Results 9,621-9,640 of 18,729 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (14 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Community Alert programme is a community based crime prevention initiative in rural communities which was set up by Muintir na Tíre in association with the Garda Síochána in 1985. It is a national movement with its network comprising approximately 1,285 local Community Alert groups of which there are 53 schemes in Kildare dedicated to improving the quality of life of people in rural...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (14 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I wish to advise the Deputy that I have no plans at present to publish the submissions received to my discussion document — "Immigration and Residence in Ireland — Outline Policy Proposals for an Immigration and Residence Bill".

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (14 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the personnel strength (all ranks) of the Garda Síochána increased to a record 12,641 on Thursday 8 June with the attestation of 273 new members. This compares with a total strength of 10,702 (all ranks) as at 30 June 1997 and represents an increase of 1,939 (or 18.1%) in the personnel strength of the Force during that period. I am further...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (14 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: The persons referred to in the Deputy's question, the adult spouse of a naturalised Irish citizen and his adult son, submitted applications for certificates of naturalisation to the Citizenship section of my Department on 14 November 2005 and 6 February 2006 respectively. Parliamentary Question No 173 of 8 June 2006 referred only to two minor children of the same family. Officials in...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (14 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy will, of course, be aware that the question of the enforcement of employment permits legislation is a matter for my colleague, Minister Micheál Martin and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. With regard to residence permits, all non-EEA nationals wishing to remain in the State beyond the period of time granted by an Immigration Officer at the point of entry must...

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (14 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my response to Parliamentary Question No. 196 of 4 May 2006. The position remains unchanged.

Written Answers — Criminal Prosecutions: Criminal Prosecutions (14 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 207 and 209 together. I have been informed by the Garda authorities that the information requested by the Deputy is not readily available and is currently being researched. I will contact the Deputy again when the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Criminal Prosecutions: Criminal Prosecutions (14 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 208 and 210 together. The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) directs what charges if, any, are to be preferred against a person. As the Deputy will appreciate the DPP is statutorily independent in this function and it would not be appropriate for me to comment further. On Thursday, 8 June, I informed the House in the course of the reply to a Parliamentary...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (14 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: The person concerned arrived in this State on 23 March 2005 and claimed asylum on the same date. His application was considered at first instance by the Refugee Applications Commissioner and, on appeal, by the Refugee Appeals Tribunal, both of whom concluded that the person concerned did not meet the criteria for recognition as a refugee. The person concerned was notified, by letter dated 22...

Written Answers — Coroners Service: Coroners Service (14 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I can inform the Deputy that the position under section 23 of the Coroners Act, 1962 is that, where a coroner has reason to believe that a death has occurred in or near his district in such circumstances that an inquest is appropriate but the body is either destroyed or irrecoverable, the Minister may direct that an inquest be held in relation to that death. In the absence of further details,...

Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998: Motion. (14 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: The real reason that Deputy Ferris made those remarks is that he still clings to the idiotic ideology of the Provisional movement that somehow their acts were not crimes because they were carried out at the behest of the army council, in whom, the idiots all believe, the Irish people's powers of government are somehow vested. It is the sad delusion of fanatics, and the sooner they abandon...

Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998: Motion. (14 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: It was brought about by the political emergency following the Omagh bombing but it is part of our law, subject to the rule that it be renewed annually. Certain comments have been made about my Department. My Department takes its job very seriously. Officials involved in security take their job very seriously but they are not the securocrats they are portrayed as. They are very reasonable...

Order of Business. (14 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: Deputy Stagg is a great man for the questions.

Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998: Motion. (14 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I move: That Dáil Éireann resolves that sections 2 to 12, 14 and 17 of the Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998 (No. 39 of 1998), shall continue in operation for the period of 12 months beginning on 30 June 2006. This motion seeks approval for the continuance in force of those sections of the Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998 which would otherwise cease to be in...

Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998: Motion. (14 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I thank Deputies for their contributions. Regarding Deputy Cuffe's last few remarks, he was not here when I stated that so-called dissident republicans, who are not and never have been true republicans, have in recent months been found trying to assemble bombs on the same scale as that which exploded in Omagh. I hope that it will never happen, but when one such bomb is detonated, I would like...

Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998: Motion. (14 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy cannot be reading the right parts of the newspapers. Massive efforts have been made to detonate very serious bombs.

Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998: Motion. (14 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: It has nothing to do with George Bush. I am talking about the people who were blown to pieces in Omagh.

Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998: Motion. (14 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy would be dumbstruck if another attack such as that on Omagh took place and his words today were recalled. If they get away with what they are trying to do and, to use the phrase the Provos once used, get lucky, the Deputy will be embarrassed to hear his words spoken back to him in this House. He will realise that he is in breach of a legislator's duty to protect ordinary people's...

Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998: Motion. (14 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: ——and stand up for the State against those trying to damage it. I entirely agree with Deputy Jim O'Keeffe's comment on recent remarks by Deputy Ferris. It is totally inappropriate for any person to say regarding an offence subject to investigation by the Garda Síochána that people should withhold information. Deputies Ferris and Ó Snodaigh are no exceptions to the rule that one sits in...

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (13 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I can inform the Deputy that my Department is endeavouring to purchase a site, the subject of this Parliamentary Question, from Kildare County Council for some time. I wish to confirm that funding is available from my Department for the purchase of the site and for the building of a premises to meet the needs of the Project in question. Planning permission has been obtained in accordance with...