Results 10,281-10,300 of 18,729 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (16 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: The EU Dublin II Regulation which came into operation on 1 September 2003 lays down the criteria for determining the Member State responsible for processing an asylum application lodged in the EU. The Regulation replaced the Dublin Convention which, however, continued to apply to relations between the EU and Denmark until recently. As the number of unaccompanied minors originating from...

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (16 May 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 as at 31 March 2006 was 12,439. This compares with a total strength of 10,702 (all ranks) as at 30 June 1997 and represents an increase of 1,737 (or 16.2%) in the personnel strength of the Force during...

Written Answers — Tribunals of Inquiry: Tribunals of Inquiry (16 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 400 to 403, inclusive, together. I can confirm to the Deputy that I have met and spoken to the person concerned on a number of occasions.

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (16 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: The detailed information requested by the Deputy is not readily available and is currently being compiled by the Garda authorities. I will contact the Deputy again when the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Registration of Title: Registration of Title (16 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: I wish to inform the Deputy that I have requested the Land Registry to contact him directly concerning the current position of the application in question.

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (16 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: The person concerned, a Nigerian national, arrived in the State on 24 September, 1999 and claimed asylum. Her application was refused by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner on 11 April, 2001. Her subsequent appeal was refused by the Office of the Refugee Appeals Tribunal and she was notified of this recommendation by letter on 9 October, 2001. In accordance with section 3 of...

Written Answers — Prison Building Programme: Prison Building Programme (16 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Expenditure Review Initiative forms part of the Strategic Management Initiative (SMI) programme which seeks to reform and enhance financial management procedures within the Public Service. The tender for the Capital Expenditure Review by the Irish Prison Service (IPS) is in accordance with the standard procedures as laid down by the Department of Finance. The tender undertaken by the IPS...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (16 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in tabular format below. Cases outstanding in the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner* and the Refugee Appeals Tribunal** Pre 2003 2003 2004 2005 2006 (30/4/06) 15 11 58 701 1,808 *By date of application. **By date of appeal. Over recent years very considerable work has been undertaken in the Office of the Refugee...

Written Answers — Illegal Immigrants: Illegal Immigrants (16 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: The information requested by the Deputy is provided in the tabular statement below. Year No. of persons refused leave to land 2002 6,267 2003 5,901 2004 4,940 2005 4,893 2006 (30.04.06) 1,786 Also included in the table are figures relating to numbers refused at land borders, i.e. land border with Northern Ireland.

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (16 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: The detailed information requested by the Deputy is not readily available and is currently being compiled by the Garda authorities. I will contact the Deputy again when the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (16 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 411, 413, 415 and 430 together. Under current Irish Criminal Law it is an offence, punishable by up to life imprisonment, to traffic a person under 17 years of age, male or female, into, through or out of Ireland for the purpose of that person's sexual exploitation. This is provided for in the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act 1998. Under the Illegal...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (16 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: A C Visa is normally granted for visits of less than 90 days. However in the case of the person in question the C visa was granted in order to allow her to enter the State and pursue an application for residency based on marriage to an Irish national. The supporting information provided with her visa application was not considered sufficient to grant residency without further investigation. A...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (16 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: Under current Irish criminal law it is an offence, punishable by up to life imprisonment, to traffic a person under 17 years of age, male or female, into, through or out of Ireland for the purpose of that person's sexual exploitation. This is provided for in the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act 1998. Under the Illegal Immigrants (Trafficking) Act 2000, it is an offence for a person to...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (16 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy will be aware that I have brought forward an amendment to the Criminal Justice (United Nations Convention Against Torture) Act 2000 as a Committee Stage amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill 2004. The objective of my amendment is to bring the definition of torture contained in section 1 of the 2000 Act into line with the definition contained in Article 1 of the UN Convention...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (16 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that in the Laois/Offaly Division there are currently two Sergeants and twelve Gardaí attached to the Traffic Corps based in Portlaoise. I am also informed that from 3 July, 2006 there will be an additional Sergeant and five Gardaí allocated to the Traffic Corps in the Laois/Offaly Division and they will be based in Tullamore. As a result of the...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (16 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: I can assure the Deputy that the Garda authorities take the defacing of and damage to property very seriously. The Garda have Operations Encounter and Assist in place, focussing on tackling anti-social behaviour including offences of criminal damage, such as defacing property. When gardaí detect such offences, culprits are processed through the courts, or via the Juvenile Liaison System, as...

Written Answers — Garda Communications: Garda Communications (16 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am advised by the Garda Authorities that the Garda Chief Medical Officer has undertaken a review of health issues as they pertain to exposures to non-ionizing radiation from both existing and proposed telecommunications systems and found that all systems were well within the limits of exposure set down by the International Commission for Non-Ionising Radiation Protection (ICNIP) and...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (16 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the staffing of the Garda carriage office includes Gardaí and civilian personnel under the direct control of the Chief Superintendent, Regional Traffic Division. The Inspector in charge of the carriage office reports to the Chief Superintendent, Regional Traffic Division. The legislation pertaining to the carriage office is contained in the Public...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (16 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: Although no specific details are provided, I can advise the Deputy of the normal procedure which is adopted in the circumstances outlined. A non-EU national, who is not an asylum seeker, but is legally resident in the State and subsequently marries an Irish national in Ireland, he/she should attend their local Immigration Office following the marriage in order to change their immigration...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (16 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy put down a similar Parliamentary Question (9988/06) which I answered on the 9th March 2006. I wish to reiterate that the onus is on the person in question to show that their marriage is valid and recognised for the purpose of family reunification. In this regard no further information has been received from the person in question relating to his marital status.