Results 16,921-16,940 of 18,761 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (1 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: I regard the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, in particular the section dealing with rights, safeguards and equality of opportunity, wherein the parties affirm their commitment to the mutual respect, the civil rights and the religious liberties of everyone on the island of Ireland, as the main text with regard to this matter. I respectfully draw the attention of the Deputy to paragraphs 9 and 10...

Written Answers — Crime Prevention: Crime Prevention (1 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: The Government places a high priority on putting into place measures aimed at tackling crimes of domestic violence, rape, sexual assault and other crimes of violence against women. My Department, which is one of five Departments with responsibilities in this area, plays a major role. It has responsibility for legislative initiatives, preventative measures such as intervention programmes for...

Written Answers — Cross-Border Projects: Cross-Border Projects (1 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: In each of the last two years, my Department and the Northern Ireland Office have facilitated the organisation of a joint Garda-PSNI conference to enhance cross-Border co-operation in tackling organised crime. At last year's conference in September, the Garda and the PSNI launched the first joint threat assessment on cross-Border organised crime. Since then, the two police forces have begun...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (1 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: In the time available for answering parliamentary questions, it has not been possible to compile the detailed information requested by the Deputy. The information sought is being compiled and I will forward it to the Deputy as soon as it is available. Decisions on the outsourcing of designated services within the remaining lifetime of the 29th Dáil will be considered at future dates as the...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (1 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: In the time available, it is not possible to provide the information requested by the Deputy. There are numerous areas throughout the prison service where private services are contracted such as psychiatric services, medical locum services and education and training services. There are also numerous small cleaning and maintenance contracts in place. There are two major private service...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (1 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: In the time available for answering parliamentary questions, it has not been possible to compile the detailed information requested. The information sought is being compiled at present and I will forward it to the Deputy shortly.

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (1 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: The full information sought by the Deputy could only be obtained by the expenditure of an inordinate amount of time and resources which is not justifiable at this time. However, details of payments in excess of €1,000, for the year ended 31 December 2004 for consultancy services provided to the Garda Síochána together with details of Garda cleaning contracts awarded for 2004 are being...

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...