Results 13,021-13,040 of 18,761 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Refugee Status: Refugee Status (22 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: 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 should be granted. Special procedures are in place in both offices to deal with...

Written Answers — Passports for Investment Scheme: Passports for Investment Scheme (22 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: A total of 107 primary investors, together with 76 spouses and minor children, were naturalised under the investment-based naturalisation scheme between 1989 and 2004. It has been the practice of successive Ministers for Justice not to publish details of individual naturalisation cases other than those which are required by law, that is, the publication in Iris Oifigiúil of the name and...

Written Answers — Teangacha Oifigiúla: Teangacha Oifigiúla (22 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: Déanfaidh Coimisinéir an Gharda Síochána, i gcomhairle le mo Roinnse agus leis an Aire Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta, an Teachta Ó Cuív, mionsonraí na riachtanas oideachais Gaeilge de chuid Gardaí faoi oiliúint a thabhairt chun críche go luath. Déanfar an cúrsa a chuireann Ollscoil na hÉireann, Maigh Nuad, ar fáil a scrúdú sa chomhthéacs thuas, i measc cúrsaí eile.

Written Answers — State Properties: State Properties (17 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: It is standard practice for the Office of Public Works to seek the views of the Garda Síochána as to suitability in respect of employees of contractors working on certain sensitive State properties. It would be contrary to the public interest to disclose the grounds either generally or in any particular case upon which opposition to prospective employment is expressed.

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (17 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: The person concerned was granted permission to remain in the State for a two year period from 3 November 2005, under the revised arrangements announced by me on 15 January 2005 for the non-national parents of Irish born children born before 1 January 2005. Some 18,000 applications to remain in Ireland under the revised arrangements were received by the closing date of 31 March 2005. Almost...

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (17 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that no complaint has been received by them about allegations of overpayments to certain employees working at a building site in Ballymun. I am assured that should a complaint be received by the Garda authorities it will be thoroughly investigated.

Written Answers — Business Permission Scheme: Business Permission Scheme (17 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: The person in question made an application for permission to operate a business in the State under the business permission scheme in November 2004. An initial request for documentation issued in November 2004 and a reply was received in January 2005. Due to the large volume of such applications currently on hands the case was not further processed until October 2005 when a further request for...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (17 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: In the discussion document, Immigration and Residence in Ireland, which I published in April of this year and circulated to all Members of this House, it is proposed that a new status of "long-term resident" should be introduced in the forthcoming Immigration and Residence Bill. There is currently no separate status of "long-term resident" in the Irish immigration system. While a person could...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (17 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: I have made inquiries with the Garda authorities about the number of serious assaults in the year to date in 2005 compared to the same period last year. The attached table gives details of the number of assault causing harm offences recorded from 1 January 2004 to 31 October 2004 and 1 January 2005 to 31 October 2005. Figures provided for 2004 and 2005 are provisional operational statistics...

Written Answers — International Policing Agreements: International Policing Agreements (17 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy will appreciate that I will shortly be establishing the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, and I expect that the commission will address the issue of how best to progress co-operation with the Police Ombudsman of Northern Ireland and, indeed, their counterparts in other jurisdictions.

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (17 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that investigations into the incident in question are ongoing. I understand that three of the Latvian workers along with the owner of the boat in question have been interviewed by the Garda authorities so far. I am further informed that when the Garda investigations are complete a file will be submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Written Answers — Capital Expenditure: Capital Expenditure (17 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: None of the capital projects under my Department's aegis for the years referred to comes within the scope of the Deputy's question.

Requests to move Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 31. (17 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: Keep taking the tablets, Trevor.

Order of Business. (17 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: That side of the House does not like competition.

Order of Business. (17 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: Where was the ice-pick left?

Order of Business. (17 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: The red tide.

Written Answers — Crime Prevention: Crime Prevention (16 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: By its very nature, the Internet lends itself to being used for a wide range of criminal activities. These can include illegal pornography, racist or hate materials, financial fraud, intimidation or any other criminal activity carried out via the Internet. Combatting such illegal, harmful and predatory use of the Internet requires a response at national, EU and international levels. The...

Written Answers — Family Carers: Family Carers (16 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 256 and 360 together. The Equality Authority appointed an advisory committee in March, 2004 to consider equality issues for family carers. The committee members represent carers' organisations, Departments with specific responsibilities in the area, NGOs, relevant State bodies and the social partners. The work of the committee has involved providing an...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (16 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 357 and 376 together. The question of the Irish Human Rights Commission being made accountable to the Houses of the Oireachtas was one of a number of recommendations made by the commission in its report on effectiveness submitted to the Government under section 24 of the Human Rights Commission Acts 2000 and 2001. The Commission also referred to the matter in...

Written Answers — Departmental Inquiries: Departmental Inquiries (16 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: Following a Government decision on 8 November, in accordance with the provisions of the Commissions of Investigation Act 2004 and as the specified Minister in respect of this commission, I am arranging for the laying before the Dáil and Seanad of a draft of the proposed Government order establishing the commission seeking the approval of the two Houses. Following their approval, the...