Results 15,601-15,620 of 18,761 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Prison Accommodation: Prison Accommodation (28 Apr 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am advised that the group referred to by the Deputy declined the offer of an early meeting with the director general of the Irish Prison Service after the decision to relocate Mountjoy Prison to the site at Thornton Hall was announced. Officials from the Irish Prison Service did, however, meet with a group of representatives from the local school. All the relevant information about the...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (28 Apr 2005)

Michael McDowell: An application was submitted on 31 March 2005, which is the closing date for applications, and received in my Department on 1 April 2005 seeking permission to remain in the State on the basis of her parentage of an Irish born child under the revised arrangements announced by me on 15 January 2005. Applications are being dealt with as expeditiously as possible and, in so far as is possible, in...

Written Answers — Deportation Orders: Deportation Orders (28 Apr 2005)

Michael McDowell: The Minister must consider 11 factors under section 3(6) of the Immigration Act 1999, as amended, together with section 5 of the Refugee Act 1996, prohibition of refoulement, when considering whether to deport a person. The safety of returning a person, or refoulement as it is referred to, is fully considered in every case when deciding whether to make a deportation order. This means that a...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (28 Apr 2005)

Michael McDowell: The first main point that must be made is that the acquisition of Irish citizenship through the naturalisation process is a privilege — not a right. The discretionary nature of the naturalisation process is in keeping with international practice. Thus it is not the case that a person who has been resident here or in employment here has after a period of time — or even an extended period...

Written Answers — Deportation Orders: Deportation Orders (28 Apr 2005)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to the reply I gave to Questions Nos. 164 on Thursday, 3 February 2005, and 265 on Wednesday, 9 March 2005. The person concerned is awaiting deportation following a comprehensive examination of his asylum claim and of his application to remain temporarily in the State. Late representations made regarding his medical condition were considered and were not deemed to...

Written Answers — Wildlife Acts: Wildlife Acts (28 Apr 2005)

Michael McDowell: With regard to the Deputy's reference to the endorsement of firearm certificates under section 2(d) of the Wildlife Acts 1976 to 2000, there is no such provision. However, there is a provision under section 29 of the Wildlife Act 1976 which permits the hunting and killing of exempted wild mammals and birds. The Garda authorities inform me that these figures are not readily available. However,...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (28 Apr 2005)

Michael McDowell: The person in question, along with his wife, arrived in the State on 24 December 1997 and made applications for asylum. The wife gave birth the following month, January 1998. They subsequently withdrew their asylum applications and applied for, and were granted, permission to reside in the State on the basis of parentage of the Irish born child. The person in question was recently requested...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (28 Apr 2005)

Michael McDowell: Unlike the Government's decentralisation programme, three areas from within Garda headquarters are scheduled to move. These areas comprise 203 staff, including 89 members of the Garda Síochána, from the Garda criminal records office, GCRO; the Garda central vetting unit, GCVU; and the information technology and fixed charge processing system, FCPS. The Office of Public Works has identified...

Written Answers — Departmental Programmes: Departmental Programmes (28 Apr 2005)

Michael McDowell: I understand that applications for staffing and capital grant assistance under the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme, EOCP, 2000-2006, were submitted by the group to my Department in October 2004 and January 2005 respectively. The EOCP is a seven year development programme which aims to increase the availability and quality of child care to support parents in employment, education and...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (28 Apr 2005)

Michael McDowell: An application was received in my Department on 30 March 2005 from the person concerned seeking permission to remain in the State on the basis of her parentage of an Irish born child under the revised arrangements announced by me on 15 January 2005. The passport from the person concerned was submitted with her application and will be returned to her by registered post shortly. Applications...

Written Answers — Refugee Applications: Refugee Applications (28 Apr 2005)

Michael McDowell: It is a fundamental requirement for consideration of applications under the revised arrangements announced by me on 15 January 2005, that applicants submit a valid passport or national identity document as proof of their identity. This requirement cannot be waived. I am aware that some applicants are experiencing difficulties in obtaining these documents. Where appropriate, applicants are...

Written Answers — Asylum Support Services: Asylum Support Services (28 Apr 2005)

Michael McDowell: The lady in question wastransferred temporarily to accommodation at Portobello Harbour due to an outbreak ofchickenpox at Balseskin reception centre. The arrangement was for four weeks which is the usual quarantine period for an outbreak of that disease. She has since returned to the Balseskin centre where she can avail of a wide range of health services on site, including ante-natal care...

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (28 Apr 2005)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities that, at 8.10 a.m. on Sunday, 17 April 2005, the gardaí at Kevin Street Garda station were made aware that a male person lay injured in a specific area within Dublin 8. Gardaí attended the scene immediately and it was preserved. The scene was technically examined at 9.30 a.m. on the same date. The Garda authorities have further informed me that...

Written Answers — Prison Staff: Prison Staff (27 Apr 2005)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy will be aware that, following the rejection by prisons staff of the proposal for organisational change in the Prison Service, I have decided to proceed with a range of measures consistent with the Government decision of November 2003, including the early enactment of legislation to privatise the prisoner escort service and parallel arrangements for tenders for privatisation of...

Written Answers — Registration of Title: Registration of Title (27 Apr 2005)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 228 to 230, inclusive, together. I am informed by the Registrar of Titles that section 105(1) of the Registration of Title Act 1964 provides that a land certificate, once issued, shall be produced on the registration of any subsequent transaction and "shall be either cancelled or so altered as to be brought into conformity with the register". The practice of...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (27 Apr 2005)

Michael McDowell: I wish to refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 756 on Tuesday, 12 April 2005, in the above regard.

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (27 Apr 2005)

Michael McDowell: The declaration in question was examined recently by my officials and was found to have been lodged in accordance with the statutory provisions set out in the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act. The person concerned has been informed of this in writing and has been requested to pay the statutory fee. A certificate confirming that the person concerned is an Irish citizen will issue as soon...

Written Answers — Registration of Title: Registration of Title (27 Apr 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Registrar of Titles that this is in 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 15 April 2005. Dealing number D2005WS004987A refers. I understand that due to their complicated nature, applications under section 49, which require detailed examination of claims for...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (27 Apr 2005)

Michael McDowell: The application referred to by the Deputy was for the purposes of allowing a non-EEA national travel to the State to take up employment. I can inform the Deputy that this application was refused by my Department on 25 April 2005. The applicant will be notified of this decision as soon as possible. The application was refused because the visa officer examining the case identified a number of...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (27 Apr 2005)

Michael McDowell: I presume the Deputy is referring to non-EEA spouses of Irish nationals. Marriage to an Irish national does not grant any automatic right to enter or reside in the State solely on that basis. Neither does it grant an automatic right to Irish citizenship following the coming into force of the Immigration and Citizenship Act 2001 which abolished the previous system of post-nuptial citizenship....