Results 10,841-10,860 of 18,761 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Legal Services: Legal Services (25 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: There are no legal advisers employed directly in my Department. However, two agencies operating under the aegis of my Department, the Equality Authority and the Equality Tribunal both employ legal advisers on their staff to assist them in carrying out their quasi-judicial functions.

Written Answers — Sexual Offences: Sexual Offences (6 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Internet is an international and world-wide phenomenon. It has no borders and no single organisation controls it. Measures to combat illegal materials and activities on the Internet are therefore hampered by a multiplicity of jurisdictions, differing legal systems, and differing societal norms. Furthermore, new developments in communications technologies allowing for Internet access by...

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (6 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to the reply to his Question No. 382 of 28 March 2006 in which the position about the Garda building programme was outlined.

Written Answers — Irish Prison Service: Irish Prison Service (6 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy is referring to the proposal for organisational change in the Irish Prison Service, revised July 2005, which was accepted by staff in August 2005. The agreement provides, inter alia, for new working arrangements and the elimination of overtime working across the Prison Service. The change negotiations were progressed in the context of the national social partnership agreement in...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (6 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Irish Prison Service that the information requested is not readily available. When same is compiled, I will contact the Deputy again.

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (6 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Irish Prison Service that the information requested by the Deputy is not readily available. Inquiries are being made in the matter and when these are complete, I will contact the Deputy again.

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (6 Apr 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 the Garda Síochána as at 31 December 1997 and 20 March 2006 was 10,702 and 12,445, respectively. This represents an increase of 1,743, or 16.3%, in the personnel strength of the Garda Síochána during that period. I...

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

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Questions Nos. 248 and 249 of Wednesday, 5 April 2006.

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (6 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the Garda personnel strength of the information technology division in the Garda Síochána, covering all ranks, is 66. In addition, there are 30 civil servants attached to the information technology division. I wish to point out to the Deputy that significant progress has been made on the implementation of the civilianisation programme approved by...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (6 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Garda finance director, who is a qualified accountant, has responsibility for overseeing and implementing finance and procurement-related policy, structures and processes for the Garda Síochána. There are 43 personnel in the finance directorate, of which 20 are members of the Garda Síochána and 23 are civilian staff. In addition, payroll duties for the Garda Vote are also provided by...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (6 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: As the Deputy will be aware, the person in question wrote to my Department in respect of this matter. I do not consider that the reasons put forward by her to depart from normal procedures to be of an exceptional nature and, consequently, her case will be dealt with in the normal way. A certificate confirming Irish citizenship will issue to the person in question in the coming weeks.

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (6 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Garda authorities have advised my Department that their accommodation requirements for the operational policing of the Tallaght area will be best met by the re-development of the existing site at The Square and I have accepted this advice. I can inform the Deputy that good progress is being made with regard to the plans to build a new Garda divisional headquarters and expanded station at...

Written Answers — Paternity Leave: Paternity Leave (6 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: There is currently no statutory entitlement to paternity leave. However, many employers in both the public and private sectors have arrangements in place providing short periods of paid paternity leave. Paternity leave was considered in the context of a review of the Parental Leave Act 1998 conducted by a working group chaired by my Department. The working group comprised the social partners,...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (6 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: Inquiries made by the immigration division of my Department indicates that the query raised by the Deputy refers to a non-visa required national. It is open to non-visa required nationals to attend at their local immigration office to seek permission to remain on student conditions without first having to leave the State. They should be in a position to provide the following documentation:...

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (6 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my response to Question No. 409 of 6 July 2004. The position remains unchanged.

Written Answers — Refugee Status: Refugee Status (6 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: As the Deputy will be aware, applications for refugee status in the State are determined by an independent process comprising the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner, ORAC, and the Refugee Appeals Tribunal, which make recommendations to the Minster for Justice, Equality and Law Reform on whether such status should be granted. It is not the practice to comment on individual asylum...

Written Answers — Drug Seizures: Drug Seizures (6 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: It has not been possible to collate the information required by the Deputy within the timeframe available. I will contact the Deputy directly when the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (6 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: The person concerned applied for permission to remain in the State under the revised arrangements announced by me on 15 January 2005 for the processing of applications from the non-national parents of Irish-born children born before 1 January 2005. It is a requirement under the revised arrangements that the applicant parent must be resident in the State with the Irish-born child on a...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (6 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 314 to 317, inclusive, together. In response to Question No. 173 on 23 March 2006, I gave the Deputy a broad overview of the naturalisation process. I explained that, as part of that process, inquiries are made with the Garda Síochána to assist in determining if an applicant can be considered to be of good character. For example, if the Garda Síochána...

Written Answers — Public Order Offences: Public Order Offences (6 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that on 1 February 2006, notices under section 4 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 2003 were served on the premises referred to by the Deputy and that applications for closure orders in respect of these premises are due before Dublin District Court on 12 April 2006.