Results 9,361-9,380 of 18,761 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Criminal Justice Bill 2004: Report Stage (Resumed). (28 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: Yes. I trust I can be disorderly and mention the next amendment. The substance of both amendments will be communicated to the Law Reform Commission so that it can examine these propositions. A number of issues arise. First, let us suppose there was a case involving a gangland killing or somebody was taken into a romper room and shot in the head and, after some effort to extract a statement——

Criminal Justice Bill 2004: Report Stage (Resumed). (28 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: ——-it later transpired that not only had some gang boss shot somebody, he had also videotaped it. The same could apply to sexual crimes. Following a heavily contested case that ended in an acquittal, if eventually some accomplice of the baddie, so to speak, produced the video to the police, in those circumstances I tend to agree with Deputy Howlin that public opinion would be pretty...

Criminal Justice Bill 2004: Report Stage (Resumed). (28 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I just wonder if the Deputy would wish it to be retrospective as well.

Criminal Justice Bill 2004: Report Stage (Resumed). (28 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I do not know if there is a constitutional impediment.

Criminal Justice Bill 2004: Report Stage (Resumed). (28 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: That is a matter I would like to consider. Clearly, at the moment an acquittal is an acquittal but could it be said that from now on acquittals are not absolute acquittals in the sense that they are subject to this process, or would one say, from now on and also in respect of previous acquittals, the same test will apply? Undoubtedly, the Attorney General would have a view on that. It is a...

Criminal Justice Bill 2004: Report Stage (Resumed). (28 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: That is a debatable issue one way or the other. It does not really matter. These are two most interesting proposals and they should go to the Law Reform Commission for consideration. The commission should have the benefit of knowing what was said on Committee and Report Stages on this matter. In the circumstances, I would indicate in regard to amendment No. 62 that this is what I propose...

Criminal Justice Bill 2004: Report Stage (Resumed). (28 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I could give the Deputy my personal views, but I should speak to my Government colleagues before I take any position.

Written Answers — Criminal Prosecutions: Criminal Prosecutions (27 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I regret that it has not been possible in the time available to obtain the information requested by the Deputy. I will be in touch with the Deputy in relation to this matter when it becomes available.

Written Answers — Garda Equipment: Garda Equipment (27 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 427 to 430, inclusive, and 474 together. I am informed by the Garda authorities that in 2005 a total amount of €14,283,000 was collected through the Garda Vote for offences committed under the Road Traffic Acts. This covers all offences under the Road Traffic Acts for which fines were collected. It is not possible to state precisely the exact amount...

Written Answers — Prison Drug Treatment Services: Prison Drug Treatment Services (27 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 431, 432 and 477 together. The new Irish Prison Service Drugs Policy and Strategy, entitled Keeping Drugs Out of Prisons, was launched on 2 May last. This new policy fulfils the commitment in the Programme for Government to publish a plan to end all heroin use in Irish prisons as well as my own commitment to achieving a drug-free prison system. Working to...

Written Answers — Residency Applications: Residency Applications (27 Jun 2006)

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 April 2005. Applications are dealt with in chronological order and officials in my Department have recently corresponded with the person in question in order to further process the application for residency. The case is currently under active consideration. A...

Written Answers — Garda Recruitment: Garda Recruitment (27 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Agreed Programme for Government between Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats states "we will complete the current expansion of the Garda Síochána and increase recruitment so that the numbers will increase by a further 2,000." I have been informed by the Garda authorities that the personnel strength of An Garda Síochána increased to a record 12,641 (all ranks) on Thursday 8 June...

Written Answers — Drug Seizures: Drug Seizures (27 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 435 to 438, inclusive, together. It has not been possible, within the timeframe available, to collate the information required by the Deputy. I will contact the Deputy directly when the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Drug Seizures: Drug Seizures (27 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 439 to 442, inclusive, together. It has not been possible, within the timeframe available, to collate the information required by the Deputy. I will contact the Deputy directly when the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Deportation Orders: Deportation Orders (27 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: A Deportation Order was made in respect of the applicant to whom the Deputy refers on 12 May, 2006. He was notified of this by registered letter dated 23 May, 2006. The applicant instituted Judicial Review proceedings on 6 June, 2006 challenging the Deportation Order. These proceedings are on-going and, accordingly, as the matter is sub-judice it would not be appropriate to comment further at...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (27 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: Penalty points are entered on a person's driving licence record 28 days from the appropriate date, which is the date that notification is sent to the licence holder of endorsement of penalty points. I am informed by the Garda authorities that in the case referred to by the Deputy the speeding detection was made on 26 January, 2006. Payment was received in Wexford Garda station on 1 February,...

Written Answers — Deportation Orders: Deportation Orders (27 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: The person concerned arrived in the State on 9 January 2000 and applied for asylum. His application was refused following consideration of his case by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner and, on appeal, the Refugee Appeals Tribunal. The person concerned was informed by letter dated 22 August 2005 that the Minister proposed to make a Deportation Order in respect of him and...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (27 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: The application referred to by the Deputy was received in the Visa Office on 24th May, 2006. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the visa application in question was approved on 20th June, 2006.

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (27 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: An application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to in the Deputy's question was received in the Citizenship Section of my Department on 21 February 2006. Applications received in the first half of 2004 are currently being processed and there are approximately 7,500 applications awaiting processing before that of the person in question. It is likely that processing...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (27 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: A stateless person, as defined under the 1954 UN Convention of the Status of Stateless Persons and the 1961 UN Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness, and who has legal residency in the State, can make an application to the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service of my Department for a Travel Document. Travel Documents issued by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service of...