Results 13,121-13,140 of 18,761 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (10 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 201 and 202 together. An application for family re-unification, under section 18 of the Refugee Act 1996, was received in my Department in February 2005, in respect of the person concerned and her daughter lodged by their legal representative. The application was forwarded to the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner in March 2005 for investigation...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (10 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am advised by officials in the citizenship section of my Department that there is no record of an application for a certificate of naturalisation having been received from the individual concerned. However, I understand that the Deputy was advised on a number of occasions, most recently in September 2005, by officials in the general immigration section that the person concerned should apply...

Written Answers — Garda Disciplinary Proceedings: Garda Disciplinary Proceedings (10 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 204 and 205 together. I have been informed by the Garda authorities that the number of gardaí currently suspended is 27 across all ranks, which represents about 0.2% of the force. Of these 27 members, the vast majority, 23 members, are suspended for a year or less. Four members are suspended for considerably longer periods. It would be inappropriate for me to...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (10 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: The person in question made an application for permission to remain in the State based on marriage to an Irish national. A request for documentation to enable the further processing of the application issued on 29 September 2005. A reply was received but did not include documentary evidence that the person in question is residing in the same household as her Irish national spouse. A further...

Written Answers — Registration of Title: Registration of Title (9 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: I have requested the Land Registry to contact the Deputy directly concerning the current position of the application in question.

Written Answers — Joyriding Offences: Joyriding Offences (9 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the area in question is owned by Fingal County Council. The only access to this area is through privately owned land. I understand that as a result of advice, and co-operation with the gardaí, the private landowner has now limited the access to the area through his land. I am further informed that the most recent incident in the area concerned was...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (9 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: The person referred to by the Deputy entered the State in March 2003 with her twin children. She was unsuccessful in her application for asylum and was informed that the Minister proposed to make deportation orders in respect of her and her children. Representations were made on behalf of the applicant. Following consideration of the file, deportation orders were signed in respect of the...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (9 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: With effect from 1 January 1993, unsocial hours allowance, which covers night duty, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays was made pensionable under the Garda Síochána pension scheme. There are 1,446 Garda pensioners who retired prior to 1 January 1993 and who do not receive the benefit of unsocial hours allowance in their pensions. The current annual average rate of pension payable in...

Written Answers — Garda Remuneration: Garda Remuneration (9 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: With effect from 1 October 1982, the following allowances were made pensionable under the Garda Síochána pensions scheme, namely, those in respect of rent, instructor, transport, public service vehicles, radio, Ministers' drivers, substitution, sub-aqua, Gaeltacht, weights and measures and clerical. With effect from 1 January 1993, unsocial hours allowance, which covers night duty,...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (9 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 348 to 352, inclusive, together. My Department has a basic entry level contract with the company in question for vendor independent research material on the IT industry worldwide. The contract is for one senior official to have access to all the research material in question with regular reports on areas of special interest and also to request deeper analysis,...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (9 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: In my response to Question No. 261 on 27 October 2005, I informed the House that I asked my officials to expedite the processing of the application of the person concerned. Processing is now almost finalised and I understand that the case file is due to be referred to me for a decision in the next few days. I will inform both the Deputy and the applicant when I have reached a decision in the...

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (9 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 501 of 8 November 2005, which set out the current position with regard to the proposed new Garda station for Leixlip. The Office of Public Works, taking into account constraints such as architecture and available space, will incorporate the requested changes into its plans. These changes and the manner in which they have been incorporated into...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (9 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: I have made inquiries with the Garda authorities and the information requested by the Deputy is outlined in the following table. This table lists the Garda stations in which evidential breath testing machines are installed and the number of breath tests conducted in each station for the years 2002 to 2004 as supplied by the Medical Bureau of Road Safety. These figures may include tests...

Written Answers — Extradition Requests: Extradition Requests (9 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: I regret that I am unable to provide the Deputy with the information sought since to do so may have the effect of alerting some of the people concerned to the fact that a request has been received for their extradition or surrender. This could result in these persons having the opportunity to flee before the requests can be brought before the courts.

Written Answers — Public Service Contracts: Public Service Contracts (9 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: My Department's arrangements for procurement and monitoring of expenditure are in line with established Government procedures and the Department's appropriation accounts are subject to scrutiny by the Comptroller and Auditor General in the normal way. Therefore, I refer the Deputy to the audited appropriation accounts and annual reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General for the years in...

Written Answers — Violence Against Women: Violence Against Women (8 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 486 and 519 together. As the Deputy will be aware, the National Steering Committee on Violence Against Women, NSC, was set up in 1997 to provide a co-ordinated response from the many statutory and voluntary bodies involved in responding to the problem of violence against women. My Department, in conjunction with the NSC, has conducted a series of successful...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (8 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: I advised the Deputy in my response to Parliamentary Question No. 183 on 16 December 2004 that I decided to defer a final decision on the application of the person concerned until July 2005. I understand that officials in the citizenship section of my Department have written to the person in question in recent weeks to obtain information which will enable me to make a final determination in...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (8 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: School age child care is an important part of the range of child care services which need to be developed and supported to meet the needs of parents and their children in the Ireland of 2005. The Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme, EOCP, 2000-2006, which is implemented by my Department, has been an important landmark development in Irish child care policy. It is widely acknowledged that...

Written Answers — Child Abuse: Child Abuse (8 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: I regret that it has not been possible in the time available to obtain the information requested by the Deputy. I will be in further contact with the Deputy in this matter.

Written Answers — Criminal Prosecutions: Criminal Prosecutions (8 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the person referred to has been prosecuted for a number of road traffic offences since 1989. As a result of failure to pay fines imposed for a parking offence in 1990, a warrant was issued in September 1991. The warrant was cancelled in December 1991, when it was believed that the person referred to was not resident in the country. I am further...