Results 9,361-9,380 of 18,729 for speaker:Michael McDowell

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

Michael McDowell: I informed the Deputy in response to Parliamentary Question No. 349 on 29 November 2005 that the person concerned had applied for a certificate of naturalisation in November 2002 and that I had decided in July 2004 to refuse that application. The reasons for my decision were provided to the legal representative of the person concerned in a letter dated 28 July 2004 informing them of my...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (27 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: The persons concerned arrived in the State on 19 April, 2005 and applied for asylum. The first named person's 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 second named person's application was refused following consideration of her case by the Office of the Refugee...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (27 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 464 and 465 together. I have been informed by the Garda authorities that the information requested by the Deputy is not readily available and is currently being researched. I will contact the Deputy again when the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Prisoner Transfers: Prisoner Transfers (27 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has not as yet received a formal application for a transfer to this country in respect of this person from the United Kingdom authorities. The Council of Europe Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons requires extensive documentation to be exchanged between both jurisdictions in order to allow an application to be fully considered. A...

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

Michael McDowell: I can inform the Deputy that the information sought is at present being compiled by the Irish Prison Service and the Garda National Immigration Bureau. The provision of the relevant data is complicated by the need to cross reference and check information emanating from their two separate databases. Following this exercise, the information will be matched against the database in the...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (27 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: A significant number of staff of my Department avail of remote ICT access to work from their homes. In the majority cases, this work is done outside the normal office hours period. In addition to the nineteen staff who work outside office hours via remote access, three Principal Officers, six Assistant Principal Officers, six Higher Executive Officers, one Administrative Officer and three...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (27 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: The persons concerned arrived in the State on 29 March, 2000 and applied for asylum. Their applications were refused following consideration of their case by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner and, on appeal, by the Office of the Refugee Appeals Tribunal. The persons concerned were informed, by letter dated 29 November, 2001 and 24 May, 2002 respectively, that the Minister...

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (27 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the personnel strength of An Garda Síochána increased to a record 12,641 (all ranks) on Thursday 8 June with the attestation of 273 new members. This compares with a total strength of 10,702 (all ranks) as at 30 June 1997 and represents an increase of 1,939 (or 18.1%) in the personnel strength of the Force during that period. I have been...

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

Michael McDowell: The application referred to by the Deputy was received in the Visa Office on 6th June, 2006. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the visa application in question was approved on 12th June, 2006.

Written Answers — Garda Vetting Services: Garda Vetting Services (27 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the Garda Central Vetting Unit (GCVU) has no record of a vetting application having been received on behalf of the person in question. I am informed by the Department of Health and Children that the making of applications to the GCVU in respect of prospective Health Service Executive (HSE) staff or HSE-funded staff is a matter for the HSE. In view...

Written Answers — Prison Building Programme: Prison Building Programme (27 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I understand that the planning procedures which are being prepared by the Office of Public Works provide for a public consultation process in relation to the proposed development and that this process will encompass environmental and heritage issues. Planning is scheduled to commence by August next. It is intended that the new prison facilities which are to be provided on Spike Island will...

Written Answers — Equal Opportunities Employment: Equal Opportunities Employment (27 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Government's 3% target for the employment of people with disabilities applies across the Civil Service but Government Departments may exceed this target figure. I am, for my part, keen to ensure that the Government target is achieved and indeed surpassed by my Department, if at all possible. The percentage of people with a disability employed by my Department currently stands at 5.25%.

Written Answers — Legal Aid Service: Legal Aid Service (27 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: The financial eligibility criteria for the granting of civil legal aid are set out in the Civil Legal Aid Regulations 1996 and 2002. I am currently reviewing these criteria, in light of proposals from the Legal Aid Board, and expect to make revised regulations in accordance with the normal procedures during the course of 2006.

Written Answers — Sentencing Policy: Sentencing Policy (27 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my response to Question No. 394 of Tuesday, 20 June 2006.

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (27 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the personnel strength of An Garda Síochána increased to a record 12,641 (all ranks) on Thursday 8 June with the attestation of 273 new members. This compares with a total strength of 10,702 (all ranks) as at 30 June 1997 and represents an increase of 1,939 (or 18.1%) in the personnel strength of the Force during that period. The Dublin...

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

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 482 and 483 together. A proposal to deport arises where a person has been formally refused a declaration as a refugee or has become otherwise illegal in the State e.g. having overstayed a visa/work permit etc. In all such circumstances, the person concerned is informed, in writing, that the Minister proposes to make a deportation order in respect of him/her...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (27 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: The information requested by the Deputy is set in the following Tabular Statement. Statistics are not maintained regarding the specific grounds for granting or refusing refugee status. All applications are considered in line with the provisions of the Refugee Act 1996. Section 2 of the Act defines a refugee, subject to stated exclusions, as a person who, owing to a well founded fear of being...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (27 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I presume that the Deputy is referring to applications for Leave to Remain in the State made pursuant to Section 3 (6) of the Immigration Act, 1999 (as amended). The Deputy might wish to note that, in the main, such applications are made by persons whose asylum applications have been rejected. An application for Leave to Remain in the State arises where a non-EU national is served with a...

Written Answers — Ministerial Responsibilities: Ministerial Responsibilities (27 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I wish to refer the Deputy to Question No. 22840 of 13 June 2006 regarding the Statutory Instruments applicable to the delegation of functions to Ministers of State at my Department. In relation to the Regulations which have been enacted, S.I. No. 468 of 2004 Children Act 2001 (Commencement) Order 2004 was signed by Minister of State Lenihan on 23 July, 2004. The Order brought some provisions...

Criminal Justice Bill 2004: Report Stage (Resumed). (27 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I move amendment No. 49: In page 27, between lines 9 and 10, to insert the following: ""statutory declaration" includes a statutory declaration made under section 17 or 18;". On Committee Stage on 19 April 2006, I indicated that I would give further consideration to a number of issues that arose in the context of Part 3. I cannot remember whether it was Deputy Jim O'Keeffe or Deputy Howlin...