Results 12,281-12,300 of 18,729 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Order of Business. (25 Jan 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy should keep taking the tablets.

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (15 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: As the Deputy will be aware, responsibility for the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme, EOCP, 2000-06 is being 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. I regret that the information sought is not available on a...

Written Answers — Criminal Prosecutions: Criminal Prosecutions (15 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 266 and 270 together. I refer the Deputy to my comprehensive statement to Dáil Éireann on 13 December 2005.

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (15 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: I fully support the greatest possible use of all measures which would help reduce the rate of death and serious injuries on our roads. My colleague, the Minister for Transport, who has responsibility for road traffic legislation, is currently considering the issues which would be involved in the introduction of random road breath testing in consultation with, inter alia, the Attorney General,...

Written Answers — Drug Seizures: Drug Seizures (15 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy will appreciate that the deployment of Garda resources is a matter for the Garda Commissioner. The Garda authorities have informed me that a dedicated drugs squad has been established in Mayo Garda division and that two detective gardaí have been assigned to the squad, which is based at Castlebar Garda station. I understand that these members hold a divisional brief and liaise...

Written Answers — Drug Seizures: Drug Seizures (15 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: It has not been possible, within the timeframe available, to collate the information required by the Deputy. I will contact the Deputy directly when the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Registration of Title: Registration of Title (15 Dec 2005)

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.

Written Answers — Prison Medical Service: Prison Medical Service (15 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: As the Deputy is aware, I previously gave a commitment to abolish the use of old style padded cells which I regard as unsatisfactory in today's prison estate. As a result, newly designed and improved cells have now been completed in Cloverhill Prison, Castlerea Prison, St. Patrick's Institution, Mountjoy Prison, the Dóchas Centre and Arbour Hill Prison. Furthermore, work is either underway...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (15 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: As the Deputy will be aware, responsibility for the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006, EOCP, is being 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, Deputy Brian Lenihan. With regard to the application for capital grant assistance under the EOCP referred to by the...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (15 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: As indicated in the Government's legislative programme announced by the Chief Whip on 27 September 2005, the aim is to publish a Family Law Bill in 2006.

Written Answers — Registration of Title: Registration of Title (15 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the table. County Average Waiting Time (Months) Carlow 9.9 Cavan 7.7 Clare 5.2 Cork 3.2 Donegal 9.0 Dublin 3.7 Galway 9.9 Kerry 5.9 Kildare 1.3 Kilkenny 11.6 Laois 8.7 Leitrim 10.6 Limerick 3.8 Longford 9.7 Louth 5.9 Mayo 11.6 Meath 10.1 Monaghan 6.8 Offaly 8.7 Roscommon 6.2 ...

Written Answers — Missing Persons: Missing Persons (15 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 276 to 281, inclusive, together. The national missing persons helpline was established in October 2002. Initial funding of €65,000, to include set-up costs, was provided by my Department to establish a dedicated national missing persons helpline, to be operated and administered by Victim Support. Further funding of €45,000 was provided to the helpline in...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (15 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: The information requested by the Deputy in Question No. 499 of 8 November 2005 in respect of the headline offences by group for the first nine months of 2005 for the Carlow-Kildare Garda division has only recently been received from the Garda authorities and is set out in the table. The statistics provided for 2005 are provisional, operational and liable to change. Headline Offences...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (15 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: I wish to advise the Deputy that the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the detailed allocation of Garda resources, including personnel. Garda personnel assigned throughout the country, together with overall policing arrangements and operational strategy, are constantly monitored and reviewed. Such monitoring ensures that optimum use is made of Garda resources and that the best possible...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (15 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: The view I expressed in my reply to his question of 1 December 2005 is unchanged. I am satisfied that the direction of my current policy in this area is correct and that Ireland's policy on family reunification is broadly in compliance with international standards. Apart from the right to family reunification set out in the Refugee Act 1996, as amended, non-EEA migrants do not have a right to...

Written Answers — Registration of Title: Registration of Title (15 Dec 2005)

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...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (15 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: The application in question was received by my Department on 7 September 2005. When assessing applications of this type, the visa officer will consider, among other factors, whether the level of salary of the worker would come within the ambit of qualifying for payment from public funds. In this regard the criteria set by the Department of Social and Family Affairs for eligibility for family...

Written Answers — Youth Services: Youth Services (15 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: Garda youth diversion projects are a community-based, multi-agency crime prevention initiative which seek to divert young persons from becoming involved, or further involved, in antisocial and-or criminal behaviour, by providing suitable activities to facilitate personal development, promote civic responsibility and improve long-term employability prospects. By doing so, the projects also...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (15 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: It is not the practice to comment in detail on individual asylum applications. As the Deputy will be aware, applications for refugee status in the State are determined by an independent process comprising the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner and the Refugee Appeals Tribunal which make recommendations to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform on whether such status...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (15 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: I understand that the person in question was working in the State on foot of a work permit which was valid until May 2003. However, subsequent work permit applications in 2003 and 2004 were withdrawn following the failure of the prospective employer to submit requested documentation. The person concerned was granted permission to remain in the State earlier this year, as an exceptional...