Results 18,361-18,380 of 18,736 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (10 Feb 2004)

Michael McDowell: The helpline for the citizenship section of my Department operates from 10 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. During this period, two telephones are in operation. A total of 8,572 calls, approximately 165 per week, were dealt with in 2003 and 842 calls were dealt with in January 2004. The citizenship section, in common with other areas of the immigration and citizenship division of...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (10 Feb 2004)

Michael McDowell: The Garda authorities enforce the regulations in respect of the compulsory fitting of speed limitation devices on buses-coaches with more than eight passenger seats, excluding the driver's seat, with a design gross vehicle weight exceeding ten tonnes and heavy goods vehicles exceeding 12 tonnes. Vehicles first registered prior to 1988 are exempted from these regulations. Speed limiters must...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (10 Feb 2004)

Michael McDowell: The chief executive officer-Registrar of Deeds and Titles is a member of the justice and equality sector decentralisation implementation group, which is actively planning the implementation of the Government's decision on decentralisation for the entire justice and equality sector. In line with other Departments and agencies, the Land Registry has provided information to the central...

Written Answers — Drug Seizures: Drug Seizures (10 Feb 2004)

Michael McDowell: All illegal drugs seized are initially conveyed to the forensic science laboratory for analysis. Once analysed, smaller quantities of seized drugs are returned to the Garda district or divisional headquarters of origin. They are stored in secure conditions, in a safe, for evidential purposes until no longer required. Large volume seizures of heroin, cocaine, cannabis resin and herbal cannabis...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (10 Feb 2004)

Michael McDowell: Racially motivated incidents are independently recorded by two bodies, the Garda Síochána and the National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism, NCCRI. The NCCRI was established with funding from my Department. Its objective is to develop an integrated approach against racism and promote a more participative and intercultural society. The NCCRI, in partnership with a range...

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (10 Feb 2004)

Michael McDowell: Agreement in principle for the terms of the sale of the property has been reached with Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council. No major legal difficulties have arisen to date and I expect the sale to be completed this year. A minimal staffing presence has been retained to maintain the security of the premises. Maintenance costs for the year 2003 were approximately €117,000.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (10 Feb 2004)

Michael McDowell: An application for capital grant assistance from the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000 — 2006 was received from this community based group in August 2002. All applications for grant assistance undergo a thorough assessment and appraisal process by Area Development Management Limited. On completion of the assessment process, applications are considered by the programme appraisal...

Written Answers — Garda Vetting: Garda Vetting (10 Feb 2004)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 307 of 4 February 2004.

Written Answers — Deportation Orders: Deportation Orders (10 Feb 2004)

Michael McDowell: The person concerned, an Angolan, entered the State on 10 January 2001 and claimed asylum. The Refugee Applications Commissioner recommended that his claim be refused and he was informed of this recommendation on 4 July 2001. He appealed this recommendation on 23 July 2001. The Refugee Appeals Tribunal affirmed the recommendation and he was informed of this decision on 16 November 2001. In...

Written Answers — Asylum Support Services: Asylum Support Services (10 Feb 2004)

Michael McDowell: On 22 November 2000, the directorate for asylum support services, which was subsequently subsumed into the Reception and Integration Agency or RIA, entered into a contract with the proprietor of Mosney Holiday Centre for the provision of accommodation and ancillary services at that stage for up to 500 asylum seekers, comprised mainly of families. The duration of the contract is four years and...

Written Answers — Garda Training: Garda Training (10 Feb 2004)

Michael McDowell: In addition to the indoor firing range at Garda headquarters and the firing range at the Garda College, Templemore, 11 Defence Forces ranges, located throughout the country, are available to members of the Garda Síochána for training in firearms.

Written Answers — Garda Management Systems: Garda Management Systems (10 Feb 2004)

Michael McDowell: I am informed that the Garda SMI implementation steering group is in the process of finalising its report which will be forwarded to me in the coming weeks.

Written Answers — Registration of Title: Registration of Title (10 Feb 2004)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Registrar of Titles that this is an application for a transfer of part and charge which was lodged on 21 October 2003 — dealing No. D2003SM008544B refers. A reply has been received to the query issued to the lodging solicitor in December 2003. I am further informed that this dealing is associated with dealing No. D2002SM009309J and that registration cannot proceed until...

Written Answers — Registration of Title: Registration of Title (10 Feb 2004)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Registrar of Titles that this is an application for a copy map which was lodged on 4 December 2003 — application No. P2003SM227907C refers. I am further informed that as the lodging solicitors have already made a copy map application for the same folio prior to this application which has been issued, they intend to withdraw this application.

Written Answers — Garda Recruitment: Garda Recruitment (10 Feb 2004)

Michael McDowell: The Garda Síochána (Admissions and Appointments) Regulations 1988, as amended, govern entry to the Garda Síochána and provide that applicants generally must be at least 18 and under 26 years on the first day of the month that the competition is advertised. The regulations provide for some extension to the upper age limit for applicants with certain specified service in the Defence Forces....

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (10 Feb 2004)

Michael McDowell: : The person concerned entered the State on 26 April 2002 and applied for asylum on 29 April 2002. The Refugee Applications Commissioner recommended that his claim be refused and he was informed of this recommendation on 11 October 2002. He appealed this recommendation on 18 November 2002. The refugee appeals tribunal affirmed the recommendation and he was informed of this decision on 18 July...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (10 Feb 2004)

Michael McDowell: The person referred to by the Deputy was refused refugee status in the State following consideration of his case by the refugee applications commissioner and on appeal by the refugee appeals tribunal. In accordance with section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999, he was informed that it was proposed to make a deportation order in respect of him and he was given the following options: to make...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (10 Feb 2004)

Michael McDowell: The application in question was approved on 3 February 2004.

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (10 Feb 2004)

Michael McDowell: Section 26 of the Landlord and Tenant (Ground Rents) (No. 2) Act 1978 applies in this case and that the acquisition of fee simple for dwellings leased to a tenant by a housing authority is a matter for said housing authority and is not a matter for my Department.

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (10 Feb 2004)

Michael McDowell: It is anticipated that in the region of 200 staff, the bulk of whom will be from the asylum-immigration area of the Department, will be moving to Tipperary town under the decentralisation programme. The precise configuration of staff and services is being considered at the moment and once this has been finalised, I will be in a position to outline the categories of staff involved in the move...