Results 18,261-18,280 of 18,736 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (30 Mar 2004)

Michael McDowell: Applications from three of the members of the family concerned have been received in the citizenship section of my Department. The first was received on 13 January 2003, the second on 7 January 2004 and the third on 26 January 2004. The average processing time is currently 15 to 18 months and the applications referred to by the Deputy will be processed according to the date they were...

Written Answers — Prison Medical Service: Prison Medical Service (30 Mar 2004)

Michael McDowell: Arising from long-standing difficulties regarding the recruitment and retention of health care staff to work with prisoners, a group to review the structure and organisation of prison health care services was established in 1999. The report of this group, which was published in 2001, makes a total of 43 recommendations covering various aspects of prison health care, including GP, nursing,...

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (30 Mar 2004)

Michael McDowell: The accommodation requirements of the gardaí in Tallaght are currently being considered, in conjunction with the Office of Public Works, with a view to finalising proposals in the very near future. Local Garda management is satisfied that there is currently a sufficient number of community gardaí attached to Tallaght Garda station.

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (30 Mar 2004)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the personnel strength of Rathcoole Garda station as at 29 March 2004 is 23, all ranks. This compares with a figure of 11 on 31 December 1997 and represents an increase of 12, or 109%, in the personnel assigned to Rathcoole Garda station since that date....

Written Answers — Closed Circuit Television Systems: Closed Circuit Television Systems (30 Mar 2004)

Michael McDowell: As the Deputy is aware, Tallaght, together with Athlone, Clondalkin and Waterford, is one of the four systems in phase 2 of the current CCTV installation programme throughout the State set to receive a new Garda town centre CCTV system. The experience to date with the installation of CCTV systems in other areas clearly indicates that to arrive at full commissioning can be a very lengthy...

Written Answers — Anti-Racism Measures: Anti-Racism Measures (30 Mar 2004)

Michael McDowell: As the Deputy may be aware the Building Solidarity Across Communities report was funded by the KNOW Racism Programme, through which a grant of €2,000 was made available in July 2003. I would like to congratulate the South West Inner City Network for producing the report. Broadly speaking, the recommendations of the report are compatible with the structure of the draft National Action Plan...

Written Answers — Constitutional Amendments: Constitutional Amendments (30 Mar 2004)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 447, 453 and 454 together. The programme for Government contained a commitment to initiate all-party discussions on the issue of constitutional or other measures which might be required to address the question of applications from non-nationals to remain in the State on the basis of parentage of an Irish-born child. In pursuance of that commitment, I initiated...

Written Answers — Ministerial Meetings: Ministerial Meetings (30 Mar 2004)

Michael McDowell: I have met variously with the chair, members of the board and the chief executive of the Equality Authority on four occasions: 26 June 2002, 27 January 2003, 6 March 2003 and 19 September 2003. I have also met the chief executive officer at a number of other events, most recently at an equality conference in Dublin earlier this month.

Written Answers — Ministerial Meetings: Ministerial Meetings (30 Mar 2004)

Michael McDowell: Since assuming office I have met the Human Rights Commission on two occasions, on 21 October 2002 and on 8 March, this year. I have also met the president of the IHRC informally on a number of occasions over this period.

Written Answers — Ministerial Meetings: Ministerial Meetings (30 Mar 2004)

Michael McDowell: I have met the NCCRI on two occasions, 2 September 2002 and 3 February 2004. In addition, I participated in a conference on migration policy organised by the NCCRI on 10 December 2002.

Written Answers — Ministerial Meetings: Ministerial Meetings (30 Mar 2004)

Michael McDowell: With respect to the first part of the Deputy's question, in the limited time available it has not been possible to compile the information sought. However, I will correspond with the Deputy in this regard in due course. The meetings I have had with organisations and individuals who represent or are representative of the views of the ethnic communities here are outlined in the table below. ...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (30 Mar 2004)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that there have been no burglaries reported to the gardaí in the area in question over the last 12 months. However, I am further informed that there have been six criminal damage incidents in the area for the same period which have occurred in the nearby national school. I understand that the area receives regular attention from both the community...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (30 Mar 2004)

Michael McDowell: The person in question, a 21 year old female, applied for a visit visa for herself and her six year old son in February 2004. The application was refused because it had not been established, on the basis of the documentation supplied to my Department, that the applicant would observe the conditions of the visa. In particular, it was felt that the applicant had not displayed sufficient...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Accidents: Road Traffic Accidents (30 Mar 2004)

Michael McDowell: The Garda authorities have informed me that two fatalities were recorded involving off-road dumpers on public roads from 2001 to March 2004. The first of these occurred in the Waterford-Kilkenny division in November 2001. The second fatality was in the Louth-Meath division in January 2003.

Written Answers — Deportation Orders: Deportation Orders (30 Mar 2004)

Michael McDowell: The persons referred to in the question entered the State separately in 2000 and made applications for asylum independently of each other. They were refused refugee status in the State following consideration of their cases by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner and on appeal by the Refugee Appeals Tribunal. Notifications under section 3(3)(a) of the Immigration Act 1999...

Seanad: Private Security Services Bill 2001: Second Stage. (25 Mar 2004)

Michael McDowell: I welcome the response the Bill has received from Members of the Seanad. I thank Senators for their broadly supportive approach to the Second Stage debate. As I said, it is a matter of considerable urgency. As Senator Terry said, it is one thing to legislate but something different to produce results on the ground. It is an absolute certainty that if we do not produce legislation, we will not...

Seanad: Private Security Services Bill 2001: Second Stage. (25 Mar 2004)

Michael McDowell: I am not sure if she was in order to discuss the matter but if she was not, I will be equally disorderly by responding to her comments. I think I know from the hints she gave me where such happy hours are to be found.

Seanad: Private Security Services Bill 2001: Second Stage. (25 Mar 2004)

Michael McDowell: If the Senator draws a case to my attention, I will ensure it is dealt with. I am anxious to ensure all instances of inappropriate promotion of alcohol to young people are drawn to the attention of my Department, the Commissioner of the Garda Síochána or the District Court, as appropriate. It is important that we develop a different attitude to drinking.

Seanad: Private Security Services Bill 2001: Second Stage. (25 Mar 2004)

Michael McDowell: I say that in the context of the recent St. Patrick's Day arguments and controversy. As I was out of the country during that period, I was not in a position to draw conclusions of my own on the matter. There is one breed of commentator in public who says I am the personification of the nanny state while, on the other hand, there is a group telling me I am not doing enough to deal with...

Seanad: Private Security Services Bill 2001: Second Stage. (25 Mar 2004)

Michael McDowell: Yes. As long as it comes from both sides, I must be getting it right. Some of the penalties in the Bill are District Court summary conviction penalties but others for offences such as employing unlicensed staff or acting as a security provider without a licence attract indictable penalties of five years' imprisonment and substantial fines on indictment. If an offence is punishable by a term...