Results 16,901-16,920 of 18,734 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Garda Disciplinary Proceedings: Garda Disciplinary Proceedings (1 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities that the two gardaí involved in the case referred to by the Deputy are the subject of criminal and disciplinary proceedings which have yet to be finalised. In the circumstances, he will appreciate that it would be inappropriate for me to make any comment which could affect these proceedings.

Written Answers — Deportation Orders: Deportation Orders (1 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to the reply to Question No. 412 on Tuesday, 30 November 2004. Since that reply the Garda national immigration bureau served a letter dated 16 November 2004 on the person concerned requiring him to present himself again to the bureau on 30 November 2004. He again failed to present himself on that occasion. He subsequently attended at Kilkenny Garda station on 8 December...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (1 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: The refugee in question submitted four passports in respect of his wife and children in support of his application for family reunification under section 18 of the Refugee Act 1996. However, after initial examination by my Department, doubts arose as to the authenticity of the passports in question. The documents were subsequently examined by a technical expert in the area of documents who...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (1 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: The person in question arrived in the State on 18 January 2001 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 the Immigration Act 1999, as amended, she was informed by letter, dated 31 December 2003, that it was...

Written Answers — Peace Commissioners: Peace Commissioners (1 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: There are 6,808 serving peace commissioners, of which 6,587 are available to the public and a further 221 were appointed in an ex officio capacity, mostly to prisons and places of detention but also to the Central Bank, the Revenue Commissioners, the Garda training college and a number of Departments. A peace commissioner is normally appointed to serve a county and the immediately adjoining...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (1 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: My Department has no plans to introduce a specific cultural visa for artists intending to travel to the State. However, visas are issued for specific events such as public performances of the type referred to by the Deputy, subject to appropriate accompanying documentation. This includes a schedule of the dates of the performance or other events and a work permit or other written permission...

Written Answers — Registration of Title: Registration of Title (1 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Registrar of Titles that this is an application for a transfer order, which was lodged on 22 December 2004. Dealing Number D2004WS015439W refers. I am further informed that queries issued to the lodging party on 31 January 2005 and that the application cannot proceed until these queries have been satisfactorily resolved. However, on receipt of a satisfactory reply, the...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (27 Jan 2005)

Michael McDowell: I can inform the Deputy that permission to remain in the State was granted to the person in question on 24 January 2005.

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

Michael McDowell: I can confirm that an appeal was received from the person referred to and is pending consideration by a visa appeals officer. A decision will issue on the appeal in the near future. Any additional information furnished in support of the appeal will of course be taken into account by the appeals officer.

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

Michael McDowell: The person referred to by the Deputy submitted an application on behalf of the non-EEA national concerned in October 2004 for the stated purpose of a three month holiday in the State. The application was examined by a visa officer who concluded that, based on the documentation provided, it was not reasonable in all the circumstances to grant a visa and the application was refused. The visa...

Written Answers — Refugee Status: Refugee Status (27 Jan 2005)

Michael McDowell: The position is that the person concerned arrived in the State on 16 May 2001 and claimed asylum. She was notified by letter of 1 February 2002, that the Refugee Applications Commissioner was recommending that she be refused refugee status. Her subsequent appeal was refused. She was notified of my decision not to grant her refugee status by letter of 28 August 2002. The letter also informed...

Written Answers — Age Cards: Age Cards (27 Jan 2005)

Michael McDowell: I assume the Deputy is referring to the age card issued by the Garda Síochána in order to confirm that the person to whom it has been issued has attained the legal age for the purchase of intoxicating liquor. I am informed by the Garda authorities that the application procedure for the age card is governed by the Intoxicating Liquor Act 1988 (Age Card) Regulations 1999, made under the...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (27 Jan 2005)

Michael McDowell: My limited involvement in this area concerns principally the human rights aspects of persons with mental illness who have committed offences and thus come into contact with the criminal justice system. The Criminal Law (Insanity) Bill 2002 contains important new provisions in this respect, including the establishment of a new Mental Health Review Board. The main function of the board will be...

Written Answers — Human Trafficking: Human Trafficking (27 Jan 2005)

Michael McDowell: I can inform the Deputy that, the Ad Hoc Committee on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings, CAHTEH, held its seventh meeting in December 2004. At that meeting CAHTEH finalised the examination of the draft Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings and approved the text. The CAHTEH agreed to submit the text of the draft Convention to the Committee of...

Written Answers — Sex Offenders: Sex Offenders (27 Jan 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the Garda Síochána has no evidence of any paedophile ring operating in the Munster area.

Written Answers — Garda Vetting Services: Garda Vetting Services (27 Jan 2005)

Michael McDowell: The Garda central vetting unit, GCVU, was established in January 2002 to carry out criminal record vetting in respect of prospective full-time employees working primarily in the health care area and in certain designated agencies. The human resources assigned to the GCVU currently comprise one Garda sergeant, two gardaí, and nine civil servants, and the unit currently deals with...

Written Answers — Register of Sex Offenders: Register of Sex Offenders (27 Jan 2005)

Michael McDowell: In the context of the Good Friday Agreement an intergovernmental agreement on North-South co-operation on criminal justice matters, together with an associated work programme, is currently being negotiated and is expected to be finalised shortly. One of the items under consideration for inclusion in the work programme is the establishment of a working group to review the arrangements for...

Written Answers — Drug Seizures: Drug Seizures (27 Jan 2005)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 162 to 165, inclusive, together. I have been informed by the Garda authorities that aggregate data for 2004 drug seizures is not available at present. This data is currently being prepared for inclusion in the Garda Síochána annual report for 2004. However, I understand that provisional data on drug seizures last year is likely to be available shortly. I...

Written Answers — Deportation Orders: Deportation Orders (27 Jan 2005)

Michael McDowell: I would refer the Deputy to the reply I gave to Question No. 55 on Wednesday, 8 December, 2004. The position is updated as follows in the following table:

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (27 Jan 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that, for security reasons, it is not Garda policy to comment upon the security arrangements for individual heads of state or visiting dignitaries. I am also informed that the level of security afforded to such VIPs is an operational decision involving many factors, having due regard to the safety and security of the VIP and the entitlement of...