Results 11,381-11,400 of 18,729 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Refugee Appeals Tribunal: Refugee Appeals Tribunal (9 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: As the Deputy will be aware the Refugee Appeals Tribunal is a statutory independent body established under the Refugee Act 1996 in order to deal with negative recommendations in respect of applications for refugee status issued by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner. The tribunal has been in operation since November 2000 and is comprised, at the present time, of a full-time...

Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (9 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: Following on from representations made by the Director of Consumer Affairs in January 1998, a decision was taken to amend section 5 of the Arbitration Act 1980 to provide that the provisions of that section do not preclude individuals from bringing civil proceedings under the small claims procedure of the District Court, once those proceedings otherwise come within the scope of the small...

Written Answers — Centre for Public Inquiry: Centre for Public Inquiry (9 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: I would refer the Deputy to my comprehensive statement to Dáil Éireann on 13 December 2005.

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

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 60 and 184 together. I am sure the Deputy will appreciate that decisions in relation to the prosecution of cases are solely a matter for the Director of Public Prosecutions. The Director of Public Prosecutions is totally independent in the carrying out of his functions. Where evidence of criminality has been accumulated in any investigation into the activities...

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (9 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: I understand that the Deputy is referring to the matters raised in Question No. 375 of 13 December 2005. I am informed by the Garda authorities that a file has been submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions. I am further informed that arising from this a number of issues are currently being clarified by the Garda Síochána. As there is an ongoing Garda investigation in this case it...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (9 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: All applications for asylum in the State are processed in accordance with the provisions of the Refugee Act 1996 and in particular having due regard to the definition of a "refugee" in section 2 of that Act, which states that a "refugee" is "...a person who, owing to a well founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or...

Written Answers — International Terrorism: International Terrorism (9 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: Responsibility for internal national security is a matter for the Garda Síochána, with the support of the Defence Forces, as appropriate. The Garda authorities maintain an up-to-date assessment of the threat of attack from international terrorist groupings through analysis of intelligence gathered from domestic and international sources. Security threat assessments of this kind are...

Written Answers — Extradition Requests: Extradition Requests (9 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: The information which the Deputy requests is not readily available. The division of my Department which deals with extradition matters is currently preparing the information. I will be in touch with the Deputy when the information is available.

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (9 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Omagh bomb investigation remains a live police investigation in both Northern Ireland and this jurisdiction. As this is an ongoing police investigation in both jurisdictions, it is a matter primarily for both police forces. My Department does not have a role in the actual investigation, nor would this be appropriate. The general situation regarding the atrocity and the status of the Nally...

Written Answers — Housing Estate Management: Housing Estate Management (9 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: In July 2004, I commissioned the auctioneering-estate agency review group to examine the licensing and regulatory requirements for property practitioners going forward. I initiated the review against a background of a considerable level of public concern about specific selling practices in the property industry, apparent deficiencies in regulatory and supervisory arrangements in respect of...

Written Answers — Stardust Disaster: Stardust Disaster (9 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: Arrangements to meet with representatives of the Stardust families have not been made as yet. As I have indicated on a number of occasions, however, I will of be happy to meet with their committee in the event that there is some new evidence which could form the basis of a productive discussion.

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (9 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: There is a provision of €50,000 in my Vote for 2006 to make a one-off grant available to the Separated and Unmarried Fathers of Ireland. There are no further moneys in my Department out of which funding can be made available to this group.

Written Answers — Garda Equipment: Garda Equipment (9 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the assistant commissioner of the DMR is currently reviewing the deployment of mountain bikes in the DMR, including south Dublin stations, with a view to the expansion and establishment of new units. Garda management further states that arrangements are in...

Written Answers — Asylum Support Services: Asylum Support Services (9 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: The reception and integration agency, RIA, of my Department is responsible for the accommodation of asylum seekers and currently has a portfolio of 65 centres across the State for this purpose. In March 2005, a total of 8,080 asylum seekers were accommodated by the RIA. Approximately 3,500 residents applied for leave to remain in the State under the Irish born children, IBC, measures...

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

Michael McDowell: I informed the Deputy on 29 November that I had recently approved the application for a certificate of naturalisation by the person referred to and that a letter conveying my decision as well as the procedures which must be finalised before the certificate could issue would be sent to the person concerned within a week or so. Unfortunately the issue of this letter was overlooked in the...

Written Answers — Garda Recruitment: Garda Recruitment (9 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: As part of the preparation for the Garda recruitment campaign in 2004, I asked the Garda Commissioner to review the eligibility criteria for entry to the Garda Síochána in so far as it related to the maximum age of entry to the Garda Síochána. This arose from the need to implement Directive 2000/78/EC, which, inter alia, prohibits discrimination in employment on the grounds of age. In...

Written Answers — Deportation Orders: Deportation Orders (9 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: The person concerned arrived in the State on 17 May 2005 and claimed asylum. Her asylum claim was independently investigated by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner and, on appeal, by the Refugee Appeals Tribunal, both of which concluded that she did not meet the criteria for recognition as a refugee. The person concerned had her case considered under section 3 of the...

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

Michael McDowell: In my response to Question No. 169 on 9 February, I informed the Deputy that, as a large number of declarations of post-nuptial citizenship was being dealt with by my Department and the Department of Foreign Affairs, it was not possible at that stage to be precise as to when the declaration of the person concerned might be finalised. I have now been informed by officials in the citizenship...

Written Answers — Garda Recruitment: Garda Recruitment (9 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the number of Garda recruits in each year from 2000 to 2005 was as set out in the following table. Year Number 2000 496 2001 497 2002 547 2003 687 2004 518 2005 1,125 Detailed statistics on the number of these recruits who had graduate or...

Written Answers — Garda Recruitment: Garda Recruitment (9 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: Entry to the Garda Síochána is governed by the Garda Síochána (Admissions and Appointments) Regulations 1988, as amended. In September 2004, I obtained Government approval to make certain changes to the criteria set out in these regulations. These changes will open up entry to the Garda Síochána to persons in Ireland from all parts of the community and from all ethnic backgrounds. This...