Results 11,421-11,440 of 18,761 for speaker:Michael McDowell

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...

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

Michael McDowell: The persons concerned arrived in the State on 2 March 2001 and applied for asylum. Their applications were refused following independent consideration of their cases by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner and, on appeal, by the Refugee Appeals Tribunal. They were informed in letters dated 28 August 2002 that their asylum applications had been refused and that, as a result, I...

Written Answers — Official Engagements: Official Engagements (9 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: St. Patrick's Day is a unique event in the global calendar. On 17 March, the world's attention turns to Ireland and all things Irish. Our national day is celebrated by millions of people from Beijing to Brussels and Sydney to Seattle. This goodwill and attention offers an unrivalled opportunity to promote modern Ireland overseas and to engage directly on a variety of issues. In deciding on...

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

Michael McDowell: The number of nationals of the United States of America who have been served with deportation orders between 2002 and to date is eight.

Written Answers — Garda Complaints Procedures: Garda Complaints Procedures (9 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have received correspondence from and on behalf of the person referred to in the Deputy's question. I am informed by the Garda authorities that there are three complaints on record in respect of this matter. The first complaint was deemed admissible by the Garda Síochána Complaints Board and an investigating officer was appointed. However, the Garda Siochana Complaints Board took no...

Written Answers — Crime Prevention: Crime Prevention (9 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: There is a particular overriding necessity, in view of the recent increase in violent crime involving firearms, to ensure that public safety and security are given priority in any review of policy and legislation in relation to firearms. With this in mind I propose to bring forward a wide range of amendments to the Firearms Acts 1925-2000 in the context of the Criminal Justice Bill 2004,...

Written Answers — Crime Prevention: Crime Prevention (9 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: Since I took the decision to publish crime statistics on a quarterly basis at the beginning of 2003, I have consistently emphasised that care must be taken in interpreting the statistics, especially when considering short-term fluctuations and extrapolating trends over short periods. The level of headline crime in 2005 is actually lower than that for 2003 by 1.6% and for 2002 by 4.4%....

Written Answers — Crime Prevention: Crime Prevention (9 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to answer Questions Nos. 178, 180 and 183 together. The Garda Síochána employs a range of techniques in the fight against serious crime. The establishment of specialist Garda units, operating under the assistant commissioner in charge of national support services, has enabled the Garda Síochána to tackle organised crime effectively. The National Bureau of Criminal Investigation...

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

Michael McDowell: The timescale for achieving the target strength of 14,000 members of the Garda Síochána, in line with the commitment in An Agreed Programme for Government, remains as when I announced the Government's approval in October 2004 for my proposals to achieve this objective. The phased increase in the strength of the Garda Síochána to 14,000 will lead to a combined strength, of both attested...