Results 17,481-17,500 of 18,761 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Juvenile Diversion Programme: Juvenile Diversion Programme (12 Oct 2004)

Michael McDowell: The Garda juvenile diversion programme has proven to be highly successful in diverting young people away from crime by offering guidance and support to juveniles and their families. The first commencement order under the Children Act 2001 was made in May 2002 and included provisions placing the programme on a statutory basis. The Act introduced the concept of restorative justice to the...

Written Answers — Criminal Prosecutions: Criminal Prosecutions (12 Oct 2004)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that there have been no arrests of persons organising and profiting from prostitution in the area. Consequently, there have been no convictions.

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (12 Oct 2004)

Michael McDowell: The right to work for asylum seekers is based on the Government's decision of 26 July 1999. It allows asylum seekers to seek employment once they had applied on or before that date, had been 12 months without a final determination of his or her asylum application and had been compliant with their obligations in the asylum process. The person concerned has not been entitled to seek or take up...

Written Answers — Drug Courts: Drug Courts (12 Oct 2004)

Michael McDowell: On 9 January 2001 a pilot programme was launched in the Dublin District Court and the north inner city was chosen as the location. The programme marked a major policy initiative in the criminal justice system. It was designed as an alternative measure for dealing with less serious and non-violent drug offenders. In July 2002, the project was evaluated by expert consultants at the end of the...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (12 Oct 2004)

Michael McDowell: The persons concerned arrived in the State and made an asylum application on 27 October 2000. Their applications were refused on appeal on 11 April 2002. On the same day an application for residency on the basis of parentage of an Irish child born in February 2002 was received. Following the decision of the Supreme Court in the cases of L & O, the separate procedure that then existed to...

Written Answers — Closed Circuit Television Systems: Closed Circuit Television Systems (12 Oct 2004)

Michael McDowell: My Department drew up the code of practice for the operation of the community based CCTV scheme in co-operation with the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner. Detailed technical specifications were drawn up by the Garda Síochána and are my Department's officials are assessing them. I expect my Department to finalise the code of practice and the technical specifications in the coming...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (12 Oct 2004)

Michael McDowell: The person in question arrived in the State and made dual asylum applications under separate names in September 1999. He withdrew one of these asylum applications in August 2000. His asylum application under his true name was refused on 8 February 2001. He subsequently applied for residency on the basis of parentage of a child born in Ireland in June2002. Following the decision of the Supreme...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (12 Oct 2004)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by officials in my Department's citizenship section that there is no record of an application for naturalisation or a declaration of post-nuptial citizenship having been received from the person referred to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (12 Oct 2004)

Michael McDowell: On 16 October 2002, applications for naturalisation from the persons were submitted to my Department's citizenship section. To finalise the processing of the applications, some additional documentation was sought by my officials in November 2003. The documentation is still outstanding. It is not possible to finalise the applications until the requested documentation is received.

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (12 Oct 2004)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by officials in my Department's citizenship section that there is no record of an application for naturalisation or a declaration of post-nuptial citizenship having been received from the person referred to by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (12 Oct 2004)

Michael McDowell: The equal opportunities child care programme 2000-2006 is a seven-year development programme that aims to increase the availability and quality of child care to support parents in employment, education and training. Its progress was commented upon very favourably by the mid-term evaluators of both the regional operational programmes and the National Development Plan 2000-2006. Following the...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (12 Oct 2004)

Michael McDowell: Prior to 13 February a non-EEA national woman who was married to an Irish citizen was exempt from the requirement to register. A non-EEA national man who was married to an Irish citizen was not exempt from that requirement. The Immigration Act 2004 came into operation on 13 February. Section 9 re-enacted the prior existing provisions on registration with certain amendments. One of those...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (12 Oct 2004)

Michael McDowell: The Garda authorities are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel. They have informed me that the personnel strength for all ranks in the division as at 5 October, the most recent date for which information is readily available, was 479.

Written Answers — Car Seizures: Car Seizures (12 Oct 2004)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities that from 1 January to 8 October, a total of 411 vehicles were seized under section 41 of the Road Traffic Acts 1961-1994. I am further informed that these vehicles are disposed of in two ways. First, vehicles may be reclaimed by their owners on production of documentation indicating that the vehicle has the relevant motor tax and insurance and...

Written Answers — Garda Equipment: Garda Equipment (12 Oct 2004)

Michael McDowell: I am advised by the Garda authorities that, based on a random survey of users during the period 4 to 7 October, the average log-in time to PULSE was 22.54 seconds. Given that part of the log-in process involves assigning specific access privileges and retrieving details of recent searches and transactions for each user, this log-in time is regarded as very satisfactory. I am also advised that...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (12 Oct 2004)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities that the information requested is not readily available and can only be obtained by the disproportionate expenditure of Garda time and resources which could not be justified in the circumstances.

Written Answers — Deportation Orders: Deportation Orders (12 Oct 2004)

Michael McDowell: Following the decision on 23 January 2003 of the Supreme Court in the cases of L & O, the separate procedure which then existed to enable persons to apply to reside in the State on the sole basis of parentage of an Irish-born child ended on 19 February 2003. The Government decided that this separate procedure would not apply to cases which were outstanding on that date. Instead, such cases...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (5 Oct 2004)

Michael McDowell: The EU legal instrument referred to in the Deputy's question is Council Directive 2003/9/EC of 27 January 2003 laying down minimum standards for the reception of asylum seekers. This directive is covered by title IV of the EU treaties and by the "Protocol on the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland" under which the State has an option to participate in its provisions. Many of the key...

Written Answers — Gaming and Lotteries Legislation: Gaming and Lotteries Legislation (5 Oct 2004)

Michael McDowell: In so far as some prize-winning schemes are conducted in lottery form, for example, scratch cards, the provisions of the Gaming and Lotteries Acts 1956 to 1986 apply. Under the 1956 Act, all lotteries are unlawful except those which are specifically permitted. Furthermore, under section 22 of the Act, publication of any notice or announcement concerning a lottery, other than announcement of...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (5 Oct 2004)

Michael McDowell: I can confirm that a capital grant application for more than €1.1 million was submitted by the group to my Department some time ago and that this is one of a number of applications currently on hand for capital funding from projects located in this area. The equal opportunities child care programme 2000-2006 is a seven year development programme which aims to increase the availability and...