Results 16,241-16,260 of 18,761 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Refugee Status: Refugee Status (9 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to Parliamentary Question No. 345 of 8 February 2005 which sets out the position in this case. The position remains unchanged.

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (9 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: The person concerned made an application for permission to remain in the State on the basis of her parentage of an Irish citizen child under the revised arrangements on 31 January 2005. Her application was acknowledged on 24 February 2005. A decision has been reached on her application and she will be advised of this decision by post this week.

Seanad: Child Care Services: Motion. (9 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: I welcome the opportunity to speak to the amendment. I utterly refute the implication of the Labour Party motion and welcome the opportunity to put on record the achievements of the Government in the development of quality child care and the support of families since it first came into office in 1997. Senator O'Meara inadvertently spoke the truest words we will hear in this debate when she...

Seanad: Child Care Services: Motion. (9 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: There is no point heckling. I listened politely to the Senator. She should listen to the facts, which are that nothing was done when the socialists were in power.

Seanad: Child Care Services: Motion. (9 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: From 1992 to 1997, no delivery or provision whatsoever was made in this area. It was a big black hole which the great social reformers failed to consider for one second. Now, Senator Derek McDowell in a de haut en bas tone states that the Government has failed in recent years. He should look in the mirror. Nothing was done when the Opposition had the opportunity. Now, Opposition Members...

Seanad: Child Care Services: Motion. (9 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: When Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats entered Government in 1997, its first act was to establish the expert working group on child care. Its extensive report was the basis of the National Development Plan 2000-2006, which I am determined to implement and, more than that, surpass while I have ministerial responsibility in this matter. The equal opportunities child care programme has...

Seanad: Child Care Services: Motion. (9 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: I do not believe anybody is forced to work. I will come back to this point presently.

Seanad: Child Care Services: Motion. (9 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: When the parties opposite were in office, there was such crippling taxation on ordinary families that the complaint was that there was no point in two spouses working because the State took everything off the poor spouse who joined the labour market and it was not worth his or her while. The situation has changed dramatically. The Government originally made available €317.4 million,...

Seanad: Child Care Services: Motion. (9 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: That is not true.

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (8 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: This Government remains firmly committed to supporting working parents with their child care needs through increased capacity, choice and service quality. These aims are the hallmark of the Government's child care strategy. To this end considerable progress has already been achieved in terms of increasing the supply of centre based child care places and in enhancing the awareness of quality...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (8 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my response to Question No. 309 of 1 March 2005. As outlined in the response, an implementation plan in respect of the decentralisation of the immigration and asylum sections of my Department was prepared last year and submitted to the decentralisation implementation group. A copy of the report is available on my Department's website. Progress has been made with regard...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (8 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy has not supplied a visa application reference number, nor has an examination of visa applications on hand yielded a visa application by a person of the same name as supplied by the Deputy. Therefore, it would appear that my Department has not received an application in respect of this person to date. Each application is assessed individually based on its own merits, and until such...

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (8 Mar 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 Laragh, Glendalough and Sallygap areas of County Wicklow are policed by gardaí attached to Rathdrum and Roundwood Garda stations. The personnel strength of Rathdrum Garda station as at 8 March 2005 is four — all ranks. The personnel strength of...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (8 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: A declaration of acceptance of Irish citizenship as post nuptial citizenship was received in the citizenship section of my Department on 6 December 2004 from the person referred to in the Deputy's question. The current processing time for such declarations is approximately ten months from the date of lodgement and it is likely, therefore, that the processing of the declaration of the person...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (8 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: Under the revised arrangements for the consideration of applications for permission to remain by the non-national parents of Irish-born children, born before 1 January 2005, successful applicants will be issued with a letter confirming permission to remain for an initial period of two years subject to the following conditions: that they will obey the laws of the State and will not become...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (8 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: I understand that an application for capital grant assistance under the equal opportunities child care programme, EOCP, 2000-2006 was submitted by the group to my Department some time ago. 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 training. The level of demand for capital...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (8 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: The person in question, as a non-EEA national, is subject to the immigration laws of the State despite being the spouse of an Irish citizen. I understand she applied for a visa for the stated purpose of a visit to the State and that a visit visa was approved. A visit visa permits the holder to travel to the State and, subject to the discretion of an immigration officer, to remain in the State...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (8 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: A study group under the chairmanship of the assistant commissioner, northern region has been established to examine various issues associated with possible new boundary alignments in the Cavan-Monaghan and Louth-Meath divisions. The study group is in the preliminary stages of its work and has, to date, only looked at various possibilities to facilitate the establishment of a consultative...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (8 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: The Fingal County Council area, traditionally referred to as north County Dublin, encompasses parts of the Garda divisions of the Dublin metropolitan regions north and west and the southern part of the Louth-Meath Garda division. Garda management are of the opinion that the effective delivery of a police service to these areas is not in any way impeded or diminished by the present Garda...

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (8 Mar 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 Raheen-Dooradoyle areas of Limerick are policed by Roxboro Road Garda station. The personnel strength of Roxboro Road Garda station as at 7 March 2005 was 87 — all ranks. I am further informed by the Garda authorities that they have no plans at...