Results 11,281-11,300 of 18,761 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (21 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that, having considered all the circumstances of this case, the person in question has recently been granted permission to remain in the State for a four month period to enable an employer obtain a work permit on his behalf.

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (21 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: As the Deputy may be aware, the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010 is being implemented by the newly established Office of the Minister for Children, OMC, under the Minister of State with responsibility for children, Deputy Brian Lenihan. The programme builds on the success of the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006, EOCP, which will conclude in 2007. The new...

Written Answers — Garda Recruitment: Garda Recruitment (21 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities, which are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that while no date has yet been fixed for a new Garda recruitment competition, it is expected that a new recruitment competition will be held later this year. Entry to the Garda Síochána is governed by An Garda Síochána (Admissions & Appointments) Regulations...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (21 Mar 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 14 March 2006. The average processing time for a certificate of naturalisation is 24 months. It is likely, therefore, that the case will be finalised in or around March 2008. I will inform the Deputy and the applicant when a decision has been...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (21 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: The person concerned arrived in the State on 6 October 1996 and applied for asylum. On 24 April 1998 he withdrew his asylum application and made an application for residency on the basis of his parentage of an Irish national. This application was subsequently deemed abandoned as the applicant failed to respond to all correspondence which issued to him from my Department. In accordance with...

Written Answers — Child Care Facilities: Child Care Facilities (21 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: As the Deputy may be aware, responsibility for the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010 has been assigned to the Department of Health and Children as part of the establishment of the new Office of the Minister for Children under the Minister of State with responsibility for children, Deputy Brian Lenihan. With regard to the application for capital grant assistance under the Equal...

Written Answers — Registration of Title: Registration of Title (21 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have requested the Land Registry to contact the Deputy directly concerning the current position of the application in question. I understand that in circumstances where the completion of an application in a particular case is urgent, the Land Registry will make every reasonable effort to facilitate such requests on receipt of a written explanation as to the reason underlying the urgency.

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (21 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: The applications referred to by the Deputy were processed by the visa office recently established in the Irish Embassy in New Delhi, staffed by dedicated visa officers of my Department. I am informed that no appeal against the refusal decisions have been received by that office to date. All appeals must be submitted within two months of receipt of the initial refusal decision.

Written Answers — Refugee Status: Refugee Status (21 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: The person concerned arrived in the State on 28 January 2004 and applied for asylum. His application was refused following consideration of his case by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner and, on appeal, by the Refugee Appeals Tribunal. Subsequently, in accordance with section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999, as amended, he was informed by letter, dated 13 February 2006, that...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (21 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: The person concerned arrived in the State on 2 February 2005 and applied for asylum. His application was refused following consideration of his case by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner and, on appeal, by the Refugee Appeals Tribunal. Subsequently, in accordance with section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999, as amended, he was informed by letter, dated 30 September 2005, that...

Written Answers — Child Care Facilities: Child Care Facilities (21 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: As the Deputy may be aware, responsibility for the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010 has been assigned to the Department of Health and Children as part of the establishment of the new Office of the Minister for Children, under the Minister of State with responsibility for children, Deputy Brian Lenihan. The group in question was recently approved staffing grant assistance up...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (21 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: As the Deputy will be aware, the issue of claims for leave to remain in the State by the non-national parents of Irish-born children has been a matter of serious concern to the Government. A claimed right to reside in Ireland based solely on the birth of a child in Ireland had come to be used as a method of attempting to circumvent normal immigration controls. In order to address these...

Written Answers — Irish Prison Service: Irish Prison Service (21 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy is referring to the proposal for organisational change in the Irish Prison Service which was accepted by staff in August 2005. The central element of the agreement is the replacement of overtime with a new additional hours system which is broadly based on the concept of annualised hours. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that I have reversed the unacceptable trend of spiralling...

Written Answers — Irish Prison Service: Irish Prison Service (21 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: The key performance indicator identifying the cost and efficiency for the prison service is the cost of keeping an offender in prison. This has fallen over the last three years from €84,750 in 2002 to €83,800 in 2004 as set out below. The reduction in cost is due to the strict budget management, and in particular overtime management. In this regard, I am pleased to inform the Deputy that...

Written Answers — Irish Prison Service: Irish Prison Service (21 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am pleased to advise the Deputy that new working arrangements under the agreed proposal for organisational change should enhance prisoner regimes in the years ahead, particularly in terms of improving availability and facilities, and making the most of out of cell time for prisoners. Apart from service levels, there are issues too in regard to quality of services. Rigorous standard setting...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (21 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities, which 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 — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (21 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: The refugee in question made an application for family reunification in respect of his wife in December 2003. This application was approved in February 2005. There are no applications pending in respect of family members of the above named. Correspondence has been received from the above named enquiring as to the status of an application in respect his daughter. He has been notified in...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (21 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the following table shows the number of headline offences by group recorded and detected in the Garda districts of Cahir, Clonmel and Tipperary town for the years 2004 and 2005. I understand that Cashel is included in the Cahir Garda district, and that Fethard and Carrick-on-Suir are included in the Clonmel Garda district. It should be borne in mind...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (21 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: Before dealing with the specifics of the question, I should briefly explain the workings of the Dublin II Regulation (Council Regulation (EC) No. 343/2003). This regulation is intended to prevent the phenomenon of "asylum shopping" across Europe and sets out criteria for determining which member state is responsible for examining an asylum application where applications have been lodged in...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (21 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: I understand that the person in question entered the State on 7 November 2005 and was granted permission to remain until 7 February 2006 as a visitor on a self-sufficiency basis. The person concerned has now lodged an application with the immigration division of my Department to remain in the State. It is important to emphasise that persons permitted to enter the State as visitors do not have...