Results 16,961-16,980 of 18,761 for speaker:Michael McDowell

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...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (26 Jan 2005)

Michael McDowell: The application in question was received in my Department in October 2004. The visa officer, having considered the application, was not satisfied on the basis of the documentation supplied that the applicant would observe the conditions of a study visa and refused the application. Credibility is central to the visa determination process. Not surprisingly, inconsistencies or omissions on the...

Written Answers — Irish Prison Service: Irish Prison Service (26 Jan 2005)

Michael McDowell: Overall, overtime expenditure for the Irish Prison Service was reduced from €58.9 million in 2003 to approximately €45.5 million in 2004. This saving can be attributed to a rigorous control of overtime in each institution. The overtime savings arising from the closure of Fort Mitchel and the Curragh places of detention, are also included in this figure. It is difficult to quantify the...

Written Answers — Irish Prison Service: Irish Prison Service (26 Jan 2005)

Michael McDowell: The latest approved figures relating to the average number of prisoners in each of the State prisons and institutions are contained in the annual report for 2003 which was published recently. For ease of reference, these are set out in the following table:

Written Answers — Irish Prison Service: Irish Prison Service (26 Jan 2005)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy will be aware that following extensive negotiations between the Irish Prison Service and the Prison Officers Association, a limited number of financial issues were the subject of a referral to arbitration, the hearings of which took place on 22 October and 1 November 2004. The arbitrator released his findings on Monday, 24 January 2005 and officials of the Irish Prison Service were...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (26 Jan 2005)

Michael McDowell: The Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended, provides that an applicant for a certificate of naturalisation must have had a year's continuous residence in the State immediately before the date of application and, during the eight years immediately preceding that period, had a total residence in the State amounting to four years. In determining whether an applicant satisfies...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (26 Jan 2005)

Michael McDowell: The person referred to by the Deputy made an asylum claim in Ireland on 19 January 2004. Following investigation, it was determined by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner, and later upheld on appeal by the Office of the Refugee Appeals Tribunal by letter of 20 May 2004, that the UK was the appropriate country pursuant to the provisions of the Dublin II Regulation (EC) No....

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (26 Jan 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am considering a review of the law in relation to this matter. Any proposals for changes to the legislation which might result from such a review would be brought before the Government and announced in the usual manner.

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (26 Jan 2005)

Michael McDowell: The application in question was to enable the wife of a non-EEA national to come and reside with him in the State. The non-EEA national concerned was granted permission to remain in the State for a three-year period from May 2004, following a failed asylum application. It seems he then travelled home and underwent a marriage ceremony in June 2004, resulting in the visa application. Having...

Written Answers — Garda Communications: Garda Communications (26 Jan 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am advised by the Garda Síochána that there are currently 181 masts in use by O2. None of these masts is owned by O2. A breakdown by county is set out in the following table. I am also advised by the Garda authorities that there are 998 mobile phones on official issue within the Garda Síochána. There are no charges levied against these phones when calling within the 086 network or when...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (26 Jan 2005)

Michael McDowell: I note that this matter has been carefully considered by the Humans Rights Commission in accordance with the criteria set out in the Human Rights Commission Act 2000 and the commission's internal guidelines concerning the holding of inquiries and the provision of assistance. The clear policy underpinning the Human Rights Commission Act 2000 is the establishment of a national independent human...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (26 Jan 2005)

Michael McDowell: The visa application was approved.

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (26 Jan 2005)

Michael McDowell: There are plans to build a new Garda station in Swords, County Dublin. The construction of a new station in Swords will depend on a number of factors, including the availability of financial and other resources and priorities within the Garda building programme. Accordingly, it is not possible at this stage to say when this project will commence. I can say, however, that as an interim measure...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (26 Jan 2005)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy will be aware from the latest Garda annual report that there were almost 1,100,-22%, fewer serious assaults and over 2,300,-23%, fewer minor assaults in 2003 compared to 2002. There were almost 2,000,-22%, fewer criminal damage cases and 2,400,-4%, fewer public order offences in 2003 compared to 2002. I am informed by the Garda authorities that there is no specific crime...