Results 6,521-6,540 of 18,729 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Order of Business (1 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: As the Deputy is aware, the immigration and residence Bill is promised legislation. It has been the subject of extensive consultation and will be published during this session. As I indicated to the Law Society, consideration is being given to requiring certain high risk abusers of the asylum seeking process to remain in one place while their applications are being considered.

Order of Business (1 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: No.

Order of Business (1 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: While no legislation is promised in respect of this issue, for the information of the House and those who may be affected, I have spoken to the Minister for Education and Science today and the website is now working. She personally witnessed its operation. Moreover, any person who is worried about the situation is free to send a postal application, as long as they get a certificate of...

Order of Business (1 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: Instead of adding to people's anxieties, I urge——

Order of Business (1 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I ask people to use the website, which is operational today. If they have any doubts or difficulties, they should go to a post office and send in a form with a certificate of postage.

Order of Business (1 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I wish to make it clear there is no intention of extending the deadline because that would give rise to other legal complications.

Order of Business (1 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I have already indicated there is promised legislation, a report from the Barrington group and a report from the Competition Authority. When the Government has considered the aforementioned reports, the issues raised by the Deputy will be fully addressed in the context of that legislation.

Order of Business (1 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: It is the Government's intention to legislate in this area. However, as the Deputy is probably aware, having paid attention to what happened at the conference organised by the Government, the exact nature of such legislation is still the subject matter of consultation among stakeholders and interested parties.

Order of Business (1 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: The Taoiseach has already indicated the overall position in this regard. Under the referendum legislation, as the Deputy is aware, all legislation to amend the Constitution must pass through both Houses of the Oireachtas. Subsequently, a period must elapse before it can be put before the people. It is a well-defined process. There is also the question of the establishment of a commission...

Order of Business (1 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: There is a well-established matrix in terms of time for the holding of referenda.

Order of Business (1 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: First, the Government is anxious to receive the general response of the Opposition parties and other interested stakeholders. It will be greatly interested to see the Opposition's response to the briefing received last night.

Order of Business (1 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: In response to Deputy Howlin's point, the Government intends to deal with this matter as quickly as possible. If there is all-party agreement on this issue it will happen much faster than if there is not. This is how things happen in this House.

Order of Business (1 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: In answer to the Deputy's question, the Government intends to proceed with an amendment along these lines before the next general election, if possible.

Order of Business (1 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: It is proposed to take No. 2, the Prisons Bill 2006 [Seanad] — Second Stage. It is proposed, not withstanding anything in Standing Orders, that parliamentary questions for answer next week on EU matters shall be taken on the same day as statements on the EU Council Meeting in Brussels scheduled to be taken on Wednesday, 7 February 2007 and to be moved to be taken first as ordinary oral...

Order of Business (1 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: In regard to the Moriarty report, the Deputy will be aware there was discussion between the Whips on the format of the debate on that subject in this House. No final agreement has been reached. In regard to risk equalisation, the Deputy will be aware that legislation on health insurance is promised and the consideration of the Cabinet will be directed to the Barrington report when it is...

Order of Business (1 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: It will be fully debated in this House and everybody will have the opportunity to put forward their ideas. The bail issue will be dealt with in that context.

Order of Business (1 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: With regard to the Moriarty tribunal report, the Deputy seems to imply he cannot put down questions other than during the debate. Of course, he is mistaken. The House provides that the Deputy can put down questions at any point.

Order of Business (1 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: With regard to Deputy Brennan's Bill, he will bring the text of a better Bill to the Government in the next three weeks. In those circumstances it would be wrong to leave two Bills lying on the Order Paper. The Government has considered the issue of the committee and I have been fully consulted regarding the committee to be established.

Order of Business (1 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: There will be full dialogue with all party leaders in this House and in Northern Ireland. The SDLP, Sinn Féin and the unionist parties in Northern Ireland will all be consulted. With regard to the ethics legislation, I must correct the record of the House. Deputy Rabbitte has a capacity for misquoting people. The phrase the media picked up was, "we survived that". That was what was said.

Order of Business (1 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I did not say "we got away with it". While I am correcting the record I must say to Deputy Kenny that I did not say inequality was good for anything either.