Results 7,921-7,940 of 18,729 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Prison Building Programme: Prison Building Programme (7 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 171 to 173, inclusive, together. The provision of services to the Thornton Hall site to service the prison development has been the subject of detailed discussions between the relevant officials at Fingal County Council and the Prison Service and its technical advisors. Discussions have also been held with the various utilities including the Electricity...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (7 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that interviews for the position of Crime Prevention Officer in respect of the Louth/Meath Garda Division have taken place and the appointment will be made shortly. It is the responsibility of Garda management to allocate personnel to and within Divisions on a...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (7 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 12,762 on Friday, 8 September, 2006, following the attestation of 249 new members. This compares with a total strength of 10,702 (all ranks) as at 30 June, 1997 and represents an...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (7 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: The person in question made a Family Reunification application in July 2005. The application was forwarded to the Refugee Applications Commissioner for investigation as required under Section 18 of the Refugee Act 1996. This investigation is completed and the Commissioner has forwarded a report to my Department. Applications of this type are dealt with in chronological order. This application...

Written Answers — Deportation Orders: Deportation Orders (7 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: I would refer the Deputy to the reply I gave to his Dáil Question No. 169 of Thursday 9 March 2006. The status of the persons concerned remains as set out in that reply.

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (7 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: The person concerned arrived in the State and claimed asylum on 10 November, 2000. He failed to attend at interview with the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner and a recommendation that he should not be declared a refugee was made on 18 April, 2002. Consequently, in accordance with Section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999, as amended, he was informed on 31 October, 2002 that the...

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (7 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: I can inform the Deputy that in my Department the following buildings are currently not in use: 1. Prison Service Buildings. Fort Mitchel Prison, Spike Island; and Curragh Prison, Co Kildare. 2. Probation Service Buildings Roxborough House, Limerick; Thomastown, Co Kilkenny; Lionsvilla, Chapelizod, Dublin; and Clonakilty, Co Cork. Appropriate security arrangements, designed to protect State...

Written Answers — Anti-Racism Measures: Anti-Racism Measures (7 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: I take it that the Deputy is referring to the cases before the Equality Tribunal. The Equality Tribunal is the impartial forum to hear or mediate complaints of alleged discrimination under equality legislation. It is independent and quasi-judicial and its decisions and mediated settlements are legally binding. The equality legislation prohibits discrimination on 9 grounds — gender, marital...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (7 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the following table shows the number of murder offences recorded and detected for each year from 1994 to date in 2006. All killings, regardless of the circumstances involved, are the subject of a rigorous investigation by the Garda Síochána. The identification of the motive and the evidence available in its support are key elements of the...

Written Answers — Crime Prevention: Crime Prevention (7 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that to date in 2006 there have been 126 reported incidents of thefts from shops in Wexford Sub-District, 81 of which have been detected. Local Garda management have taken a number of steps to address this issue. Since June, 2006 a dedicated uniform foot-patrol has been established in the commercial centre, particularly during business hours, to reduce...

Written Answers — Equality Issues: Equality Issues (7 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: Part 5 of the Disability Act 2005, dealing with public service employment of persons with disabilities, came into effect on 31 December 2005. It places the 3% employment target in the public service on a statutory footing. Under section 48 of the Act, a public service body must prepare a report for submission to the relevant monitoring committee established under the Act on its compliance...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Accidents: Road Traffic Accidents (7 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities that the number of road traffic accidents involving Garda and ministerial cars over the past five years was as set out in the table hereunder: Year Vehicle Type No. of Accidents 2001 Garda Car 360 2002 Garda Car 388 2003 Garda Car 389 2004 Garda Car 386 2005 Garda Car 419

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (7 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: The number of applications for naturalisation on hand as of 2 November 2006, including applications based on marriage to an Irish citizen, is approximately 11,000. I am advised that statistics are not maintained in such a manner as to readily identify applications from the spouses of Irish citizens from any other applicants.

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (7 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: Applications for certificates of naturalisation, including those from persons married to Irish citizens, are generally dealt with in chronological order as this method is deemed to be fairest to all applicants. The average processing time for such applications is approximately 24 months and this is primarily due to the significant increase in the volume of applications received in the last...

Written Answers — Closed Circuit Television Systems: Closed Circuit Television Systems (7 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that there are no plans at present to provide a Garda CCTV system for Longford Town. I understand, however, that there are a number of CCTV cameras in operation on Main Street, Longford which were funded and installed by local business people and are operated voluntarily. Neither the Garda authorities or my Department have any involvement with this...

Written Answers — Voluntary Repatriation Schemes: Voluntary Repatriation Schemes (7 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: The person referred to by the Deputy has expressed an interest in transferring to a prison in Ireland under the Council of Europe Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons. However, the formal application and necessary supporting documentation has not been received to date from the United Kingdom authorities. My Department has already written to the United Kingdom authorities...

Written Answers — Departmental Transport: Departmental Transport (7 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: Topaz Energy Limited supply the fuel for vehicles used by my Department and a number of fuel cards have been issued to the relevant staff from that supplier. The total cost of fuel over the past 5 years is approximately €14,400.

Written Answers — Departmental Transport: Departmental Transport (7 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities that the arrangements in place to supply Garda Vehicles with fuel are as follows: Fuel cards are issued by the relevant fuel companies following receipt of a written request, either directly from a District Headquarters or through Transport Section, Garda H.Q. Fuel is supplied through retail forecourts in each Division and is paid centrally...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (7 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that a formal certificate confirming the Irish citizenship of the person concerned issued to him by registered post on 2 November 2006.

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (7 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: As and from 1 January, 2007 the main immigration law which will apply to Romanian and Bulgarian nationals is the European Communities (Free Movement of Persons) Regulations 2006 (S.I. No 226 of 2006). Those Regulations, which I signed on 28 April 2006, transposed into Irish law the European Directive 2004/38/EC on the right of citizens of the Union and their family members to move and reside...