Results 4,581-4,600 of 18,761 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Order of Business (5 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: That is a matter for the Whips. I will agree to Report Stage being taken on the first day the House resumes following the Easter recess and only on the condition proposed. The alternative scenario is that we conclude the debate on the Bill in this House today, the Bill will then be forwarded to the Seanad for debate and returned to this House for final consideration. That is the choice I...

Order of Business (5 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am offering Members a choice.

Order of Business (5 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: No, it is very simple.

Order of Business (5 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I accept that Deputies Ó Caoláin and Ó Snodaigh are not agreeable to the proposal. However, I am asking that other parties agree to the proposition that we devote one day only to Report Stage of the Bill on the resumption of the Dáil, following which the Bill will go to the Seanad. If that is not agreeable, for whatever reason, my proposal is that we conclude the debate on the Bill...

Order of Business (5 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: That is the choice I am offering.

Order of Business (5 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am clear about where I stand on this issue. I am willing to devote the remainder of today to a Committee Stage debate on the Bill and to take Report Stage on the day the House resumes.

Order of Business (5 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am not in a position now to say what time will be allocated to Report Stage on the day. I am agreeing to Report Stage being taken on the resumption of the Dáil. If that is agreeable, that is fine. If not, we can proceed with the Order of Business as proposed. The Bill will then be forwarded to the Seanad for debate and will return to this House for final consideration. One way or the...

Order of Business (5 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: There is no point playing the gombeen on this. I have made it clear——

Written Answers — Judicial Process: Judicial Process (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am firmly committed to ensuring that judicial resources are adequate to the demands placed on them. Since 2002, the number of judges sitting in the High, Circuit and District Courts has increased from 108 to 125, an increase of 17 judicial posts. In addition, the Courts and Court Officers (Amendment) Act 2007 provides for a further 14 judges — 6 Judges of the District Court, 4 ordinary...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am delighted that Ireland was in the first group of countries to sign the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities when it opened for signature in New York on last Friday, 30th March. This UN Convention is a significant human rights convention and represents an important advance for people with disabilities. In conjunction with its recent approval of my proposal for...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: The total number of applications received for Asylum from 1992 to 28 February 2007 is 73,245. In regard to Leave to Remain, I am assuming that the Deputy is referring to applications for Leave to Remain in the State made pursuant to Section 3 (6) of the Immigration Act, 1999 as amended. An application for Leave to Remain in the State in these circumstances arises where a non-national is...

Written Answers — Criminal Prosecutions: Criminal Prosecutions (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 and 25. Section 62 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 was enacted for the purpose of specifically prohibiting a person who is or was a member of the Garda Síochána or of its civilian staff, from disclosing information obtained in the course of his or her duties. The section provides stiff penalties, fines up to €75,000 and/or up to 7 years imprisonment...

Written Answers — Drugs in Prisons: Drugs in Prisons (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: In May of last year I launched the new Irish Prison Service Drugs Policy & Strategy — Keeping Drugs Out of Prisons. This new policy clearly set out the steps required to tackle the supply of drugs into prisons, provide adequate treatment services to those who are addicted to drugs and ensure that developments in the prisons were linked into the community. Since then significant progress...

Written Answers — Legal Representation: Legal Representation (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I understand that the Deputy is referring to an article in the inaugural edition of the Courts Service Report 'Family Law Matters' published in February 2007. The article, based on an interview with the manager of the Dublin Circuit Family Law Office, speculated that there has been a huge rise in lay litigants in family law cases over the past few years due perhaps to the costs of legal...

Written Answers — Garda Recruitment: Garda Recruitment (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: On 19 December, 2006, as part of a package of anti-crime measures, the Government approved the continuation of the existing Garda recruitment programme to achieve a total Garda strength of 15,000. The accelerated intake of approximately 1,100 new recruits per annum into the Garda College will continue until this target is reached. The Garda Commissioner is proceeding with the recruitment...

Written Answers — Garda Information System: Garda Information System (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda Authorities that the Garda Information System (GIS) which includes, inter alia, access to PULSE, the Garda National Immigration Bureau Systems and Email is also used to deliver internet access to members where operational needs require. Training in information technology is provided both in the Garda College and in the Continuous Professional Development Centres...

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 21, 54 and 83 together. I am informed by the Garda authorities that the incident referred to by the Deputies is under investigation under the direction of a Superintendent and when it is completed an investigation file will be submitted to the Law Officers. As the investigation is still ongoing, it would be inappropriate for me to comment further on it at...

Written Answers — National Disability Strategy: National Disability Strategy (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: The National Disability Strategy was launched by the Government in September 2004 and underpins the participation of people with disabilities in Irish society by building on existing policy and legislation. The implementation of the Strategy is the agreed focus of disability policy under the Partnership Agreement, Towards 2016. My Department is responsible for the provision of the framework...

Written Answers — Criminal Assets: Criminal Assets (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I have been advised by An Garda Síochána that the Criminal Assets Bureau has sufficient financial and other resources available to it to operate effectively pursuant to its statutory remit. The Bureau also continues to cooperate with law enforcement agencies in other jurisdictions in order to fully achieve its objectives pursuant to its statutory remit. The Bureau keeps the allocation of...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 24, 52, 129 and 134 together. I refer the Deputies to my answer to Question No. 60 of today's date. Following the submission to me in 2004 of a report and recommendations by an expert group on crime statistics, I decided that the compilation and publication of crime statistics should be taken over by the Central Statistics Office, as the national statistical...