Results 16,261-16,280 of 18,734 for speaker:Michael McDowell

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

Michael McDowell: An application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to by the Deputy was received in the citizenship section of my Department on 13 April 2004. The average processing time for such applications is 24 months and it is likely, therefore, that the application of the individual concerned will be finalised around April 2006. I will inform both the applicant and the Deputy...

Written Answers — Legal Aid Service: Legal Aid Service (8 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: In general, witness expenses are paid by the person who has called the witness. In criminal cases, expenses may be paid by the prosecution, the defence or the court itself in cases where it has requested a report. In civil cases, expenses are payable by the party calling the witness. No change is contemplated in these arrangements. Any delay in the hearing of cases is regretted. There will...

Written Answers — Prisons Building Programme: Prisons Building Programme (8 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 371 to 376, inclusive, together. This project is at a very early stage and, as such, the specific details as mentioned by the Deputy will not be available for some time.

Written Answers — Garda Complaints Procedures: Garda Complaints Procedures (8 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: On 24 February 2005, the Garda Síochána issued a public apology to the family of the late Dean Lyons, stating that they were satisfied that he had no participation in the horrific murders of Sylvia Shiels and Mary Callinan. I fully appreciate the hurt and embarrassment that Mr. and Mrs. Lyons and their family have suffered as a result of criminal charges preferred against Dean and...

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

Michael McDowell: The visa applications in question were for the purposes of allowing the children of a non-EEA national employed in the State under the working visa scheme, to travel to Ireland for the purposes of residing in the State with their mother. A worker employed under the work permit scheme may be joined by his or her spouse and minor children after the worker has been in the State for one year and...

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

Michael McDowell: The Public Appointments Service administers a recruitment competition on behalf of the Garda Síochána which was launched on 25 November 2004. The service, which is independent in the exercise of its functions, will have details of the number of applicants who were deemed successful and will subsequently be called for interviews and when the interviews will be held. More than 10,600...

Written Answers — Crime Prevention: Crime Prevention (3 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my answer to his Parliamentary Question No. 248 of Wednesday, 16 February 2005 on the same subject in which I set out the extensive legislation in place in this jurisdiction to tackle money laundering activities, including through the banking system. The situation remains the same.

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (3 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: I understand that the circumstances of the person in question have recently changed and that his case is subject to a review with regard to granting further periods of permission to remain in the State. It is expected that this review will be completed shortly.

Written Answers — Child Care Facilities: Child Care Facilities (3 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: As the Deputy may be aware the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme, EOCP, provides grant assistance towards the staffing costs of community based, not-for-profit child care services which have a clear focus on disadvantage. Funding under the staffing measure of the EOCP is only made available to help support the staffing costs of those projects which can demonstrate that they are...

Written Answers — Registration of Title: Registration of Title (3 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Registrar of Titles that there is no record of an application pending on this folio at present. If the Deputy can provide me with the date of lodgement of the application and a Land Registry reference number I will make further inquiries on his behalf.

Written Answers — Deportation Orders: Deportation Orders (3 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: Both persons referred to by the Deputy are young Nigerian nationals who arrived separately in the State in April 2001 and September 2002, respectively, as unaccompanied minors and claimed asylum. Both their applications for refugee status were refused following consideration by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner and on appeal by the Office of the Refugee Appeals Tribunal....

Written Answers — Deportation Orders: Deportation Orders (3 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: Section 5 of the Refugee Act 1996 regarding prohibition of refoulement, requires that a person shall not be expelled from the State or returned in any manner whatsoever to a State where, in the opinion of the Minister, the life or freedom of that person would be threatened on account of his or her race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion. Every...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (3 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the relevant determining authorities — the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner, ORAC, and the Refugee Appeals Tribunal, RAT, that there are in the region of 100 cases in the asylum system for over three years. In the case of the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner a recommendation of some type has previously issued but for a variety of reasons...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (3 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: Persons seek and are granted refugee status in the State based on a wide variety of reasons, some of them multiple, in accordance with provisions of the Refugee Act 1996 and the 1951 UN Refugee Convention. A detailed breakdown of these reasons is not maintained by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner or by the Office of the Refugee Appeals Tribunal. Consequently, statistics are...

Written Answers — Foreign Passports: Foreign Passports (3 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: On 15 January 2005, I introduced revised arrangements for the making of applications by non-nationals for permission to remain on the basis of their parentage of a child born in Ireland prior to 1 January 2005. All applicants are required to provide adequate proof of their identity by way of a passport or national identity card. Establishing the true identity of an applicant under the revised...

Written Answers — Death Certificates: Death Certificates (3 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: The issue of certification of death is not generally the responsibility of my Department. However, I can say that in so far as the coroner's service is concerned, all aspects of its operation are being considered for updating in the context of the preparation in my Department of proposals for a new Coroner's Bill, in line with the commitment in the Government legislation programme as...

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (3 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that they are aware of the reports regarding anti-social behaviour in the location concerned and I understand that a policing plan has been devised to combat it. I am advised that a Garda inspector has been in direct contact with the residents referred to, concerning policing of the area, and regular contact will be maintained with them. I am further...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (3 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: An application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to by the Deputy was received in the citizenship section of my Department on 12 May 2004. The average processing time for such applications is currently 24 months. It is likely, therefore, that the application of the individual concerned will be finalised by May 2006. The lengthy processing time for applications is...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (3 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: The applications referred to by the Deputy were for the purposes of allowing the spouses of non-EEA nationals employed under the employment permit scheme to reside with them in the State. These applications were refused by my Department in May 2004 on the grounds that, based on the evidence supplied, the persons resident in the State did not have sufficient finances available to them to...

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (3 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that there are currently no plans to extend the number of Garda stations open to the public on a 24 hour basis. The Garda authorities have also informed me that the extension of the current opening hours of the Garda stations in the north Kildare area would necessitate the employment of Garda personnel on indoor administrative duties and that, in their...