Results 15,161-15,180 of 18,734 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Legal Aid Service: Legal Aid Service (24 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: My Department provides for wide access to civil legal advice and assistance via the Legal Aid Board and its nationwide network of law centres. The board's services are available to persons of modest means and at little cost. Funding for the board has been increased by 16% since last year to €21.362 million in 2005. An annual grant is also made to the free legal advice centres organisation,...

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (24 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the personnel strength of Mountmellick Garda station as at 20 May 2005 was five, all ranks. I am aware of the situation referred to by the Deputy and indeed I had a brief meeting on Monday 16 May 2005, with a small delegation from Mountmellick Town Council to...

Written Answers — Tribunals of Inquiry: Tribunals of Inquiry (24 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: The position in respect of the tribunal in question is that there are a number of parties who have been given the right of legal representation. The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the Garda Commissioner are two of these parties. It has been the practice, where legal teams are engaged on behalf of the State or its agencies, that they receive their fees as the work...

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (24 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my reply to his Question No. 312 of Wednesday, 2 February 2005 regarding this Garda station. I am informed by the Garda authorities that the position in relation to this Garda station remains unchanged.

Written Answers — Coroners Service: Coroners Service (24 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my answers to Questions Nos. 10 and 28 of 17 May 2005. The position has not changed.

Written Answers — National Identity Card: National Identity Card (24 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: At the outset, I should say that Irish immigration law, for which I have primary responsibility, does not confer the benefits of passport free travel within the common travel area on persons other than Irish or British citizens. I assume therefore that the implications to which the Deputy refers are implications for Irish and British citizens arising from the UK proposals in relation to ID...

Written Answers — Criminal Prosecutions: Criminal Prosecutions (24 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy will be aware that what is deemed to be illegal off-line is also illegal on-line, and this is the case in relation to the provisions of the Gaming and Lotteries Acts 1956 -1986. An interdepartmental review group, tasked to examine the Gaming and Lotteries Acts 1956-1986 noted that " liability issues in the internet gambling area are likely to be as complex as in other areas of...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (24 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: An application was received in my Department on 8 March 2005 from the person concerned seeking permission to remain in the State on the basis of his parentage of an Irish-born child under the revised arrangements announced by me on 15 January 2005. A letter has recently issued to the person concerned informing him that he has been granted permission to remain in the State for two years until...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (24 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: The person concerned arrived in the State on 18 June 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 22 April 2005 that the...

Written Answers — Asylum Support Services: Asylum Support Services (24 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: The procurement of suitable accommodation for asylum seekers continues to pose significant challenges for the Reception and Integration Agency, RIA. Since mid-December 2004 when the details were announced of the scheme for processing applications for leave to remain from non-national parents of Irish-born children, the numbers being accommodated have risen by more than 22%. The RIA is...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (24 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: The city and county child care committees, CCCs, have a broad membership drawn from statutory and non-statutory bodies and include parent and provider representatives and a wide representation of child care interests in the relevant county. The typical membership of a CCC would include representatives of the Health Service Executive, local uthority, social partners, VEC, FÁS or local...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (24 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: Over the years numerous organisations have requested and have been given the assistance of gardaí on a non-public duty basis. Traditionally, gardaí have been made available for the performance of such duties and the State has charged for their services. This work is done by members of the force who would otherwise be off duty. At present, organisers of events pay for the cost of non-public...

Written Answers — Tribunals of Inquiry: Tribunals of Inquiry (24 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 315 and 328 together. Investigations are undertaken as part of normal duties. Therefore the multitude of different costs incurred by the inquiry into the death of Mr. Barron and by the related investigations referred to by the Deputies were accounted for in the normal manner under the relevant general sub-heads of the Votes concerned. For this reason it would...

Written Answers — Tribunals of Inquiry: Tribunals of Inquiry (24 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: The selection of investigators was a matter for the tribunal. The practical arrangements necessary for their appointment were carried out by my Department. The Garda Commissioner had no involvement in the selection and appointment process.

Written Answers — Registration of Title: Registration of Title (24 May 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, of the Registration of Titles Act 1964 which was lodged on 20 December 2000. Dealing Number D2000SM009626Y refers. I am further informed that this application was completed on 19 March 2004.

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (24 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy has referred to two visa applications in his parliamentary question. Application number 1514067 was refused by my Department at initial stage on 15 April 2004 and as such is no longer under active consideration by my Department. The applicant was fully informed of the reasons for refusal by my Department on 26 April 2004. Application number 1485852 refers to a more current...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (24 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that local Garda management is not aware of any incidents of cocaine dealing at the location specified by the Deputy. In recent months one premises in the locality has been the subject of a planned search under the Misuse of Drugs Acts 1977 to 1984. However, I am informed by the Garda authorities that no evidence of cocaine dealing in the area was...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (24 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: In relation to 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...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (24 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 321 to 323, inclusive, together. 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 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...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (24 May 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 March 2004. Applications of this type, in fairness to all other such applicants, are dealt with in chronological order and currently take approximately 16 months to process.