Results 6,841-6,860 of 18,729 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (14 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: Further to Parliamentary Question No. 52 put down by Deputy Pat Carey for answer on the 30th November 2006, the Immigration Division of my Department was in contact with the person concerned requesting documentation. I understand the person concerned has recently submitted the requested documentation and the Immigration Division will be in contact with him shortly.

Written Answers — Missing Persons: Missing Persons (14 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: Under section 15 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005, which provides for the establishment of a Garda Reserve, the powers and duties of reserve members may be determined by the Garda Commissioner. It is the responsibility of Garda management to allocate personnel to and within Divisions. These personnel allocations are determined by a number of factors including demographics, crime trends,...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (14 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: In view of the possible confusion arising from the previous replies to the Deputy, my officials are preparing a full response and I will revert to the Deputy as soon as possible with the relevant information.

Written Answers — Deportation Orders: Deportation Orders (14 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: The deportation statistics requested by the Deputy are set out in the following table: Year Number of deportation orders served to addresses in County Carlow 2001 6 2002 20 2003 14 2004 22 2005 17 2006 (to date) 16 Full total 95

Written Answers — Customs Service: Customs Service (14 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: Following events involving Weston aerodrome this autumn, I informed the House that I would commence a process within my Department to audit the actions being taken at Weston Aerodrome and other airfields. Since then, my officials have been in discussions with An Garda Síochána and the Revenue Commissioners. Both organisations are generally satisfied with the level of cooperation that...

Written Answers — Missing Persons: Missing Persons (14 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Garda authorities take direct responsibility for all issues relating to the investigation of the circumstances of missing persons. Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services was assigned to the Health Service Executive (HSE) under the Health Act 2004. While there is ongoing co-operation between An Garda Síochána and the HSE on the...

Gangland Crime. (14 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take all questions together. It is right that we have this opportunity to discuss a matter which is clearly of the gravest concern to Deputies on all sides of this House and the people of this country. The message must go out from here today that we are unwavering in our support for the Garda Síochána in its efforts to eradicate this evil from our midst. It is a cruel irony...

Gangland Crime. (14 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: A number of Deputies have asked if the current policy is failing and I wish to put some facts before the House in this regard. Operation Anvil has seen 20,000 searches for drugs with €14 million worth of drugs recovered. Some 562 firearms were also recovered, separate to the recent amnesty. This operation is constantly chipping away at the edifices of drug barons and their gangs and has...

Gangland Crime. (14 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: Regarding Operation Oak, 24 associates of Mr. Martin Hyland have been arrested and 23 have been granted bail. I have stated on a number of occasions that I regard this as very deeply unsatisfactory and have been criticised for doing so because it has been seen as disparaging of the Judiciary. Article 40 of the Constitution obliges this State to protect and vindicate the rights of the...

Gangland Crime. (14 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: It is not acceptable that 23 out of 24 serious drug criminals are at liberty after being granted bail.

Order of Business. (14 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: Most of these items, with the exception of arrangements for January, have been discussed at length in committees and every Member of this House is entitled to attend and participate in those meetings. The committee meetings have been reported to this House after extensive discussion and it does not make sense to have a duplicate discussion here when Members of this House refrained from...

Order of Business. (14 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: We must press ahead with the business of the House and I hope there will be unanimity today in sending a message to the Garda Síochána that we support the extension of the provisions on drug trafficking and that we support the extension of time of detention for questioning.

Order of Business. (14 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: We should unite in saying these things to the Garda Síochána as it looks to this House for guidance and support in a difficult time.

Order of Business. (14 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: I agree with the Deputies opposite that much time is wasted in this House. We have now spent well over an hour——

Order of Business. (14 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: ——discussing what we will discuss today——

Order of Business. (14 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: ——and talking about talk and about work. The Deputies opposite are great men at talking about talk but they do not walk the walk.

Order of Business. (14 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: The week of parliamentary time that will be spent on the legislation on nursing homes when we resume will be time well spent.

Order of Business. (14 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: Yes, it will be an unusual week. It will be a week during which we will not waste an hour every morning talking about the rest of the day.

Order of Business. (14 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: I know how disappointed——-

Order of Business. (14 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: There is no promised legislation in the area. I am reviewing currently the bail procedures and it is my intention to ask the President of the High Court to have a special bail list for firearms and drugs offences, so that a uniform approach to bail issues for those offenders can be maintained as much as possible.