Results 14,181-14,200 of 18,734 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Registration of Title: Registration of Title (29 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Registrar of Titles that this is an application under section 49, that is, acquisition of title by virtue of long possession, under the Registration of Title Act 1964, which was lodged on 28 January, 2003. Dealing No. D2003CR000781J refers. I understand that, due to their complicated nature, applications under section 49, which require detailed examination of claims for...

Written Answers — Court Proceedings: Court Proceedings (29 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 352 and 353 together. I am informed by the Garda authorities that no cases have been abandoned since 2003 in the Enniscorthy Garda district due to delays. I am further informed by the Garda authorities that there were no cases abandoned since 2003 in the Wexford Garda district due to warrants being out of date.

Written Answers — Registration of Title: Registration of Title (29 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my recent answer to Question No. 173 on Thursday 12 May 2005. I am informed by the Registrar of Titles that the position concerning the average waiting time for registration on a county basis has not altered significantly since I answered that question.

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (29 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: I assure the Deputy that all Garda accommodation is continually under review to ensure that it meets the operational requirements of the Garda Síochána. Where it does not, then the required refurbishment or construction works are completed by the Office of Public Works — which has responsibility for the vast majority of Garda properties — with all due urgency and in accordance with...

Written Answers — Prisoner Escort Service: Prisoner Escort Service (29 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: It is not my intention to comment on operational matters pertaining to another jurisdiction. The monitoring of any proposed contracted out prisoner escort service will be comprehensively detailed in the tender documents currently under preparation by my officials. The brief of the Inspector of Prisons and Places of Detention in carrying out an inspection of any prison or place of detention...

Written Answers — Prisoner Escort Service: Prisoner Escort Service (29 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: Likely costs of a contracted out service are dependent on the outcome of the competitive tendering process involved and the Deputy will appreciate that the publication of estimated costs and savings by me would compromise this process. However, studies carried out on prisoner escorts in this jurisdiction are unanimous in identifying the potential for significant improvements in economy and...

Written Answers — Deportation Orders: Deportation Orders (29 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: Since January 2004, a total of 21 persons have been removed to Kosovo on foot of deportation orders. As the Department's records do not distinguish between applicants as to their ethnicity, it is not possible to provide the Deputy with a breakdown as to how many of those persons belonged to the Roma community. However, I assure him that full consideration is given to the circumstances of all...

Written Answers — Prison Reports: Prison Reports (29 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 359 and 360 together. The Inspector of Prisons and Places of Detention was appointed to inspect prisons and to report to the Minister of the day. It has been the practice since the appointment of the current inspector to lay his reports before the Houses of the Oireachtas and publish them on the Department's website. On one occasion, in the case of his second...

Written Answers — Garda Complaints Procedures: Garda Complaints Procedures (29 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy will be aware that the Garda Síochána Bill 2004, now at the final stage of its passage through the Oireachtas, provides inter alia for the establishment of a fully independent ombudsman commission, which will have wide powers to investigate complaints made against members of the Garda Síochána and a Garda inspectorate, the main functions of which will be to promote efficiency...

Written Answers — Prisoner Releases: Prisoner Releases (29 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: The person referred to by the Deputy has received no form of temporary release since his committal to prison. I am also informed that his case will next be reviewed by the parole board in or around August 2007. The Deputy will be aware that there are provisions whereby victims of serious crime, or members of their family, who indicate such a wish will be notified whenever significant...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (29 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: As regards crime figures, the Deputy will be aware that on becoming Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, I arranged for the publication of headline crime statistics on a quarterly basis in order to improve the quality of information available to the public. While caution should be exercised in interpreting levels of crime between quarters, I am pleased to note that during my term of...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (29 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: The correspondence to which the Deputy refers has been received and the person concerned has recently been granted permission to remain in the State with an exemption from work permit requirements.

Written Answers — Prison Accommodation: Prison Accommodation (29 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: I draw the Deputy's attention to my response to a question which was taken on 4 May, 2005 — reference No. 14281/05 — and to the Adjournment Debates on 12 and 19 November 2003, in which I outlined the rationale behind the proposal to put in place alternative arrangements for the operation of Loughan House. I also refer the Deputy to my responses of 23 June last to two parliamentary...

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (29 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Office of Public Works that the revised sketch scheme for the proposed new Garda station in Leixlip will be available to my Department shortly for consideration and consultation with the Garda authorities. I am further advised that it is the intention of the Office of Public Works to proceed to planning once the sketch scheme has been agreed.

Written Answers — Community Relations: Community Relations (29 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: The matters raised by the Deputy are more appropriate to the Departments of Education and Science and Health and Children.

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (29 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: The person in question has made an application for residency in the State based on marriage to an Irish national. As indicated in my reply of 12 April 2005, the application will be finalised on receipt of all relevant documentation. To date all the relevant documentation has not yet been received and a further request for information issued on 24 June 2005. It is expected a decision will...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (29 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: I have approved 13 grants to date this year in County Westmeath, totalling almost €2.7 million, under the equal opportunities child care programme 2000-06. It is anticipated that this funding will lead to the creation of 143 new child care places and will support a further 231 existing places. This funding includes €1,778,150 in capital grant assistance to four community-based not for...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (29 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to the reply I gave to Parliamentary Question No. 476 on 21 June last about this case. The circumstances of the case were fully considered, including representations made on behalf of the person by the Refugee Legal Service, in arriving at the decision to make a deportation order. I will reconsider the matter in light of the further representations made in this case and my...

Written Answers — Probation and Welfare Service: Probation and Welfare Service (29 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: The old AIB premises at Main Street, Blanchardstown, was acquired by the Office of Public Works on behalf of the probation and welfare service on 15 April 2002. The total cost of the purchase was €1.5 million, including VAT. The intention was to renovate and extend the premises, using one portion as a local office and the other as a probation centre. However, before proceeding with the...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (29 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: Consideration will be given to the question of legislation on civil unions when the following become available: the report of the Law Reform Commission on rights and duties of cohabitees; the report of the All-Party Oireachtas Committee on the Constitution of its examination of Articles 40.3, 41 and 42 relating to the family; and the outcome of current litigation regarding the recognition of...