Results 10,401-10,420 of 18,755 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Refugee Resettlement: Refugee Resettlement (10 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: I would like to give the deputy some background to the refugee situation in this Jordanian camp. Ireland is one of 18 countries which voluntarily participates in resettlement programmes co-ordinated by the UNHCR. Resettlement programmes are designed to find a durable solution for persons, generally in a country of first asylum, where local integration or repatriation is not an option....

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (10 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that there have been three incidents of criminal damage to vehicles and three incidents of thefts from vehicles reported to Gardaí in the area referred to so far in 2006. These incidents are being actively investigated by the Garda authorities. However to date no one has been held amenable. I am further informed that local Garda management is satisfied...

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (10 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Waste Management Act, 1996 prohibits the abandonment of vehicles on any land. The Act provides on summary conviction for a fine not exceeding €1,900 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or both or, on indictment, for a fine not exceeding €12.7 million or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years or both. Continuing offences carry a daily additional fine of up to...

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (10 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the matter concerned was raised with local Gardaí at a meeting of the Neighbourhood Watch group in the area on 2 May, 2006. The matter was subsequently raised by the Garda authorities with the proprietor of the business referred to. An undertaking has been given to the Garda authorities by the proprietor that the vehicles in question will be...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (10 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that I have approved the application for naturalisation of the person concerned. A letter informing her of my decision, and the formalities to be completed before a certificate can issue, was sent to her on 2 May 2006. Once these formalities — the swearing of a declaration in court and payment of the statutory fee — are completed, a certificate of...

Written Answers — Prison Committals: Prison Committals (10 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 84 to 86, inclusive, and 88 together. The information sought by the Deputy covers a number of different years and more than one source. This work cannot be completed in the time available. However my Department will undertake the necessary analysis and will furnish as much information as is available to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Prison Committals: Prison Committals (10 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: The systematic approach referred to in Parliamentary Question No. 190 of 4 May 2006 has been in place since May 2005. However, prior to this more formal arrangement, the Irish Prison Service has, over the past few years, had an ongoing liaison with the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) and provided reports of non-EU national prisoners in custody. These reports varied from lists of...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (10 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act, 1956, as amended, provides that the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform may, in his absolute discretion, grant an application for a certificate of naturalisation provided certain statutory conditions are fulfilled. In the case of a non national applicant who is the spouse of an Irish national those conditions are that the applicant must—...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (10 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: The application referred to by the Deputy was received in the Ukraine on 6 April, 2006. The decision of the visa officer to refuse this application was made on 19 April, 2006. Following a re-examination of the case, the decision to refuse was upheld on 2 May, 2006. As each application is entitled to one appeal only, no further review in this matter can be granted; however it is open to the...

Energy Sector: Motion (Resumed). (10 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: It is all heat and no light from the Opposition.

Energy Sector: Motion (Resumed). (10 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: The media are never wrong.

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (9 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 308 and 309 together. There is no record of an application for a visa in respect of the person in question. However, I have been informed by my officials that an application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person concerned was received in the Citizenship section of my Department on 1 November 2005.The average processing time for such applications...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (9 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: An Garda Síochána maintains a register of non-nationals who have been granted permission to be in the State, in accordance with the provisions of section 9 of the Immigration Act, 2004. The information which is recorded in respect of non-nationals is set out in the Second Schedule of the Act. Permission to remain is granted to non EEA nationals who are undertaking voluntary work on the...

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (9 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 311 and 347 together. The current agreement with the Garda Associations provides that posts can only be civilianised through natural wastage, as a result of which, the Civilianisation Report completed in 2001, has a 20 year implementation timetable, with a significant proportion of the posts identified to be civilianised in 2021. I am therefore pleased to note...

Written Answers — Criminal Prosecutions: Criminal Prosecutions (9 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: The judgment of the European Court of Justice to which the Deputy refers annulled Framework Decision 2003/80/JHA on the Protection of the Environment. In that case, the Court said that the Community legislature can provide for the imposition of criminal sanctions where it is necessary to do so to protect against serious environmental offences. The European Commission is advocating an...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (9 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: The person concerned made an application for permission to remain in Ireland on the basis of being the parent of an Irish born child, born before 1 January 2005, under the revised arrangements announced by me on 15 January 2005. This application was submitted in March 2005 and is currently being processed. The applicant will be notified of the outcome in due course.

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (9 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 — Sexual Offences: Sexual Offences (9 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Sex Offenders Act, 2001 sets out notification requirements under Part 2 of the Act. An Garda Síochána has responsibility for enforcement of the Act. I am informed by the Garda authorities that as of 5 May, 2006 there are 907 persons subject to the requirements of Part 2 of the Sex Offenders Act, 2001.

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (9 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: Applications for certificates of naturalisation on behalf of the person referred to and her two siblings, who were all minor children at the time, were received in the Citizenship Section of my Department on 11 June 2004. The applications were lodged by their father, a naturalised citizen. Section 16 of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act, 1956, as amended provides that I can exercise...

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (9 May 2006)

Michael McDowell: Operation Anvil commenced in the Dublin Metropolitan Region on 17 May, 2005. It is an intelligence-led policing initiative, the focus of which is the targeting of active criminals and their associates involved in serious crime by preventing and disrupting this criminal activity through extensive additional overt patrolling and static check points by uniform, mobile and foot patrols supported...