Results 6,201-6,220 of 18,761 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Seanad: Defamation Bill 2006: Committee Stage (20 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: That is the point. If somebody proceeds to republish the remark, section 5(4) will not protect them in any way. The provision under discussion only extends to someone who was an unintended bystander. If the secretary to whom I refer heard it in an unintended way, contacted the local newspaper and stated that the remark was made in her presence, the publication to the local newspaper and...

Seanad: Defamation Bill 2006: Committee Stage (20 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: The point about somebody making a mistake and being criminalised is absolutely without foundation, I regret to inform the House.

Seanad: Defamation Bill 2006: Committee Stage (20 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: No. Subsection (6) provides that if a person makes a statement in an affidavit under this section that is false or misleading in any respect and that he or she knows to be false and misleading, he or she shall be guilty of an offence. That has nothing to do with making an honest mistake. It must be proved that the person knew it was false and misleading at the time he or she made it. The...

Written Answers — Stardust Inquiry: Stardust Inquiry (20 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 208, 209 and 237 together. The Victims Committee has been advised that an external and independent examination of their submission is to be carried out by an eminent legal person. The arrangements for this examination are the subject of ongoing communication with the Committee's solicitor and will hopefully be agreed in the short term. The Deputies will also...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Accidents: Road Traffic Accidents (20 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the fatal road collision referred to is being investigated by the Gardaí at Buncrana Garda station and an investigation file was submitted to the Law Officers. I am also informed that queries recently received from the Law Officers are currently being addressed by the investigating officers. A number of the queries refer to matters outside of this...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (20 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Immigration Division of my Department that the person in question made a Family Reunification application in July 2005. The application was forwarded to the Refugee Applications Commissioner for investigation as required under Section 18 of the Refugee Act 1996. This investigation is completed and the Commissioner has forwarded a report to my Department. This application...

Written Answers — Independent Living Programme: Independent Living Programme (20 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: The Independent Living Support Programme advertised by my Department in 2006 is a €6 million funding programme designed to assist voluntary organisations and service providers who work with people with a disability to purchase practical supports. Under the Programme, capital funding is being provided to purchase equipment such as wheelchairs, beds, hoists, adapted furniture, vehicles, and...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (20 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: An application for residency in the State on the basis of marriage to an Irish national was received from the person in question in October 2006. An acknowledgement of receipt of the application was issued on 2 November 2006. Applications of this kind, in fairness to all other such applicants, are dealt with in strict chronological order and currently take approximately twelve months to...

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (20 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: A reply issued from my office to the Deputy, in relation to the correspondence referred to, on 13 February, 2007.

Written Answers — Closed Circuit Television Systems: Closed Circuit Television Systems (20 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: In June 2005 I launched the Community Based CCTV Scheme to provide financial assistance to qualifying local organisations towards meeting the capital costs associated with the establishment of local community CCTV systems. The Scheme offers two types of funding: Stage 1 offers a pre-development grant of up to €5,000 to enable qualifying applicants investigate the need for CCTV in their...

Written Answers — Deportation Orders: Deportation Orders (20 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I refer to my reply to the Deputy to Question 80, 9th November 2006 concerning this case. The person concerned, a Ukrainian national who has indicated he is married to an Estonian national residing in Ireland. It is open to him to make an EU Treaty Rights Visa Application to his nearest Irish Embassy/Consulate under the European Communities (Free Movement Persons) Regulations 2006. In...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (20 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I understand that the Immigration Division of my Department has been in contact with the person concerned, informing him of the decision regarding his application for permission to remain in the State.

Written Answers — Drug Seizures: Drug Seizures (20 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities that the following table shows drug seizures by drug type and quantity, for Manorhamilton Garda District for 2001/2007 inclusive. I can assure the Deputy that a key ongoing objective of the Government's National Drugs Strategy 2001-2008 is to reduce access to all drugs, particularly those drugs that cause most harm, to young people and the...

Written Answers — Garda Youth Diversion Project: Garda Youth Diversion Project (20 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am committed to the continuing development and, as resources permit, the expansion of Garda Youth Diversion projects. It is my intention to ensure that 100 schemes will be established nationwide before the end of 2007. The locations for establishing new Garda Youth Diversion Projects are selected on the basis of factors including the level of juvenile crime in the area and the number of...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (20 Feb 2007)

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 (all ranks) of An Garda Síochána increased to a record 13,000 following the attestation of 299 new members on Thursday, 16 November, 2006. This compares with a total strength of 10,702 (all ranks) as at 30 June, 1997 and represents an...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (20 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Immigration Division of my Department that the person in question made a Family Reunification application in June 2006. The application was forwarded to the Refugee Applications Commissioner for investigation as required under Section 18 of the Refugee Act 1996. This investigation is completed and the Commissioner has forwarded a report to my Department. This application...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (20 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: The person concerned, a Nigerian national, arrived in the State on 21 September 1998 and applied for asylum. His application was refused following consideration of the case by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner and on appeal by the Refugee Appeals Tribunal. Subsequently, in accordance with Section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999, as amended, the person concerned was informed...

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (20 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the area in question is actively policed by Gardaí from Clontarf Garda Sub-district. There are regular foot, mobile and mountain bike patrols carried out by uniform and plain clothes Gardaí with a view to ensuring a concentrated and visible presence in the area. These patrols are supplemented by the District Detective Unit, as well as the...

Written Answers — Ministerial Correspondence: Ministerial Correspondence (20 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: Officials from my Department have considered the contents of the Deputy's letter dated 19th December, 2006. A response to same was issued to the Deputy on 15th February, 2007.

Written Answers — Prison Building Programme: Prison Building Programme (20 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: The site at Thornton Hall was the subject of a detailed assessment and report carried out by Clifton Scannell Emerson Associates, Consulting Engineers which was completed in January 2005. This report, which was considered by the site selection committee, recommended that primary road access to the site would be via the existing R130 subject to some improvements to the existing junction...