Results 13,041-13,060 of 18,761 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Prison Work Schemes: Prison Work Schemes (16 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: Women prisoners in the Dochas Centre are not currently involved in any arrangements with the company referred to in the Deputy's question. I understand that a limited number of women prisoners were voluntarily involved in some assembly activity in connection with the company concerned in the past but that this arrangement ceased some time ago. There is a very limited provision, through...

Written Answers — Disability Support Services: Disability Support Services (16 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: The issue raised by the Deputy is a matter for Comhairle in the first instance, and for my colleague, the Minister for Social and Family Affairs.

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (16 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my previous reply to Question No. 515 of Tuesday, 8 November 2005, and Questions Nos. 176 to 179 of Thursday, 10 November 2005, in which I clearly stated the reason for refusal for this particular applicant. It is important to state at the outset that marriage to an Irish national does not grant any automatic right to enter or reside in the State solely on that basis. A...

Written Answers — Victim Support: Victim Support (16 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: Funding for services providing victim support is provided through the commission for the support of victims of crime which I established in March 2005 following a review of existing provision for crime victims. The commission's term of office is for three years and its members are: Mr. Jim McHugh, retired assistant commissioner, the Garda Síochána, who is the chairman; Ms Nora Owen, former...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (16 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: The private provider in question was approved capital grant assistance of €50,790 under the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme, EOCP, 2000 — 2006, in September 2005. The private provider has been advised of the decision by the child care directorate of my Department. I understand from inquiries I have made with Area Development Management Ltd., which is engaged to administer the EOCP...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (16 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: It is not the practice to comment in detail on individual asylum applications. 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. A final...

Written Answers — Liquor Licensing Laws: Liquor Licensing Laws (16 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: The position is that the Government legislation programme published on 27 September last makes provision for publication of a Bill to codify the licensing laws in mid-2006. It will repeal the Licensing Acts 1833 to 2004, as well as the Registration of Clubs Acts 1904 to 2004, and replace them with updated provisions more suited to modern conditions. The reform proposals contained in this Bill...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (16 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: The person concerned submitted an application in March 2005 to remain in the State on the basis of being the parent of an Irish born child under the revised arrangements announced by me on 15 January 2005 for the processing of applications for permission to remain in the State from the non-national parents of Irish born children born before 1 January 2005. Their application is being processed...

Written Answers — European Arrest Warrant: European Arrest Warrant (16 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: As Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, acting as the central authority for the European arrest warrant, I have only a limited function in relation to outgoing European arrest warrants which is to ensure their safe transmission to the receiving state and in some cases the transmission of additional information. In this particular case the UK authorities had requested the central...

Written Answers — Firearms Offences: Firearms Offences (16 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: I have received a number of communications by and behalf of the person in question. I am currently considering my response to these communications and a reply will issue in due course.

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (16 Nov 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 each Garda district in Cork city and county as at 15 November 2005 was as set out in the table. Corresponding population figures sourced from the CSO 2002 census of population are also included. District Strength Population ...

Written Answers — Probation and Welfare Service: Probation and Welfare Service (16 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 1041 of 28 September 2005. Both the Nenagh community reparation project and the restorative justice services, Tallaght, formerly known as the victim-offender mediation project, have been evaluated and the reports on the evaluations are available, on request, from the respective projects or from the probation and welfare service, Smithfield...

Written Answers — Probation and Welfare Service: Probation and Welfare Service (16 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 372 and 373 together. The funding provided to the prison and probation and welfare services is as set out in Vote 21 of the annual report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts, Volume 2, for each year up to and including 2003. Details for 2004 are set out in the Comptroller and Auditor General's audited appropriation accounts for...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (16 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: I have sought the information requested by the Deputy from the Garda authorities and I will be in contact with the Deputy as soon as it becomes available.

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (16 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy will appreciate that the Children Act 2001 is complex and comprehensive legislation and, for those reasons, provisions under the Act are being implemented on a phased basis, as was envisaged at the time of enactment. Responsibility for implementing the Children Act 2001 lies with three Departments: the Departments of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and Education and Science mainly...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (15 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: The directive in question, Council Directive 2003/8/EC of 27 January 2003 to improve access to justice in cross-border disputes by establishing minimum common rules relating to legal aid for such disputes, has been implemented in Ireland via administrative incorporation of the required arrangements into the existing civil legal aid scheme provided by the Legal Aid Board. The Commission has...

Written Answers — Coroners Service: Coroners Service (15 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 474, 475, 503 and 529 together. The report of the working group on the review of the coroners service published in December 2000 recommended a comprehensive overhaul and modernisation of the coroners service in Ireland, with regard to the legislation governing the work of coroners, the support services available to coroners and the structural organisation of...

Written Answers — EU Negotiations: EU Negotiations (15 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: There are two matters in particular where legal issues have arisen. These relate to proposals concerning procedural rights in criminal matters and the retention of communications data. I have made Ireland's concerns on these matters known to the Council. Ireland's position is guided by the advice of the Attorney General.

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (15 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 477 and 478 together. Exemptions specific to Ireland have not been, and are not being, sought from EU directives or regulations within my area of responsibility.

Written Answers — Refugee Status: Refugee Status (15 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to the reply I gave to Parliamentary Question No. 61 on Thursday 20 October 2005. A total of 413 unaccompanied minors who have now reached the age of 18 years have been refused refugee status. These persons received notifications under section 3(3)(a) of the Immigration Act 1999, as amended, informing them of the decision to refuse them refugee status and setting out the...