Results 12,201-12,220 of 18,729 for speaker:Michael McDowell

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

Michael McDowell: The applicant applied to join his spouse in Ireland on a long-term basis. The visa application in question was refused by my Department at initial stage on 19 November 2005 on several grounds. First, the visa officer was not satisfied that an adequate relationship history existed prior to the marriage. Second, on the basis of documentation supplied in support of the application, there were...

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

Michael McDowell: The person concerned arrived in the State on 14 March 2003 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 letter dated 16 February 2005 that the...

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

Michael McDowell: In October 2005 I sought and obtained Government approval for the publication of the report of the auctioneering and estate agency review group, for the establishment of a new regulatory authority to assume responsibility for the licensing and regulation of auctioneers, estate agents, property letting and property management agents and for the preparation of legislation to give effect to the...

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

Michael McDowell: The person to whom the Deputy refers arrived in the State on 27 April 2005 and applied for a declaration of refugee status. On 3 May 2005, the person withdrew that application and made an application for leave to remain under the revised arrangements for the processing of applications from the non-national parents of Irish-born children born before 1 January 2005. Based on the refusal of...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (25 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities that the total number of gardaí allocated to the traffic corps as at 31 December 2005 was 570 — all ranks. While the members of the traffic corps are specifically dedicated to traffic duties, all gardaí have responsibility, to deal, inter alia, with traffic duties as they arise. As a result of the Government's approval of my proposal to...

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

Michael McDowell: This visa application was approved by my Department on 11 January 2006.

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (25 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that members of the Garda Síochána enforce the law on cycling on footpaths on an ongoing basis. When traffic is heavy it is difficult for Garda motorcyclists and patrol cars to intercept offenders, and the most effective means of targeting this offence is through the use of Garda mountain bike units. I have been assured by the Garda authorities that...

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

Michael McDowell: I commissioned the auctioneering-estate agency review group in July 2004 to examine the licensing and regulatory requirements for property practitioners against a background of serious public concern regarding certain selling practices in the property industry. The review group reported in July 2005 and made a number of recommendations aimed at protecting consumers from such practices as...

Written Answers — Prison Staff: Prison Staff (25 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am aware of the issue referred to by the Deputy. The position is that former staff of Fort Mitchel Place of Detention have been temporarily assigned to both Cork and Limerick prisons since Fort Mitchel was closed on 10 February 2004. It has now become necessary to deploy those staff on a permanent basis in the context of the roll-out of the terms of the proposal for organisational change in...

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (25 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1131 and 1135 together. I am informed by the Garda authorities that the Garda Síochána continues to conduct an extensive investigation into the so-called Columbia Three. To date, this investigation has involved the arrest and/or voluntary interview of persons. Moreover, Garda inquiries of the Colombia authorities are continuing in respect of the use of Irish...

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (25 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the relevant issues continue to be subject to active investigation and, upon completion, a file will be submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions. In this regard, the Deputy will be aware that the Garda Síochána has publicly confirmed the link between the money-laundering operation uncovered in 2005 and the proceeds of the Northern Bank...

Written Answers — Garda Remuneration: Garda Remuneration (25 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities, which are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the Commissioner devolves the annual overtime budget through the rank structure to superintendents or district officer. When determining the budget allocations, the operational exigencies of regular and special policing operations, such as Operation...

Written Answers — Proscribed Organisations: Proscribed Organisations (25 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1134 and 1136 together. Pursuant to section 18 of the Offences against the State Act 1939 and the Unlawful Organisation (Suppression) Order 1939, the Irish Republican Army — also the IRA and Óglaigh na hÉireann — remains an unlawful organisation which I am satisfied continues to exist and should continue to be proscribed.

Written Answers — Legal Aid Service: Legal Aid Service (25 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: I can confirm for the Deputy that the correspondence referred to was received in my Department. Observations were sought and received from the Legal Aid Board and a reply issued to the individual concerned last week. Under the terms of the Civil Legal Aid Act 1995, the Legal Aid Board has sole responsibility for deciding if an applicant is eligible for its services. The Act further provides...

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (25 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: The personal items referred to were taken into the possession of the Garda Síochána as part of the investigation into the deaths at Grangegorman. That investigation is ongoing. In January 2001 compensation was paid by the Garda Síochána to the person referred to and the original items remain in Garda custody.

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (25 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the Garda investigation has been completed and the investigation file has been submitted to the law officers for consideration.

Written Answers — Parking Regulations: Parking Regulations (25 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that under Dublin City Council by-laws all vehicles whose laden weight is deemed to be three tonnes or over are prohibited from parking on streets within the Dublin City Council administrative area except at designated parking locations for such vehicles. The only signage relating to these by-laws is erected by Dublin City Council at the boundaries to...

Written Answers — Closed Circuit Television Systems: Closed Circuit Television Systems (25 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: As the Deputy is aware, Kilkenny is one of the 11 remaining locations nationwide which form part of the Garda CCTV programme. As part of this programme, Garda town centre CCTV systems are to be implemented in the following locations: Athlone, Ballyfermot, Carlow, Castlebar, Clondalkin, Clonmel, Ennis, Kilkenny, Sligo, Tallaght and Waterford. As I have indicated previously, I am anxious to...

Written Answers — Deportation Orders: Deportation Orders (25 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: I signed a deportation order in respect of the person concerned on 26 August 2004 following an assessment of his case under section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999, as amended, and section 5 of the Refugee Act 1996, as amended, on the prohibition of refoulement. As the Deputy is aware, the person concerned had previously had his asylum claims rejected by the statutory independent offices of the...

Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (25 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: I can inform the Deputy that I was not contacted directly regarding Garda issues by the person to whom he has referred. The person was in contact with my Department. He subsequently attended a meeting in my Department to discuss security issues relating to the Corrib gas project. Like other Ministers, I received standard correspondence from Shell Exploration & Production setting out its...