Results 12,101-12,120 of 18,729 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (31 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have been advised by officials in the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform's citizenship section that there is no record of an application for a certificate of naturalisation having been received from the individual concerned. It is not possible to determine if the person in question is eligible for Irish citizenship until a fully completed application form, accompanied by the...

Written Answers — Garda Vetting Procedures: Garda Vetting Procedures (31 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: Following the establishment of the Garda central vetting unit in 2002, the vetting of persons who have substantial, unsupervised access to children and vulnerable adults was centralised to the unit to ensure best practice in the processing of such applications. Preparations are at an advanced stage for the extension of the availability of the unit's vetting services to all appropriate sectors...

Written Answers — Crime Prevention: Crime Prevention (31 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities that the gardaí in Clontarf are aware of two incidents of robbery at the location in question, both of which are being fully investigated. I have been further informed by the Garda authorities that there is no record of any threats against the person or property referred to as having been reported to the Garda. I understand that local Garda...

Written Answers — Registration of Title: Registration of Title (31 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 475 and 476 together. I have asked the Land Registry to contact the Deputy directly about the current position in respect of the applications in question. If the completion of an application in a particular case is urgent, I understand that the Land Registry makes every reasonable effort to facilitate such requests on receipt of a written explanation as to the...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (31 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities that the specific statistics sought by the Deputy are not compiled in a way that can be used to establish the number of speed checks conducted by the Garda. The amount of time it would take to compile such information would require a disproportionate amount of Garda time and resources and could not be justified in the circumstances. I have been...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (31 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities that statistics are not compiled by the force in a way that would establish the number of drivers specifically checked by the Garda for suspected drink driving. The amount of time it would take to compile such information would require a disproportionate amount of Garda time and resources and could not be justified in the circumstances. However, I...

Written Answers — Registration of Title: Registration of Title (31 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: I understand that, subsequent to the recent response to the Deputy from the Land Registry about this matter, the application in question has been completed.

Written Answers — Traveller Community: Traveller Community (31 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform's diversity and equality law unit spent €444,379.80 on Traveller projects, schemes, grants and resources in 2000. It spent €457,105.70 on such schemes in 2001, €321,817.00 in 2002, €137,731.26 in 2003, €122,963.26 in 2004 and €416,432.84 in 2005. Some €651,000 has been allocated for such schemes in 2006. The Department also...

Written Answers — Criminal Prosecutions: Criminal Prosecutions (31 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities that the nationality of offenders is not necessarily known or recorded at the time of preferring a charge, or recording a conviction. Therefore, it is not possible to provide statistics on the basis of the nationality of persons who commit offences. The Transfer of Execution of Sentences Act 2005 applies to cases in which persons sentenced by an...

Written Answers — Victims Commission: Victims Commission (31 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: I established the Commission for the Support of Victims of Crime in March 2005, with a three-year remit, to devise a framework of supports for victims of crime into the future and to disburse funding for victim support measures. Its chairman is Mr. Jim McHugh who is a retired assistant commissioner of the Garda Síochána. Its other members are Ms Nora Owen who is a former Minister for...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (31 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: I presume the Deputy is referring to non-EEA spouses of Irish nationals who are deceased. Marriage to an Irish national does not grant any automatic right to enter or reside in the State, just as it does not grant an automatic right to Irish citizenship following the coming into force of the Immigration and Citizenship Act 2001, which abolished the previous system of post-nuptial citizenship....

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (31 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: The person in question arrived in the State on 22 August 2001 and applied for asylum. His application was refused following the 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 was informed in a letter of 25 April 2003 that the Minister proposed to make a deportation order in respect of...

Written Answers — Deportation Orders: Deportation Orders (31 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: The person in question arrived in the State on 22 October 2001 and applied for asylum. His application was refused following the 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 was informed in a letter of 25 June 2003 that the Minister proposed to make a deportation order in respect of...

Written Answers — Stardust Report: Stardust Report (31 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: In response to a recent written request, I have forwarded a copy of the report received by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform from the Forensic Science Laboratory to a member of the Stardust victims' committee. The findings of the report were outlined to the victims committee by the Department at a meeting in November 2004.

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (31 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: Responsibility for the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010 has been assigned to the Department of Health and Children as part of the establishment of the new Office of the Minister for Children, under the Minister of State with responsibility for children, Deputy Brian Lenihan. The group in question was approved in April 2005 for staffing grant assistance of €170,400 which...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (31 Jan 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 18 November 2004. Applications for naturalisation are taking approximately 24 months to process. It is likely, therefore, that a decision will be made in the case towards the end of this year. I will be in touch with the Deputy and the...

Written Answers — Prison Medical Service: Prison Medical Service (31 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Irish Prison Service must accept all committals sent to the various institutions by the courts. Prisoners with mental health problems have access to medical, nursing, psychiatric, and psychology services within the prison system. In cases where qualified medical practitioners decide that a prisoner requires in-patient treatment, the prisoner may be transferred to the Central Mental...

Written Answers — Public Order Offences: Public Order Offences (31 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: Strong provisions are already in place to combat anti-social and unlawful behaviour. The primary basis for the law regarding public order offences is the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994, which modernised the law in this regard. I recently published legislative proposals to deal with anti-social behaviour, including provision for anti-social behaviour orders. I propose to introduce...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (31 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: The detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, is a matter for the Garda authorities. I have been informed by the Garda authorities that the personnel strength of the Garda station at Newcastle West, as at 31 December 2005, was 27, all ranks. Garda personnel assignments, together with overall policing arrangements and operational strategy, are continually monitored and reviewed....

Written Answers — Registration of Title: Registration of Title (31 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Registrar of Titles that further details are required in order to locate the application in question. If the Deputy can provide me with the date of lodgement of the application and a Land Registry reference number, I will make further inquiries on his behalf.