right or wrong and look to find out if a matter is true or false. The public will not accept a Minister looking for time to answer such a question.

Prisons Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (8 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: Between eight and 12 weeks is sufficient.