Results 11,821-11,840 of 18,729 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (9 Feb 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 29 November 2005. The average processing time for such applications is 24 months at present. It is likely, therefore, that the case will be finalised in or around the end of 2007. I will be in touch with both the Deputy and the applicant when...

Written Answers — Registration of Title: Registration of Title (9 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: I wish to inform the Deputy that I have requested the Land Registry to contact him directly concerning the current position of the application in question. However, I am informed by the Registrar of Titles that there is no application currently pending on the folio concerned. I am further informed that if the Deputy supplies the Land Registry with additional information concerning the...

Written Answers — Registration of Title: Registration of Title (9 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: I wish to inform the Deputy that I have requested the Land Registry to contact him directly concerning the current position of the application in question.

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (9 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: I can inform the Deputy that, under the Government's decentralisation programme, there are no plans to relocate any of the sections or agencies under the aegis of my Department to County Kildare.

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

Michael McDowell: It will not be possible to determine if the person referred to is eligible for naturalisation until a fully completed application form, accompanied by the necessary supporting documentation, is received. I understand that an application form has already been sent to the Deputy to enable the person concerned make such an application.

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (9 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: The person concerned arrived in the State on 28 February 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 a letter dated 13 September 2005 that...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (9 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: The person concerned arrived in the State on 23 August 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 a letter dated 30 September 2005 that...

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

Michael McDowell: The Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended, provides that the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform may, in his absolute discretion, grant an application for a certificate of naturalisation provided certain statutory conditions are fulfilled. In the case of a non-national applicant who is the spouse of an Irish national, those conditions are that the applicant must be...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (9 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: As explained in my reply to Question No. 1188 on Wednesday, 25 January 2006, the circumstances of each case is individually considered with regard to section 5 of the Refugee Act 1996 — prohibition of refoulement before the making of a deportation order. The circumstances of the case referred to by the Deputy were fully examined and were found not to be such as to prevent the safe return of...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (9 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: An application in respect of the person named by the Deputy was made in 2003, reference number 1258257. This visa application was refused on 1 October 2003 and the applicant's mother was notified of this decision by letter the following day. There is no record of any recent application in respect of this person. It is open to the applicant to lodge a new application at this time and it will...

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

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 149 on 26 January 2006 in which I explained in detail why this person is to be transferred to Belgium pursuant to the terms of the Dublin II Regulation, Council Regulation (EC) No 343/2003. The person concerned presented to the Garda national immigration bureau on Monday 23 January 2006, as previously requested, and was given a representation...

Written Answers — Prison Staff: Prison Staff (9 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have reversed the unacceptable trend of spiralling overtime costs which has been a feature of our prisons operations for many years. As a result of my determination to tackle this unsustainable dependence on overtime to run our prisons there was a reduction in the overtime bill of some €13.4 million in 2004 compared to 2003. Attendance over and above the standard working week is a common...

Written Answers — Civil Service Travel Scheme: Civil Service Travel Scheme (9 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: My Department's travel pass scheme operates in accordance with the scheme centrally approved for the civil service. The scheme operates on a calendar year basis from January to December. Details of the scheme are usually circulated in mid-October with a closing date for receipt of applications by early November. This is to allow sufficient time for the necessary paperwork to be processed...

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

Michael McDowell: I propose to answer Questions Nos. 184 and 185 together. I have been informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the personnel strength of all ranks of the Wexford district as at 8 February 2006 was 90. I have been further informed by the Garda authorities that the first incremental increase of newly attested...

Written Answers — Liquor Licensing Law Offences: Liquor Licensing Law Offences (9 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: I regret it has not been possible in the time available to obtain the information requested by the Deputy. I will be in contact with the Deputy in relation to this matter when it becomes available.

Written Answers — Maternity Leave Entitlements: Maternity Leave Entitlements (8 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: Advice on the law is not a matter for the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. However, I can say that policy in the Maternity Protection Acts 1994 and 2004 is that an employee is entitled to additional unpaid maternity leave commencing immediately after the end of her maternity leave. The entitlement will increase from eight weeks to 12 weeks with effect from 1 March 2006 and to 16...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (8 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: The application referred to by the Deputy was received in my Department's visa section on 27 January 2006, and is pending assessment. Applications are dealt with in date order and a decision on this case will be made in the near future.

Written Answers — Deportation Orders: Deportation Orders (8 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 303, 306, 307, 311 and 320 together. I refer the Deputies to the reply I gave to Questions Nos. 459 and 469 on Tuesday, 7 February 2006 in which I outlined the position. The enforcement of the deportation order is now an operational matter for the Garda national immigration bureau.

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (8 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: Section 15 of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended, provides that applicants for naturalisation, other than spouses of Irish citizens, must have been resident in the State for five years of the nine year period prior to the date of application. Residence in this context means residence for which the applicant had the permission of the Minister for Justice, Equality and...

Written Answers — Prison Accommodation: Prison Accommodation (8 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: Approximately 72% of prisoners in custody now have 24-hour access to in-cell sanitation thanks to substantial investment in the prison estate since 1997. I plan to eliminate the practice of slopping out completely. This will require the replacement of Mountjoy and Cork prisons. I look forward to the support of the Deputy and his party colleagues in achieving this objective. The purchase of...