Results 13,081-13,100 of 18,761 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Departmental Programmes: Departmental Programmes (15 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: In light of the nationwide remit of the key services provided under my Department's aegis, it is not feasible to extract elements directly attributable to the national spatial strategy. In planning for the provision of these services, however, regard is had for regional development needs including those emerging from the implementation of the strategy.

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

Michael McDowell: The person concerned submitted an application 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. The application is being processed at present and...

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

Michael McDowell: In the absence of the appropriate visa application reference number, it has not been possible to identify any record of a visa application from the person named in the details supplied by the Deputy. If such an application exists, the Deputy may wish to contact my Department through the standard channels, with the reference number, at which time my officials will ascertain the status of the...

Written Answers — Irish Prison Service: Irish Prison Service (15 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: The circumstances surrounding the incident on 18 March 2005 are presently the subject of legal action. Pending determination of this action, the Deputy will appreciate that it would be inappropriate for me to provide a more detailed response. The letter required to enable this individual to process his medical insurance will issue from the Irish Prison Service immediately.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (15 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: General policy in respect of the 3% target for the employment of people with disabilities in the Civil Service is the responsibility of the Minister for Finance. Guidelines for monitoring the employment of people with disabilities by public bodies are set out in the 1994 code of practice for the Civil Service. The term, "people with disabilities" means, for the purposes of the code, people...

Written Answers — Asylum Support Services: Asylum Support Services (15 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: The following information material and funding is provided by the asylum agencies under my Department to inform refugees and asylum seekers of their rights and entitlements. The Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner, ORAC, provides asylum applicants with a comprehensive information leaflet which explains how the asylum process in Ireland operates. The leaflet is currently available...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (15 Nov 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 November 2004. Applications of this type are dealt with in chronological order and currently take sixteen to eighteen months to process. It should be noted that marriage to an Irish national does not confer an automatic right of residence in the State.

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

Michael McDowell: The Explosives Act 1875, which provides for the control of the importation, manufacture, storage and sale of explosives, is being reviewed by my Department with a view to consolidating and updating the law and policy in this area. As part of this ongoing review, it has become apparent that the fines and penalties provided for under the 1875 Act are inadequate and there is an urgent need to...

Written Answers — North-South Co-operation: North-South Co-operation (15 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: My Department does not have a unit dealing exclusively with North-South issues. Work on these issues, which arise primarily in the context of criminal justice co-operation, is carried out across a range of divisions in my Department, depending on its nature.

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

Michael McDowell: The persons referred to by the Deputy, a married couple, entered the State separately on different dates in 2004 and applied for refugee status. The wife, accompanied by four minor children, claimed asylum on 15 March 2004. Her husband claimed asylum on 29 December 2004. Both applications were refused following consideration of their cases by the Office of the Refugee Applications...

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

Michael McDowell: The persons referred to by the Deputy, a married couple, entered the State separately on different dates in 2004 and applied for refugee status. The wife, accompanied by four minor children, claimed asylum on 15 March 2004. Her husband claimed asylum on 29 December 2004. Both applications were refused following consideration of their cases by the Office of the Refugee Applications...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (15 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: The equal opportunities child care programme, EOCP, 2000-06, 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 — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (15 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: Applications for certificates of naturalisation from the persons referred to by the Deputy were received in the citizenship section of my Department on 13 April 2004. The average processing time for such applications is currently 24 months. It is likely, therefore, that both applications will be finalised in or around April 2006. I will be in touch with both the Deputy and the applicants when...

Written Answers — Deportation Orders: Deportation Orders (15 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: Deportation orders were signed in respect of the named persons on 26 August 2004 and 15 and 19 September 2005, respectively. On examination of further representations received in relation to the case, I have now decided as an exceptional measure to revoke the deportation orders of the persons concerned and grant them temporary leave to remain for a period of 12 months with their case being...

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (15 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 16 of 20 October 2005 in which I set out at some length the steps which had been taken in respect of this case. These included the appointment of Mr. Shane Murphy, SC, to conduct an independent review and thorough examination of relevant Garda papers, my consideration of same and my discussions with my colleague, the Minister for...

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (15 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my answer to Parliamentary Question No. 2 of 20 October 2005. The Garda investigation in this case is ongoing.

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (15 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: On 15 January 2005, I announced revised arrangements 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. The closing date for receipt of applications was 31 March 2005. Late applications are not being considered and are being returned to the applicants. Of the 17,877 applications received...

Written Answers — Penalty Points System: Penalty Points System (15 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 522 and 523 together. The development cost of the fixed charge processing system was in the order of €13.5 million. This was composed of the original tender price of just under €9 million and additional works at a cost of €4.5 million. The majority of the expenditure arose in two areas: a technical upgrade required to be carried out to the entire PULSE...

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

Michael McDowell: I have sought information from the Garda authorities on the detailed issues raised in this question and I will be in contact with the Deputy as soon as it becomes available.

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (15 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 525 and 526 together. The two persons, a husband and wife, applied for certificates of naturalisation in May 2003. The applications were deemed to be ineligible as the persons concerned did not have the statutory 60 months reckonable residence at the time of their applications. This decision was communicated to the persons concerned in February 2005. In my...