Results 11,881-11,900 of 18,761 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Garda Recruitment: Garda Recruitment (8 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities, which are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the individual referred to by the Deputy served in the Garda Síochána from 15 May 1981 until he resigned his position on 26 August 1999 to take up a post with the United Nations, International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. The Commissioner...

Written Answers — Garda Vetting Procedures: Garda Vetting Procedures (8 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: In 2005 approximately 150,000 vetting requests were processed by the Garda Síochána, of which approximately 1,200 related to the education sector. Statistics in respect of such requests disaggregated by county are not maintained. The vetting process involves the disclosure by the Garda Síochána, in appropriate circumstances, of criminal history information on an individual. The Garda...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (8 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: The refugee in question made a family reunification application in respect of his second wife, her son and his two adult children in December 2003. This application was refused in March 2005. An appeal against this decision was subsequently lodged. A decision has been recently been made on this application and the person in question has been informed of same.

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (8 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: The person in question made an application on behalf of family members in February 2005. The application was refused in January 2006. My Department has received no correspondence on a request for review of this case to date. If additional information or documentary evidence are submitted, the application will then be reviewed.

Written Answers — Foreign Secret Services Abductions: Foreign Secret Services Abductions (7 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the Garda Síochána, which is the authority in this jurisdiction responsible for the investigation of such matters, has no knowledge of any such alleged abductions.

Written Answers — Missing Persons: Missing Persons (7 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my response to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 28, 36 and 159 of 2 February 2006.

Written Answers — Adoptive Leave: Adoptive Leave (7 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Adoptive Leave Acts 1995 and 2005 provide for a leave entitlement, similar to maternity leave, to adopting mothers after the placement of a child into their care. The provisions of the Acts are modelled on existing arrangements for natural mothers. Adoptive leave entitlement also applies to sole male adopters and, in exceptional circumstances, to adopting fathers in the event of the death...

Written Answers — Garda Complaints Procedures: Garda Complaints Procedures (7 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 409 and 433 to 435, inclusive, together. I am informed by the Garda authorities that the incident in question is currently the subject of an investigation by the Garda Síochána Complaints Board. I am further informed that a superintendent of An Garda Síochána has been appointed to investigate these complaints under section 6 of the Garda Síochána...

Written Answers — Traffic Management: Traffic Management (7 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: The proper management of traffic issues, particularly those relating to public safety, will constitute an extremely important aspect of the planning of the proposed development. The expert committee was fully aware of this issue during the course of its deliberations. I should advise the Deputy that he is incorrect in his assertion that I campaigned for the closure of the Centre for Public...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (7 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: The application in question was received in my Department on 11 August 2005. The application sought to enable a non-EEA national join her spouse, who is an Irish citizen, in the State. Having given full consideration to the matter, the visa was refused because my Department was not satisfied, on the basis of documentation provided, that an adequate relationship history existed between the...

Written Answers — Prison Staff: Prison Staff (7 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: An examination for promotion from the prison officer grade to the assistant chief officer grade was held over a number of days in 2000. Following numerous representations and complaints from concerned parties, the view was taken that the results from stage one of the exam may have been compromised. Arising out of this conclusion, a decision was taken to allow all prison officers who presented...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation. : Diplomatic Representation. (7 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to the reply to Parliamentary Question No. 115 of 2 February 2006 by the Minister for Foreign Affairs which indicated that the decision was taken exclusively on consular grounds, for which my advice is neither required nor necessary.

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

Michael McDowell: The person in question applied for permission to remain in Ireland on the basis of having an Irish born child prior to 1 January 2005, in accordance with the revised arrangements announced by me on 15 January 2005. It is a requirement under the revised arrangements that each applicant is resident with the child on a continuous basis since the child's birth and that evidence of such residence...

Written Answers — Prison Accommodation: Prison Accommodation (7 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: There were 138 prisoners in custody in Arbour Hill Prison as of 1 February 2006. I have no plans at present to make any change to the current prison site.

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (7 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: Ireland has successfully applied to operate elements of the Schengen arrangements that are not concerned with the abolition of border controls. Before Ireland can become a party to the relevant portions of the Schengen acquis, it will be necessary for us to put in place an extensive set of legal and technical measures. This task is being co-ordinated by my Department and will be completed as...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (7 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the visa has been approved.

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (7 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the area referred to is policed by gardaí at Clontarf Garda station. Garda management states that community policing is a central feature and core value in policing policy of local Garda management. Additional resources have been allocated to the community...

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

Michael McDowell: The person in question, a Nigerian national, arrived in the State on 2 May 2005. She gave birth to a female child in the State on 3 July 2005. As the child in question was born in Ireland after 1 January 2005 she does not enjoy the right of automatic citizenship as applied to children born before that date. The person in question claimed asylum, subsequent to the child's birth, and indicated...

Written Answers — Closed Circuit Television Systems: Closed Circuit Television Systems (7 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: Ennis is one of the 11 remaining locations nationwide which form part of the Garda CCTV programme. Following recommendations from the Garda authorities, I have approved the implementation of six new Garda CCTV systems. With the addition of these six new locations a total of 17 Garda town centre CCTV systems, including Ennis, will be implemented in Athlone, Ballyfermot, Carlow, Castlebar,...

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

Michael McDowell: I propose to answer Questions Nos. 421 to 423, inclusive, together. The internal departmental correspondence to which the Deputy refers, and which was released under the Freedom of Information Act, arose during the preparation of proposals to significantly widen eligibility for membership of the Garda Síochána. The background to this matter is that, in the context of the current major...