Results 11,401-11,420 of 18,761 for speaker:Michael McDowell

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 has a portfolio of 65 centres across the State for this purpose. In March 2005 there was a total of 8,080 asylum seekers being accommodated by the RIA. Approximately 3,500 residents applied for leave to remain in the State under the Irish born children measures announced on...

Written Answers — Independent Monitoring Commission: Independent Monitoring Commission (9 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Independent Monitoring Commission, IMC, was established following an agreement between the Governments of Ireland and of the United Kingdom done at Dublin on 25 November 2003. The costs of the commission are shared equally by the British and Irish Governments. For practical purposes, the full costs of the IMC are met by the Northern Ireland Office. The Northern Ireland Office then...

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

Michael McDowell: In relation to bail in general, during the term of office of the rainbow coalition the number of prisoners on temporary release reached an all time high of 20% at one stage. As a result of the action of this Government this so called revolving door system operated by the rainbow coalition has been stopped and the percentage of the prison population on temporary release now is approximately...

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

Michael McDowell: Thirteen adults, 11 males and two females, were deported to Beijing in China by charter flight on 21-22 February 2006 at a total cost of €255,539. This was the first such charter flight to China and, because of the long distance between Dublin and Beijing, it required two fuel stopovers in Leipzig, Germany and Tashkent, Uzbekistan. The flight had a medical team of a doctor and nurse. The...

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 there was a total of 8,080 asylum seekers being accommodated by the RIA. Approximately 3,500 residents applied for leave to remain in the State under the Irish born children measures...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (9 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 28 September 2004. The average processing time for such applications is 24 months at present. It is likely, therefore, that the application of the person concerned will be finalised in or around September this year. I will advise the Deputy...

Written Answers — Adult Cautioning Scheme: Adult Cautioning Scheme (9 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that 13 offences listed in the adult cautioning scheme became operational on 1 February 2006. Offences deemed appropriate for inclusion in the scheme were arrived at through consultations between the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Garda Síochána. Summary offences, with the exception of serious Road Traffic Act offences and...

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

Michael McDowell: The purchase of a site for a new Garda station at Castleisland has been completed and I understand from the Garda authorities that a brief of requirements for the new station is being prepared. On receipt of the brief by my Department, it will be dealt with immediately and the Office of Public Works will be requested to progress the building of the new station. There will be no unavoidable...

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

Michael McDowell: The person concerned arrived in the State on 26 August 2001 and applied for asylum. Her application was refused following consideration of her 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, she was informed by letter dated 22 October 2004 that the...

Written Answers — Equal Status Acts: Equal Status Acts (9 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: I welcome the publication of this report which provides an important insight into the inequality and the stereotyping of young people today as perceived by the young people themselves. The report will be of interest to all groups who engage with young people. I do not, however, agree with the Equality Authority that there is an urgent need to extend the provisions of the Equal Status Acts on...

Written Answers — North-South Co-operation: North-South Co-operation (9 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my answer to Priority Question No. 5 of today's date.

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

Michael McDowell: The person concerned arrived in the State on 26 August 2001 and applied for asylum. Her application was refused following consideration of her 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, she was informed by letter dated 22 October 2004 that the...

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.