Results 11,521-11,540 of 18,761 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (7 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: In the context of the Criminal Justice Bill 2004, which is awaiting Committee Stage in the House, I propose to bring forward a wide range of amendments which will strengthen the law governing the control of firearms. Included in these proposals are measure which will include the introduction of new offences concerning the modification of firearms such as "sawing off" a shotgun; increases in...

Written Answers — Crime Prevention: Crime Prevention (7 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my comprehensive statements to both Dáil and Seanad Éireann on 28 February and 2 March 2006, respectively.

Written Answers — Crime Prevention: Crime Prevention (7 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: A number of data sources are used to determine the extent of drug usage within society. These include drug treatment and law enforcement data as well as official survey data at national level. The joint prevalence survey undertaken in partnership between the National Advisory Committee on Drugs, NACD, and the Drugs and Alcohol Information and Research Unit, DAIRU, in Northern Ireland is...

Written Answers — Crime Prevention: Crime Prevention (7 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: Under the Courts Service Act 1998, the provision of information on the courts system is a matter for the Courts Service. The latest published statistics on the operation of the courts are to be found in the Courts Service annual report for 2004, a copy of which may be found in the Oireachtas Library and on the website of the Courts Service, www.courts.ie.

Written Answers — Garda Recruitment: Garda Recruitment (7 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: As part of the preparation for 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. This arose from the need to implement Directive 2000/78/EC, which, inter alia, prohibits discrimination in employment on the grounds of age. In November 2004, on foot of...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (7 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: The person concerned arrived in the State on 27 October, 2003 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 Office of the Refugee Appeals Tribunal. The person concerned was informed by letter dated 10 August, 2005, that the Minister proposed to make a deportation order in...

Written Answers — Private Security Authority: Private Security Authority (2 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: The private security authority licence fee structure reflects the variety between the different sectors of the industry and takes account of companies and employees who might be working in multiple sectors. Fees also take account of the relative size of companies operating in any given sector. Moreover, the authority is obliged to become self-financing so licence fees must reflect the overall...

Written Answers — Prison Staff: Prison Staff (2 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: The education requirements for entry as a recruit prison officer provide that the applicant is qualified at Irish leaving certificate level at specified grades in mathematics and at least two languages, one of which must be English or Irish, and in not less than two other subjects. In the absence of these qualifications the merit grade in the applied leaving certificate or a qualification in...

Written Answers — Registration of Title: Registration of Title (2 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 200 to 205, inclusive, together. I am informed that the Land Registry has written directly to the Deputy in respect of each of the cases referred to. It is also my understanding that the Deputy's original queries were in fact dealt with by the Land Registry but that the transmission of responses was unsuccessful due to an e-mail error. Any inconvenience...

Written Answers — Extradition Application: Extradition Application (2 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: The initiation of an outgoing request for extradition is a matter for the Garda Síochána in consultation with the DPP and neither I as Minister nor my Department have any role in the procedure.

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (2 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the Garda Síochána is aware of the identities of a number of Irish citizens who currently reside outside this jurisdiction and are believed to be involved in criminal activity related to the drugs trade. The Deputy will appreciate that it is not possible for the Garda authorities to be absolute about numbers but I am satisfied that the Garda...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Accidents: Road Traffic Accidents (2 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that road traffic collisions vary widely in nature and degree, and the number of personnel who attend and the action taken vary accordingly. The number of members of the Garda Síochána who attend at the scene of a traffic collision is dependent upon the prevailing circumstances and is not influenced by the manner in which notification of the collision...

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (2 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: The following tabular statement details all board appointments made by me since taking up office in June 2002. Name of Person/Appointment Made Date of Appointment Censorship of Publications Appeals Board Ms Paula Mullooly — Chairperson 24 March, 2004 Ms Mary Banotti, MEP 24 March, 2004 Mr. David Quinn 24 March, 2004 Mr. David Goldberg,...

Written Answers — Garda Reserve: Garda Reserve (2 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: Section 15 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 provides for the establishment of a Garda reserve and Deputies will recall that the measure won widespread support in the House during the passage of the Act. I have just recently received the Commissioner's proposals for the Garda reserve and I can advise the Deputy that these proposals specifically address issues relating to the training, powers...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Accidents: Road Traffic Accidents (2 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 211 and 212 together. The gardaí supply details of road accidents on Form C(T) 68 to the National Roads Authority. The authority prepares and publishes a detailed report on road accidents entitled Road Collision Facts. The most recent report relates to 2004 and is available in the Library and on the NRA website. Excluding the changeover to the PULSE system,...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (2 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 12 July 2005. His application was examined shortly after receipt and it was determined that he did not have the required reckonable residency and was, therefore, ineligible for naturalisation. The Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956,...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (2 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: On the basis that the reference number included in the details accompanying the question is a naturalisation application reference number, I have assumed the Deputy is seeking clarification regarding an application for naturalisation by the person concerned. An application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person concerned was received in the citizenship section of my Department on...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (2 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my replies to Questions Nos. 149, 181 and 249 on Thursday, 26 January 2006, Thursday, 9 February 2006 and Thursday, 16 February 2006, respectively, and the adjournment debate on Thursday, 23 February 2006, regarding this case. I reiterate that I am not disputing this person's medical reports presented by her legal representative, the Refugee Legal Service, but medical...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (2 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: The person in question made an application for permission to remain in Ireland on the basis of being the parent of an Irish-born child, born before 1 January 2005, under the revised arrangements I announced on 15 January 2005. This application was submitted in March 2005. The application is being processed and I will notify the Deputy as soon as the outcome is known.

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (2 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: The person concerned claimed asylum in the State on 29 October 2002 and had his claim examined by the offices of the Refugee Applications Commissioner and the Refugee Appeals Tribunal, following which it was recommended that he should be recognised as a refugee. Based on this recommendation, the person concerned was advised of my decision to issue him with a formal declaration of refugee...