Results 12,141-12,160 of 18,729 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (26 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 142 to 144, inclusive, together. I am informed that the National Roads Authority, which is under the aegis of the Department of Transport, is tasked with the compilation of statistics relating to road collisions within the State. I have made inquiries of the Garda authorities and the following table gives details of the number of convictions for drink driving...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (26 Jan 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 her when it becomes available.

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (26 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: The person concerned, a Nigerian national, arrived in the State on 7 March 2005 and claimed asylum. Her application was refused by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner on 15 June 2005. Her subsequent appeal was refused by the Office of the Refugee Appeals Tribunal and she was notified of this recommendation by letter on 31 August 2005. In accordance with section 3 of the...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (26 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: The applicants 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 his or her child on a continuous basis since the child's birth and that evidence of such...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (26 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: The refugee in question made an application for family reunification in November 2005. The application was forwarded to the Refugee Application Commissioner for investigation as required under section 18 of the Refugee Act 1996. When this investigation is completed, the commissioner will prepare and forward a report to my Department. On receipt of this report, the application will be...

Written Answers — Deportation Orders: Deportation Orders (26 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: I would like to clarify at the outset that the person concerned is not the subject of a deportation order. She is, however, subject to a transfer order under the Dublin II Regulation — Council Regulation (EC) No. 343/2003. This regulation is intended to prevent the phenomenon of "asylum shopping" across Europe and sets out criteria for determining which member state is responsible for...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (26 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 14 July 2004. The average processing time for such applications is 24 months at the present time. It is likely, therefore, that the case will be finalised in or around July this year. I will be in touch with both the Deputy and the applicant...

Written Answers — Council Meeting: Council Meeting (26 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: Officials from my Department have been unable to trace any recent request for a meeting from the group referred to in the question. On receipt of a request I will give it due consideration.

Written Answers — Deportation Orders: Deportation Orders (26 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: Judicial review proceedings were instituted in this case on 13 January 2006 and accordingly, as the matter is sub judice, I do not propose to comment further on the matter.

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (26 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: In my response to the Deputy's question on 12 April 2005, I informed her that the average processing time for applications for naturalisation was 24 months and based on that, the application of the person concerned was likely to be finalised circa November 2005. As the Deputy will appreciate, the above timeframes are given as a guide only and it is not possible to be accurate as to when...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (26 Jan 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. Her application is currently being reviewed and I will notify the Deputy when the outcome of the review is known.

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (26 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: The person concerned arrived in the State on 1 July 2005 and claimed asylum on that date. His asylum claim was investigated by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner who concluded that the person concerned did not meet the criteria for recognition as a refugee. This position was conveyed to the person concerned by letter dated 9 August 2005. This communication also advised the...

Written Answers — Maternity Leave: Maternity Leave (25 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1056 and 1057 together. I refer the Deputies to my detailed answer on 14 December last to Question No. 288 regarding the increases in maternity and adoptive leave announced by the Minister for Finance in his financial statement of 7 December 2005. Draft orders providing for the increases were placed before both Houses on 18 January last and motions regarding...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (25 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: All visa required non-national residents in Ireland who wish to leave the State and re-enter later are required to obtain a re-entry visa under the terms of the Immigration Act 2004 (Visas) Order 2005. Although the Schengen area of the European Union does not have a re-entry visa requirement, it is my understanding that some of the new member states do impose such a requirement. There is no...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (25 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: I can advise the Deputy that the visa was approved on 20 January 2006.

Written Answers — Juvenile Offenders: Juvenile Offenders (25 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: In October 2004, the Government endorsed a joint proposal from the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform and from the Minister of State with responsibility for children to examine the scope for rationalising and restructuring the delivery of the State's services in the area of youth justice in accordance with the Children Act 2001. To this end, an internal project team was established...

Written Answers — Registration of Title: Registration of Title (25 Jan 2006)

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

Written Answers — Re-interment of Volunteers: Re-interment of Volunteers (25 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: I understand from the governor of Cork Prison that, in a previous attempt at re-interment, the body of the person in question could not be located in the grave. The authorities in Cork Prison facilitate visits to the grave for wreath laying by relatives and friends of veterans of the War of Independence and, more recently, by the Organisation of National Ex-Servicemen and Women, ONE. The...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (25 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: With regard to the Internet, as a general rule, what is illegal off-line is illegal on-line. This could include illegal pornography, racist or hate materials, financial fraud, intimidation or any criminal activity carried out via the internet. In that context, for example, bullying, harassment or intimidation may constitute an offence of harassment in breach of section 10 of the Non-Fatal...

Written Answers — Crime Prevention: Crime Prevention (25 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1064 to 1066, inclusive, and 1201 together. 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. Furthermore, because of my concerns about the abuse of alcohol and its...