Results 8,841-8,860 of 18,729 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Prison Visits: Prison Visits (27 Sep 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Director General of the Irish Prison Service that the policy in Cloverhill Prison is that, with the exception of professional visits, all visitors are separated from prisoners by a screen. In exceptional circumstances, however, open visits may be granted at the Governor's discretion. In this particular case, the person referred to by the Deputy applied to the...

Written Answers — Official Engagements: Official Engagements (27 Sep 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that an aggravated burglary took place at the home of the person referred to on the 7 September, 2006 and that the matter is the subject of an ongoing investigation. The Deputy will be aware that it is not normal practice to comment upon ongoing Garda investigations, which are operational matters for the Garda authorities. While I am sympathetic to the...

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (27 Sep 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 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 increase...

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (27 Sep 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that local Garda management attended a meeting with Ardee Town Council on 27 February, 2006, where the need for a Garda presence on the street was discussed. In this regard, the opening hours as set out in the following table were agreed as the most effective way...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (27 Sep 2006)

Michael McDowell: The appeal referred to by the Deputy was received in the Visa Office on 14th September, 2006. Following a re-examination of the case, the initial decision to refuse was upheld on 18th September, 2006. As each applicant is entitled to one appeal only, no further review in this matter can be granted; however it is open to the applicant to make a fresh application.

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (27 Sep 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Road Traffic Act, 1961, as amended by the Road Traffic Act 1994, provides that a person shall not drive, or attempt to drive, or be in charge of a mechanically propelled vehicle in a public place while under the influence of an intoxicant to such an extent as to be incapable of having proper control of the vehicle. An intoxicant includes alcohol, drugs or any combination of drugs or of...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (27 Sep 2006)

Michael McDowell: The person in question made a Family Reunification application on behalf of her husband in October 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...

Written Answers — Refugee Status: Refugee Status (27 Sep 2006)

Michael McDowell: The person in question made a Family Reunification application on behalf of her daughter and nephew in June 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...

Written Answers — Deportation Orders: Deportation Orders (27 Sep 2006)

Michael McDowell: The person concerned arrived in the State on 27 July, 2005 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 Office of the Refugee Appeals Tribunal. The person concerned was informed by letter dated 7 April, 2006, that the Minister proposed to make a deportation order in...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (27 Sep 2006)

Michael McDowell: An application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to by the Deputy was received in the Citizenship section of my Department on 16 June, 2006. Applications are currently taking approximately 24 months to process. It is likely therefore that the case will be forwarded to me for decision sometime around mid 2008. I will advise both the Deputy and the person concerned...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (27 Sep 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Family Reunification Scheme is administered by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS), under Section 18 of the Refugee Act, 1996. A person who has been granted full refugee status may make an application for family members to join them under the scheme. The process followed in relation to applications for family reunification is that when an application is made the...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (27 Sep 2006)

Michael McDowell: Statistics are not maintained by my Department in such a manner as to enable me to provide the Deputy with the information requested.

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (27 Sep 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 454 to 456, inclusive, together. In determining whether to make a Deportation Order or grant a person Temporary Leave to Remain in the State, I must have regard to the eleven factors set out in Section 3 (6) of the Immigration Act, 1999, (as amended), and Section 5 (Prohibition of Refoulement) of the Refugee Act, 1996, (as amended). Temporary leave to remain...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (6 Jul 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 531 and 562 together. I am informed by the Garda authorities that there are no fixed speed cameras in operation in the Garda Districts of Clonmel, Cahir and Tipperary town. Portable speed laser equipment is used by Garda personnel to detect speeding offences and a GATSO mobile unit operates within the areas referred to. I am further informed that in the...

Written Answers — Employment Quotas: Employment Quotas (6 Jul 2006)

Michael McDowell: Employment targets for people with disabilities within the civil and public service have been put on a statutory footing in Part 5 of the Disability Act 2005. The employment quota specified in Section 47(4) of the Act is 3%, unless a different target is set by order of the Minister for Finance, in consultation with the relevant Minister, under Section 47(3) of the Act. Part 5 of the...

Written Answers — Rights of People with Disabilities: Rights of People with Disabilities (6 Jul 2006)

Michael McDowell: The statutory basis for the establishment of a Centre for Excellence in Universal Design is in Part 6 of the Disability Act 2005. The Centre will be established within the National Disability Authority. Part 6 comes into force on 1 January 2007, and preparations for the establishment of the Centre are ongoing.

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (6 Jul 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 534 and 535 together. I am informed by the Garda authorities that to date in 2006 sixty summonses have been issued for breaches of the three tonne limit on Kennelsfort Road. I am further informed that since 3 April, 2006 this offence is captured by the Fixed Charge Processing System (FCPS). Thirty three fixed charge offences have been detected at Kennelsfort...

Written Answers — Courts Service: Courts Service (6 Jul 2006)

Michael McDowell: Following consultations between my Department, the Courts Service and other interests, I concluded that the maximum award limit for the Small Claims Court required to be increased. I accordingly requested the District Court Rules Committee to amend the relevant Rules. The small claims limit was subsequently increased from €1,269.74 to €2,000 with effect from 7th February 2006 (SI 4 of...

Written Answers — Garda Recruitment: Garda Recruitment (6 Jul 2006)

Michael McDowell: At the outset I should advise the Deputy that the Public Appointments Service (PAS) is responsible for the administration of the application process as well as Stage 1 (aptitude testing) and Stage 2 (interview) of the Garda recruitment process. Stage 3, which includes a medical examination and physical competence test, is administered by the Garda authorities. However, I can advise the Deputy...

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (6 Jul 2006)

Michael McDowell: The evaluation report referred to by the Deputy is complete and is currently being considered by the Garda authorities with a view to taking appropriate action.