Results 7,221-7,240 of 18,728 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Order of Business (30 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy will appreciate that the commitment in the programme for Government was the subject of a review in the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. The Department asked the Law Reform Commission to examine whether such a measure would improve the system. The Law Reform Commission has recently opined that in its view it would be a mistake to proceed with such a power as it...

Order of Business (30 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: It is intended that the legislation will be published in the middle of next year.

Order of Business (30 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: It is not possible to say at this point.

Written Answers — Public Inquiries: Public Inquiries (29 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: I can inform the Deputy that the position remains as set out in my response to his question on this subject of Wednesday, 22 November (39279/06).

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (29 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: The person in question was the subject of a Family Reunification application which was refused in November 2004. A request for a review was submitted in November 2004. Following a complete review of the case, the application was again refused in December 2004. At present there is no Family Reunification application pending in respect of the above named.

Written Answers — Missing Persons: Missing Persons (29 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my answer to Parliamentary Question No. 203 of 7 November 2006.

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (29 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: The person concerned arrived in the State on 01 July, 2003 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. Subsequently, in accordance with Section 3 of the Immigration Act, 1999, as amended, he was informed by letter dated 21 March, 2005, that the...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (29 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: Applications for long-term residence from the persons referred to by the Deputy were received on the 21st August 2006 The position in relation to granting long-term residency is as follows: Persons who have been legally resident in the State for over five years on the basis of work permit/work authorisation/work visa conditions may apply to the Immigration Division of my Department for a five...

Written Answers — Ministerial Responsibilities: Ministerial Responsibilities (29 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: I wish to advise the Deputy that the Irish Prison Service is currently a non-statutory agency of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, with its own Director General and an Interim Board. The Irish Prison Service is not a corporation sole and cannot sue, or be sued, in its own name. While certain functions are delegated to the Service, it acts as an agency of my Department and...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (29 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to Parliamentary Question No. 169 of Thursday, 23 March, 2006 (ref: 11450/06) and the written reply to that Question. The position is unchanged.

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (29 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: An application for citizenship from the individual in question was received in the Citizenship Division of my Department on 16 October, 2006. Applications received in the latter half of 2004 are currently being processed and at the present time there are approximately 11,700 applications awaiting processing before that of the person involved. It is likely that processing of this application...

Written Answers — Human Trafficking: Human Trafficking (29 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: I wish to inform the Deputy that legislation creating an offence of trafficking in persons for the specific purpose of sexual or labour exploitation is contained in the draft Criminal Justice (Trafficking in Persons and Sexual Offences) Bill. This Bill has been approved by Government and is currently being drafted in the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel. This Bill will comply with the EU...

Written Answers — Garda Vetting Services: Garda Vetting Services (29 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 137 and 138 together. The phased expansion of Garda vetting services commenced in the first quarter of this year and is proceeding apace, in co-operation with the relevant client sectors and the associated Government Departments and Agencies. This expansion will continue until all organisations which recruit persons to work in a substantial, unsupervised...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (29 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have been 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 13,000 on Thursday, 16 November, 2006, following the attestation of 299 new members. This compares with a total strength of 10,702 (all ranks) as at 30 June, 1997 and represents an...

Written Answers — Joint Policing Committees: Joint Policing Committees (29 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: Section 36 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 provides for the establishment of a joint policing committee in each local authority administrative area and as part of the local government structures. The purpose of these committees is to provide a forum where a local authority and the senior Garda officers responsible for the policing of that area, with the participation of Oireachtas members...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (29 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: The person in question applied for permission to remain in the State on the basis of being a parent of an Irish citizen child, born before 1 January 2005, in accordance with the revised arrangements announced by me on 15 January, commonly referred to as the IBC/05 scheme. The person in question did not satisfy the criteria under the revised arrangements and was notified of this decision on 16...

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (29 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that enquiries have been made by local Gardaí which indicate that the vehicles referred to are the property of a local garage owner, who has been advised regarding the parking of these and other vehicles on the public road. The vehicles referred to have now been removed. I am further informed that Gardaí from the local Garda Community Policing Unit...

Written Answers — Airfield Security Measures: Airfield Security Measures (29 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Garda Síochána is represented on the multi-agency group responsible for the formation and implementation of aviation and airport security policy. In this regard, the Garda authorities maintain close liaison with the Department of Transport in respect of security arrangements at small aerodromes. Moreover, there is regular — almost daily — contact between the Garda Síochána and...

Garda Reform: Statements (29 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy is a long way from that issue.

Garda Reform: Statements (29 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: The wait will have been worth it.