Results 14,121-14,140 of 18,761 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Immigration Issues: Immigration Issues (30 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: The person in question originally arrived in Ireland in February 2000 and sought asylum. He withdrew his asylum claim and sought to invoke European Union law on free movement to obtain residency in the State, following his marriage in December 2000 to an EU national. The applicant was requested to provide, inter alia, evidence of the EU national's employment in Ireland. As his EU spouse was...

Written Answers — Garda Security Escorts: Garda Security Escorts (30 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: I welcome the signing of the code of practice to create a safe, secure and efficient cash handling environment in Ireland. The code provides an integrated end to end solution for cash handling that will encourage the highest standards of operation while having due regard to the circumstances of individual cash movements. Speaking at the signing ceremony, I indicated that the full costs of...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (30 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: I understand an application for capital grant assistance under the equal opportunities child care programme, EOCP of 2000 — 2006, was submitted by this group to my Department in August 2004. This application was forwarded to Area Development Management Limited, ADM, which is engaged by my Department to carry out detailed assessments of all EOCP grant applications on my behalf. Each...

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (30 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: There are no plans at present to close any Garda district headquarters currently in operation.

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (30 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of Garda resources, including personnel, that the personnel strength of the Carlow-Kildare division as at 28 June 2005 was 327, all ranks. This represents an increase of 35, or 12%, on the personnel allocated to the division since 31 December 1997. This compares with an increase of 1,277, or 11.6%,...

Written Answers — Deportation Orders: Deportation Orders (30 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: There is no record of any deportation orders in respect of the persons referred to by the Deputy. However, it appears that their permission to remain in the State expired in July 2003. The persons concerned should contact the immigration division of my Department providing details of their activities in the State since that date.

Written Answers — Sexual Offences: Sexual Offences (30 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: Statutes of limitation are not a feature of the criminal code of law, where the State, in the public interest, seeks to prosecute those who commit offences because the committing of such offences, which may result in injury to individuals, are an affront also to society at large, although the courts will prevent a prosecution from proceeding in particular cases where they are satisfied that...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (30 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: The person concerned, a Cameroon national, arrived in the State on 22 April 2003 and applied for asylum. Her application was refused following consideration of her case by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner and, on appeal, by the Refugee Appeals Tribunal. Subsequently, in accordance with section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999, as amended, she was informed by letter, dated 14...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (30 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy may be aware that the group in question has been awarded staffing grant assistance of €254,061 to date, under the equal opportunities child care programme 2000 to 2006. I understand that an application for capital grant assistance under the EOCP was submitted by this group to my Department some time ago. This application has been forwarded to Area Development Management Limited,...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (30 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: The assessment and provision of security for Government Ministers is a matter for the Garda Síochána. As the Deputy will appreciate, it is not in the public interest to disclose funding levels in respect of such security matters because this information may provide an indication of the level and kinds of security in operation.

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (30 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: I have no plans to amend legislation in respect of the specifics of this case.

Written Answers — European Arrest Warrants: European Arrest Warrants (30 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 549 to 551, inclusive, together. The European Arrest Warrant Act came into operation on 1 January 2004. Two persons have been surrendered from Ireland to the UK generally during this period. One of these was to Northern Ireland. Neither of the cases was terrorism related. There have been no persons surrendered to date to other EU countries on foot of European...

Written Answers — Racist Attacks: Racist Attacks (30 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that there is no evidence to suggest that a neo-Nazi group is active in the Dublin area. However, I am further informed that, on 18 June last, a number of persons were arrested in connection with firearms offences. The associated Garda investigation is continuing in an effort to establish if the arrested persons have any links to such organisations...

Written Answers — Racist Attacks: Racist Attacks (30 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: The Prohibition of Incitement to Hatred Act 1989 offers comprehensive protection to persons having hatred incited against them on account of their race, colour, nationality, religion, ethnic or national origin, membership of the travelling community or sexual orientation. Public incitement to hatred, on any of the above grounds, is a criminal offence under section 2 and section 3 of the 1989...

Written Answers — Recidivism Rate: Recidivism Rate (30 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: The study to which I believe the Deputy refers in his question, Supporting Families of Drug-Dependent Offenders, examined the level of support that was available to families of drug dependent offenders in four European countries. The purpose of the study was to find out what services were available and what services were valued or desired by offenders and their families. This study did not, I...

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (30 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: I understand that a preliminary hearing has been held by the Louth county coroner and that the inquest is due to be held on 5 September 2005 at the coroner's office inDundalk. I am informed by the Garda authorities that the coroner in question has requested a number of Garda files in this case, which have been provided to him.

Written Answers — Treatment of Prisoners: Treatment of Prisoners (30 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: The probation and welfare service operates under the aegis of my Department and has in the region of 430 staff and an annual budget of approximately €45 million. The objective of the service is to reduce re-offending and protect the public. It provides assessments on offenders to the courts and is responsible for the proposal and implementation of community sanctions. It also provides a...

Written Answers — Treatment of Travellers: Treatment of Travellers (30 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: I note with interest the observations of the Committee for the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination, CERD, in respect of the issue of recognition of Travellers as an ethnic group. As the Deputy is aware, the CERD defines "racial discrimination" as any distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference based on race, colour, descent, or national or ethnic origin. The Government is...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (30 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the attached tabular statement in respect of the individual Votes within the Justice Group for 2004. Vote Net Estimate Provision €000 Surplus to be Surrendered €000 Surplus to be Surrendered as a % of the Net Estimate Provision Justice, Equality & Law Reform 339,098 5,812 1.71 Garda Síochána ...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (30 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: The costs of implementing the provisions of the Official Languages Act 2003 are met from my Department's administrative budget and cannot readily be distinguished from the cost of providing services generally. The provision in respect of 2005 is expected to be sufficient to meet any needs arising in the current year.