Results 16,921-16,940 of 18,734 for speaker:Michael McDowell

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

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 168 to 171, inclusive, together. The table below outlines the number of applications received, applications refused and certificates issued in the citizenship section of my Department in the period 1995 to 2004. Year Number of Applications naturalisation Number of Certificates issued * Number refused* Number of Applications PNC Number of Certificates...

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

Michael McDowell: As I have indicated previously, the major reduction in the numbers of asylum applicants is now giving me an opportunity to re-focus resources on areas of service provision for non-nationals which are under-resourced at this point in time. The citizenship area is one of the areas which is benefiting from that process. Given the very large numbers of staff involved and having regard to the...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (27 Jan 2005)

Michael McDowell: I understand that an application for capital grant assistance under the Equal Opportunities Childcare 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 — Garda Pensions: Garda Pensions (27 Jan 2005)

Michael McDowell: My Department is responsible for payments made under the Garda superannuation scheme and I am in the process of establishing an internal dispute resolution procedure for Garda pensioners. Arrangements will be made to have the procedure in place in the near future. In the interim, the Finance Officer, Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Killarney, County Kerry is the official in my...

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

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that members of the Garda Band are appointed in accordance with the provisions of regulation 14 of the Garda Síochána (Admissions and Appointments) Regulations 1988 which provide that: "Where the Commissioner is satisfied that a person has special technical qualifications which justify his appointment and enrolment under this regulation as a member...

Written Answers — Grant Aid: Grant Aid (27 Jan 2005)

Michael McDowell: I understand that applications for capital and staffing grant assistance under the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme — EOCP — 2000-2006, were 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 childcare to support parents in employment, education and training. The level of...

Written Answers — School Grants: School Grants (27 Jan 2005)

Michael McDowell: In January 2003, a staffing grant of €12,000 for one year, and a capital grant of €20,426 was allocated under the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme (EOCP) 2000-2006 to the group referred to by the Deputy. As the Deputy will appreciate, funding under the staffing measure of the programme is awarded to community based organisations providing child care which supports disadvantaged...

Written Answers — School Grants: School Grants (27 Jan 2005)

Michael McDowell: The Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme (EOCP) 2000-2006 is a seven-year development programme which aims to increase the availability of child care, support parents and in particular disadvantaged parents, thereby, enabling them to avail of employment, education and training opportunities. Applications for staffing grant assistance must be directly related to the provision and...

Written Answers — Proscribed Organisations: Proscribed Organisations (27 Jan 2005)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy will appreciate that to disclose precise details of intelligence information provided by the Garda Síochána on such matters in the context of a reply to a parliamentary question would be contrary to long-standing practice and would not be in the public interest.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (27 Jan 2005)

Michael McDowell: Over the period in question and in order to facilitate the conduct of official business, Visa cards have been issued to myself and five officials namely my private secretary, the secretary-general, the Department's finance officer, the head of IT and the Department's former secretary-general. Balances outstanding are paid directly by the Department subject to the normal Department of Finance...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (27 Jan 2005)

Michael McDowell: I wish to inform the Deputy that the number of offences recorded in 2003 in which a firearm was used are outlined in the following table: Year Murders Manslaughter Robberies Aggravated burglaries Possession of a firearm Discharge of a firearm 2003 20 0 251 62 374 210 A breakdown of the offences by reference to whether or not the weapon used was legally held is not readily...

Written Answers — Firearms Legislation: Firearms Legislation (27 Jan 2005)

Michael McDowell: The Criminal Justice Bill, as published, contains one proposal in relation to firearms which is to provide for their secure custody. Other provisions on firearms will be brought forward in the form of amendments to the Bill on Committee Stage. I propose to bring those amendments to Government shortly for approval. They will then be presented to the House in the normal way.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Bill 2002: Second Stage [Resumed]. (27 Jan 2005)

Michael McDowell: When I pointed out these Marxist characteristics and the deeply ingrained Marxist beliefs of leading provisionals who are still in office in a debate at Trinity College, the Sinn Féin general secretary, Robbie Smyth, said "So what?" It may be a question of "so what?" and people are entitled to be Marxists, but Irish-America should ask itself what it has in common with a party whose members...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Bill 2002: Second Stage [Resumed]. (27 Jan 2005)

Michael McDowell: I thank Senators for their considered response to the Bill being debated over the past two days. I thank the generally supportive Senators for their comments also. I should explain the delay with this legislation. I introduced the legislation in 2002 in the Dáil where we had a very interesting Second Stage debate which was informed by a number of criticisms made of the Bill. Those criticisms...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Bill 2002: Second Stage [Resumed]. (27 Jan 2005)

Michael McDowell: Those who naively go along with the provisional agenda should think long and hard about it. It has been argued by those who write to the newspapers that I was a bit tough by stating that Sinn Féin is a Marxist party.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Bill 2002: Second Stage [Resumed]. (27 Jan 2005)

Michael McDowell: FARC is a Marxist communist group which used Provisional IRA methods and technology to herd a group of people into a church in Colombia and mortared the church destroying them. The provisional movement is the only political movement on this island — although it had some difficulty in admitting it — to keep a full-time representative in Havana, the capital of one of the last communist...

Written Answers — Registration of Title: Registration of Title (26 Jan 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Registrar of Titles that this is an application for first registration which was lodged on 30 October 2003 dealing No. D2003CR009352H refers. I understand that due to the complicated nature of these type of cases, which require examination of an applicant's entitlement to the property concerned, it is not possible to estimate a date of completion at this time. Queries...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (26 Jan 2005)

Michael McDowell: On 10 December 2004, I approved capital grant assistance of €1.3 million in respect of an application from the group in question, subject to the group's being able to comply with a number of conditions in relation to the completion of the project. I understand that my Department's child care directorate advised the group of my decision in early December. Area Development Management Limited...

Written Answers — Refugee Status: Refugee Status (26 Jan 2005)

Michael McDowell: This person, a Nigerian national, arrived in the State on 14 June 2004 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. This person is the parent of an Irish born child. Subsequently, in accordance with the Immigration Act 1999, as amended, she was...

Written Answers — Refugee Status: Refugee Status (26 Jan 2005)

Michael McDowell: The person in question entered the State with her daughter on 25 November 2002 and applied for asylum on the same day. She withdrew her asylum application on 4 January 2003 and applied for residency on the basis of parentage to an Irish born child. She was informed by letter dated 11 February 2004 that the Minister proposed to make a deportation order in respect of her and her child. She was...