Results 341-360 of 18,463 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (3 Feb 2004)

Michael McDowell: In general a non-national requires a work permit issued by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment to be employed in the State. There are circumstances whereby a non-national, by virtue of the immigration status granted him or her, such as persons granted residency on the grounds referred to by the Deputy, is exempted of this requirement. Where an applicant for residency is a...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (3 Feb 2004)

Michael McDowell: The total budget allocated to the Garda Síochána for 2004 is €1.055 billion. As the budget is not allocated on an activity basis, it is not generally possible to identify separately the funds provided for road safety and road traffic enforcement. As the duties of members of the Garda Síochána are not mutually exclusive, members can discharge a number of duties, including road safety and...

Written Answers — Departmental Travel: Departmental Travel (3 Feb 2004)

Michael McDowell: An initial report from my Department's financial management system shows that the following amounts were spent in 2003 in connection with car mileage and public transport expenses: â'¬m Vote 19 Justice, Equality and Law Reform 0.73 Vote 20 Garda Síochána 6.27 Vote 21 Prisons 1.96 Vote 22 Courts Service 1.21 Vote 23 Land Registry and Registry of...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (3 Feb 2004)

Michael McDowell: An application for naturalisation by the person referred to by the Deputy was received in the citizenship section of my Department on 28 May 2003. The average processing time for naturalisation is approximately 15 to 18 months at this point in time. Consequently, it is likely that the application of the person concerned will be finalised at the end of 2004. As soon as I have reached a...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (3 Feb 2004)

Michael McDowell: An application for permission to remain in the State based on marriage to an Irish national was received from the person concerned in November 2003. Applications of this type are dealt with in strict chronological order and currently take approximately ten to 11 months to process. Applications received in February 2003 are currently being finalised.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments. (4 Feb 2004)

Michael McDowell: I thank Senator Quinn for giving me the opportunity to address this issue. I agree that high costs and lengthy delays restrict access to justice and drive up the cost of doing business in the State. Clearly, in our legal system, these problems cannot entirely be laid at the door of the courts. The pre-trial behaviour of the parties to the dispute also has a direct bearing. The Senator has...

Seanad: Garda Stations. (4 Feb 2004)

Michael McDowell: I thank Senator Finucane for raising this matter and I welcome the opportunity to address it. I understand that the prospect of a new Garda station for Galbally, County Limerick, arises in the context of an equity exchange programme being advanced by the Office of Public Works. The latter acts as the estate management agency for the Garda estate and deals with matters of property maintenance,...

Written Answers — Juvenile Offenders: Juvenile Offenders (10 Feb 2004)

Michael McDowell: It is not my practice to comment on individual cases. However, I have been advised by the probation and welfare service that this young man was accepted by a hostel, which is funded by my Department, prior to Christmas 2003 but that during his one week stay, he absconded from the hostel on a number of occasions. I am further informed that a recent multi-disciplinary case conference was held...

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

Michael McDowell: A declaration of acceptance of post-nuptial citizenship from the person referred to by the Deputy was received in my Department in February 2003. The declaration and accompanying papers were examined by officials in the citizenship section of my Department in early September 2003. Following contact with the declarant on two occasions about some necessary amendments, the declaration was...

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.