Results 12,061-12,080 of 18,761 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 68 and 167 together. I have noted the comments made in early January by Archbishop John Neill and Archbishop Diarmuid Martin on issues concerning immigrants and I appreciate the sincerity with which their comments were made. I do not, however, agree with the suggestion that, as the Deputy puts it, we should "regularise the status of asylum seekers who have...

Written Answers — Paternity Leave: Paternity Leave (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: While there is no statutory entitlement to paternity leave, many employers in both the public and private sectors have arrangements in place providing short periods of paid paternity leave. Paternity leave was considered in the context of a review of the Parental Leave Act 1998 conducted by a working group chaired by my Department. The working group comprised the social partners, relevant...

Written Answers — Garda Recruitment: Garda Recruitment (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Public Appointments Service, PAS, is responsible for the administration of the application process as well as stage 1, aptitude testing, and stage 2, interview, of the Garda recruitment process. Information is not compiled on the nationality of persons who apply to join the Garda Síochána. The PAS conducts two voluntary equality monitoring surveys, one at the application stage and a...

Written Answers — Maternity Leave: Maternity Leave (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: Orders implementing the maternity and adoptive leave increases announced in the context of budget 2006 were made yesterday, 1 February. The first phase of increases will take effect on 1 March 2006 and will apply to employees commencing their paid maternity or adoptive leave on or after that date. Similarly, any employee commencing their additional unpaid maternity or adoptive leave on or...

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

Michael McDowell: In any case where unlawful activity is suspected, the authority responsible for the investigation of such matters is the Garda Síochána. I am informed by the Garda authorities that two formal complaints alleging breaches of domestic and international law were made in October and December 2004. I am further informed that both complaints were thoroughly investigated by the Garda Síochána...

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: Kilfinane was one of eight Garda stations in counties Limerick and Tipperary which were selected by the Office of Public Works, following consultation with my Department and the Garda authorities, for inclusion in that office's pilot equity exchange programme which was publicised in 2004. The Office of Public Works considered that the level of interest expressed was not adequate to meet the...

Written Answers — Joyriding Offences: Joyriding Offences (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: The problem of joyriding is a complex one which, while requiring significant inputs from the criminal justice system, can only be tackled to lasting effect through a multifaceted and multi-agency response involving the community and relevant statutory bodies. I have been informed that the Garda Síochána operates special foot and mobile patrols which target specific areas in response to...

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

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Registrar of Titles that the information provided in response to Parliamentary Question No. 479 of 31 January 2006 was in fact correct. I am further informed that subsequent to supplying the Deputy with this information, the Land Registry continued its work on the applications concerned and that both Dealing Number D2004SM006350T and Dealing Number D2005SM011496G are now...

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

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 157 and 160 together. I am informed by the Garda authorities that an investigation file in this matter was referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions who instructed that no criminal proceedings be taken in the matter. As I am sure the Deputy will appreciate, the Director of Public Prosecutions is independent in the performance of his functions and it is...

Written Answers — Public Order Offences: Public Order Offences (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: The legislation on noise pollution is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. His Department has issued a leaflet entitled A Guide to the Noise Regulations which outlines the steps which can be taken where a person is experiencing nuisance caused by noise. This is primarily a civil matter and as such is outside the remit of the Garda...

Written Answers — Garda Powers: Garda Powers (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: Section 12 of the Immigration Act 2004 provides for a member of the Garda Síochána and other persons who are immigration officers, to require a non-national to produce, on demand, at any time, a valid passport or equivalent document, with a view to establishing his or her identity. This will most frequently occur when non-nationals are landing in the State, and when such persons are...

Written Answers — Refugee Status: Refugee Status (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 162 and 163 together. The refugee in question made an application for family reunification in December 2004. The application was forwarded to the Refugee Applications Commissioner for investigation as required under section 18 of the Refugee Act 1996. The commissioner submitted a report on the investigation to my Department in October 2005. Further...

Written Answers — Departmental Offices: Departmental Offices (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 164 and 165 together. The 2006 budget allocations in so far as non-pay is concerned for the Refugee Appeals Tribunal, RAT, and the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner, ORAC, are €2,563,400 and €2,719,740, respectively. The budget allocations for the RAT and the ORAC form part of subhead D1 of my Department which funds the asylum, immigration...

Written Answers — Domestic Violence: Domestic Violence (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: The National Domestic Violence Intervention Agency is a non-governmental organisation which has received funding from my Department to carry out a pilot project on domestic violence intervention in the Bray-Dún Laoghaire areas over a period of three years from 2003 to 2005. Total funding provided since 2002 to date amounts to €460,024. My Department has engaged consultants to undertake an...

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

Michael McDowell: Two prison officers were assigned to the site for safety and security reasons and to ensure that the terms of a High Court order were fully complied with. The two staff were assigned there on a temporary basis on the 16 January and completed the assignment on 25 January.

Written Answers — Age Identification Cards: Age Identification Cards (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the application procedure for the age card is governed by the Intoxicating Liquor Act, 1988 (Age Card) Regulations, 1999, made under the provisions of section 40 of the Intoxicating Liquor Act 1988, and which provides for a voluntary age card scheme. Applicants who fail to meet the necessary application criteria may be refused an age card. In...

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 170 and 171 together. I am informed by the Garda authorities that the sharing of intelligence information held by the Garda Síochána in relation to matters concerning the security of the State is confined to legal obligation or necessity and then only to persons or organisations which have responsibilities in the area. Issues of security relating to the...

Written Answers — Deportation Orders: Deportation Orders (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: The person referred to by the Deputy was a dual asylum applicant. He applied for asylum in the State on two separate occasions, that is, 9 August 2000 and 7 November 2002. In each case, he used different identities. This came to light due to finger printing of the applicant in the second asylum application. His first asylum application was refused following consideration of his case by the...

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

Michael McDowell: The Deputy may be aware that this case was the subject of a comprehensive investigation which culminated in a number of findings. Contrary to what is suggested, action consistent with the findings in respect of the officer concerned has been taken by the Prison Service, which continues to reserve the right to take further such action as it considers necessary.

Written Answers — Registration of Title: Registration of Title (2 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. I understand that, in circumstances where the completion of an application in a particular case is urgent, the Land Registry will make every reasonable effort to facilitate such requests on receipt of a written explanation as to the reason...