Results 13,821-13,840 of 18,761 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (5 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: The person in question, a constituent of mine, approached me in relation to allegations of failure of duty by members of An Garda Síochána attached to Ashbourne Garda station. Subsequent to this and at my request, the complainant and others met with officials from my Department about the matter. I can confirm to the Deputy that the Commissioner of An Garda Síochána has appointed a chief...

Written Answers — Coroners Service: Coroners Service (5 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my answer to Questions Nos. 1003 and 1004 of 28 September 2005.

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (5 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: In April of this year I published a discussion document, Immigration and Residence in Ireland — Outline Policy Proposals for an Immigration and Residence Bill, which contains a comprehensive analysis of the whole area of family reunification, including non-marital partnerships and same sex relationships. I assure the Deputy that I will examine this issue fully in the context of the...

Written Answers — Computerisation Programme: Computerisation Programme (4 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: The fixed charge processing system, FCPS, is the Garda IT system for processing fixed charge road traffic offences, including the requirements for the penalty points system. The FCPS is currently operational in Dublin, Cork city and parts of counties Louth and Meath. The system will be extended nationwide in respect of existing penalty point offences in conjunction with the commencement of an...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (4 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: The applications in question were received in my Department on 5 August 2004. Having given full consideration to the matter, the visas were refused because my Department was not satisfied that the applicants would fully honour the conditions of the visa. It was felt that the applicants had not displayed evidence of their obligations to return home following the proposed visit. The...

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (4 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: The Garda authorities are currently considering their station requirements for Tallaght including the provision of a new divisional headquarters. When they have made their views known to me, the matter will be fully and carefully considered in my Department.

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (4 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: Following the finalisation of the leasing arrangements by the Office of Public Works, the refurbishment of the temporary office in Thurles has now commenced and it is anticipated that the Garda central vetting unit will move in by the end of November 2005.

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (4 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: Under the Government's decentralisation programme, 186 posts are to move to Tipperary town from my Department's asylum and immigration area. An implementation plan in respect of the decentralisation of these sections is available on my Department's website. The decentralisation implementation group report to the Minister for Finance on 30 June 2005 gives the indicative date for completion of...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (4 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: As the Deputy may be aware, the community-based group in question was awarded staffing grant assistance under the equal opportunities childcare programme, EOCP, 2000-2006, of €60,000 over three years in September 2002. The amount approved was considered to be a sufficient contribution for the level of service being provided. I understand from inquiries I have made with Area Development...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (4 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: In the case of all non-EEA workers seeking to be joined by their family members, they must be in a position to support the family members in question without the need for those family members to have recourse to public funds or paid employment. Unfortunately, the level of income in this case demonstrated that the person is not in a position to support the spouse without recourse to public...

Written Answers — Closed Circuit Television Systems: Closed Circuit Television Systems (4 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: I assume that the Deputy's question refers to the provision of Garda CCTV town centre systems, which has been rolled out to various locations in the State in recent years. I am informed by the Garda authorities that all applications for such Garda CCTV systems must be prepared in co-operation with the local Garda district and divisional officers and must receive their full support. The...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (4 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: I can advise the Deputy that the visa application has been approved at appeal stage.

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (4 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of Garda resources, including personnel, that the personnel strength of Dungarvan Garda station as at 4 October 2005 was 35, all ranks. The personnel strength of Dungarvan Garda station as at 31 December 1997 was 28, all ranks. This represents an increase of seven, or 25%, in the number of personnel...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (4 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: The person in question currently has permission to remain in the State until 17 October 2005. He submitted an application under the provisions of the Turkish association agreement to the immigration division of my Department in June 2005. This application was refused in July 2005 as he did not fulfil the criteria set out under the agreement. My Department has no record of any subsequent...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (4 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: An application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to by the Deputy was received in the citizenship section of my Department on 6 October 2004. It has been assigned reference No. 68/3569/04. The average processing time for such applications is currently 24 months. It is likely, therefore, that in the case of the application of the person concerned, a decision will be...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (4 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am pleased to advise the Deputy that the applicants concerned were granted temporary leave to remain for an initial period of two years effective from 27 September 2005. Some 18,000 applications for permission to remain were received under the revised arrangements and more than 13,000 cases have been processed to date.

Written Answers — Recidivism Rate: Recidivism Rate (4 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: It is regrettable that accurate figures relating to rates of recidivism in the prisoner population are not available at the present time. Since taking office, however, I have sought to address this deficit through a major research project which is currently being undertaken by the institute of criminology in University College Dublin in co-operation with my Department. It is hoped that the...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (4 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 431 and 437 together. The numbers of prosecutions and convictions for breaches of the three tonne limit on Kennelsfort Road, Palmerstown, for 2003-05 to date are shown in the table. Year Notices Issued Prosecutions 2003 2 0 2004 5 3 2005 (to date) 51 0 Further prosecutions are being considered in several other cases. According to the Garda...

Written Answers — Deportation Orders: Deportation Orders (4 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my answer to Questions Nos. 166 to 168, inclusive, of 24 March 2005 wherein I indicated that, on careful consideration, I had decided to revoke the deportation order for the person to whom the Deputy refers and to arrange a temporary student visa for six months to be issued to the student to enable him to sit his leaving certificate. The practical effect of that...

Written Answers — Deportation Orders: Deportation Orders (4 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: A deportation order was made in respect of the person to whom the Deputy refers on 6 May 2005. He was notified of this by registered letter dated 20 May 2005. The applicant instituted judicial review proceedings on 1 June 2005 challenging the deportation order. These proceedings are ongoing and, accordingly, as the matter is sub judice it would not be appropriate to comment further at this time.