Results 12,561-12,580 of 18,761 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Budget Statement 2005. (7 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy has not even read it.

Written Answers — Garda Vetting Procedures: Garda Vetting Procedures (6 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am advised by the Garda authorities that there is no record of a Garda vetting application in the name of this person at the central vetting unit. Applications for Garda vetting are submitted from the human resources departments of the agencies currently listed for vetting purposes, which is currently being reviewed by the working group to review Garda vetting. In the absence of such a...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (6 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: The directive referred to by the Deputy is, I understand, at present in the form of a draft that the European Disability Forum proposes to present formally to the EU institutions. Given the status of the document at present, the question of official consideration by member states has not yet arisen.

Written Answers — Secret Service: Secret Service (6 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: There is no secret service structure in this jurisdiction. The secret service Vote, which allocates moneys to a number of Departments, is administered by the Department of Finance.

Written Answers — Criminal Prosecutions: Criminal Prosecutions (6 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: As Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform I have no responsibility with regard to the movement and staffing of Brothers of Charity. These are matters for that organisation. With regard to the other matters raised, I am informed by the Garda authorities that there were seven complaints in total alleging abuse against members of the Brothers of Charity at Kilcornan, Clarenbridge, County...

Written Answers — Earnings Inequality: Earnings Inequality (6 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: I presume the Deputy's question is prompted by the recent publication of research commissioned by my Department and completed by the Economic and Social Research Institute on earnings inequality and the wage gap between young male and female graduates. This research builds upon work undertaken in the context of the social partnership agreements by a consultative group on male-female wage...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (6 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: Applications for certificates of naturalisation were received from the persons referred to by the Deputy in the citizenship section of my Department on 19 October 2004 and 29 April 2005 respectively. Both are children of a naturalised Irish citizen. The average processing time for applications for naturalisation is approximately 24 months at the present time. The first person, who is an...

Written Answers — Traveller Community: Traveller Community (6 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am not aware of any particular difficulties experienced by members of the Traveller community in accessing services directly delivered by my Department. As the Deputy is no doubt aware, Travellers enjoy the same civil and political rights as any other citizen. The Government is committed to challenging discrimination against Travellers and has defined membership of the Traveller community...

Written Answers — Centre for Public Inquiry: Centre for Public Inquiry (6 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: I take it that the Deputy has tabled the question to me in the light of concerns which I have expressed about the position of Mr. Frank Connolly, the executive director of the Centre for Public Inquiry — Fiosrú An Phobail. According to its website, the Centre for Public Inquiry was established in February 2005. The Centre for Public Inquiry is funded by Atlantic Philanthropies, which has...

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (6 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: There have been three Garda investigations into the death of the person concerned. Such investigations are undertaken as part of normal duties and, therefore, the costs incurred in each investigation were accounted for in the normal manner under the relevant subheads of the Votes concerned. It would not be possible to retrospectively extract the cost of each investigation without the...

Written Answers — Land Registry: Land Registry (6 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 (6 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the visa application in question has been approved on appeal by my Department.

Written Answers — Tribunals of Inquiry: Tribunals of Inquiry (6 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: The amounts paid in 2005 in respect of the Morris tribunal, up to the end of November are as follows: Amounts to legal teams. Tribunal legal team: â'¬1.695 million Garda legal team: â'¬1.247 million Department legal team: â'¬90,000 Other costs. Third party legal costs: â'¬175,000 Non-legal costs to date in 2005: â'¬2.205 million

Written Answers — Land Registry: Land Registry (6 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 applications 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...

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (6 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 374 to 376, inclusive, together. I have been informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the personnel strength of both the Kerry Garda division and the Tralee Garda station as at 30 November, 1997, 2000 and 2004 was as set out in the following table: Date Kerry division Tralee...

Written Answers — Probation and Welfare Service: Probation and Welfare Service (6 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: The linkage programme is a joint enterprise between Business in the Community, Ireland, and the probation and welfare service of my Department. The programme is fully funded by my Department through the probation and welfare service. I intend to continue to provide financial and other support for its work and to keep the allocation of funding under review.

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (6 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: The position regarding granting long-term residency is that persons who have been legally resident in the State for over five years, that is, 60 months, on the basis of work permit, work authorisation or work visa conditions, may apply to the immigration division of my Department for a five-year residency extension. In that context, they may also apply to be exempt from employment permit...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (6 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: An application for permission to remain in the State based on marriage to an Irish national was received from the person concerned in October 2005. Applications of this type are dealt with in chronological order, in fairness to all such applicants and currently take 16 to 18 months to process. It should be noted that marriage to an Irish national does not confer an automatic right of...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (6 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: The equal opportunities childcare programme, EOCP, 2000-2006 has an equal opportunities and social inclusion perspective and facilitates the further development and expansion of child care facilities, to address the needs of parents in reconciling their child care needs with their participation in employment, education and training. With regard to the community based group referred to by the...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (6 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the personnel strength of the Dublin metropolitan region west division as at 31 December 1997 was 502, including all ranks. The personnel strength of the Dublin metropolitan region west division as at 1 December 2005 was 694, including all ranks. This...