Results 16,621-16,640 of 18,734 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Prison Building Programme. (16 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: I remind the Deputies opposite that when their parties were in office, nothing was done about these matters.

Prison Building Programme. (16 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: What I am doing is developing a modern prison system for this country. Deputy Costello and people close to him want to keep Mountjoy in the city centre at a cost of €400 million——

Prison Building Programme. (16 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: ——to the Irish taxpayer. My response to that is "No way, José". I will not go down that road.

Prison Building Programme. (16 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am not ranting. It is interesting that the Deputies opposite like to impart facts but they do not like to receive them.

Prison Building Programme. (16 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: The intention is to build state-of-the-art facilities for adult male and female prisoners as well as other facilities on the new site at Thorntown, County Dublin. However, until a site was acquired, final decisions could not be made on the full range of facilities to be located there. Detailed planning is now under way. It will not be possible to give any reliable estimate of total cost until...

Written Answers — Disability Bill 2004: Disability Bill 2004 (15 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 409 and 424 together. Section 2 of the Disability Bill defines "public body" for the purposes of the Bill. The definition includes Departments and offices, local authorities and health boards — paragraphs (a) to (g) of the definition. The part of the definition which is the subject of the Deputy's questions relates to paragraph (h) as follows: (h) a person,...

Written Answers — Violence against Women: Violence against Women (15 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: Following receipt of a report by a task force on violence against women, which recommended the establishment of a steering committee at national level on the issue of violence against women, the Government established a national steering committee on violence against women in December 1997. The committee comprises representatives from five Departments — Health and Children, the Environment,...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (15 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: The Garda authorities have advised me that the Garda Síochána does not issue blasting permits where a local authority has refused planning permission to carry out such activity, or where an enforcement order under the Planning Acts to prevent such activity as blasting exists. The granting of blasting permits is a responsibility for the superintendent of the Garda district in which the...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (15 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: The visa application to which the Deputy refers was refused on 12 January 2005. In assessing any visa application, the visa officer will consider various matters, including whether it is reasonable in all the circumstances to conclude that the applicant would fully honour the conditions of the visa for example, it is unlikely that the applicant would overstay the length of time applied for....

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (15 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: The current resources and personnel deployments in the Border Garda divisions are considered adequate to meet public expectations and to maintain security. The allocation and deployment of Garda resources within the Border region remains under constant review, particularly in the light of broader political developments, including negotiations as part of the Northern Ireland peace process.

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (15 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: The final report of the Garda strategic management initiative implementation steering group made several recommendations on the Garda Síochána's regional, divisional, and district structure. The report did not identify which districts, divisions or regions would be affected. The Garda Síochána Bill 2004, which proposes the most fundamental modernisation of the Garda Síochána since the...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (15 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: The person concerned applied for asylum on 6 June 2003 and had his claim investigated, in turn, by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner and the Refugee Appeals Tribunal, both of which concluded that he did not meet the criteria for recognition as a refugee. The recommendations of these two bodies were communicated to the person concerned on 22 June 2004 and 29 November 2004...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (15 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: The person concerned applied for asylum on 24 March 2004 and had her claim investigated, in turn, by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner and the Refugee Appeals Tribunal, both of which concluded that she did not meet the criteria for recognition as a refugee. The recommendations of these two bodies were communicated to the person concerned on 30 December 2004 and 7 February...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (15 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: The group submitted an application for capital grant assistance under the equal opportunities child care programme 2000-06, to my Department some time ago. The programme 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 grant assistance was such that...

Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (15 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: A decision has been made on the issue to which the Deputy refers and a letter has issued to the person concerned advising her of the position.

Written Answers — Drug Seizures: Drug Seizures (15 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: Heroin seizures for 2002, 2003 and 2004 have remained reasonably static with minor fluctuations in the quantities being seized. The trend for this year to date appears similar to other years with the exception of one seizure of three kilos of heroin at a Dublin address in mid-January. While there have been a few heroin seizures at street level to date in 2005, the Garda authorities indicate...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (15 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: Policing arrangements for public events and in locations generally, with the allocation of Garda resources, are solely a matter for the Garda Commissioner. The Garda Síochána is not aware of any decision having been made regarding Shamrock Rovers playing at Dalymount Park. As I am sure the Deputy will understand, in the event of this situation arising, various factors will influence the...

Written Answers — Deportation Orders: Deportation Orders (15 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: The persons concerned arrived in the State on 14 August 2000 and claimed asylum. Their applications were refused by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner and they were notified of this recommendation by letter of 14 November 2001. Their subsequent appeal was refused by the Office of the Refugee Appeals Tribunal and they were notified of this recommendation by letter of 20 August...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (15 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: The immigration division of my Department has recently written to the person concerned requesting documentation on her residence in the State. On receipt of same, a decision will be made in the case.

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (15 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: The visa application in question was to enable the wife of a non-EEA national employed under the work permit scheme to reside with him in the State. 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 has been offered a contract for a further year. The worker must also be able to fully...