Results 12,361-12,380 of 18,734 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Coroners (Amendment) Bill 2005: Committee Stage. (14 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: I move amendment No. 5: In page 3, lines 9 to 31 and in page 4, lines 1 to 15, to delete paragraphs (b) and (c) and substitute the following: "(b) the substitution of the following section for section 37: '37.—(1) A person who, having been duly served with a summons requiring him to attend an inquest as a juror, fails to attend on the date and at the time and place specified in the summons...

Coroners (Amendment) Bill 2005: Committee Stage. (14 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: With some degree of reluctance, I must oppose this section and suggest its deletion. My reluctance stems from the fact that it is not obvious to me exactly what is wrong with it. However, I am told there are technical legal reasons that fault it. When I saw it, I drew up my own proposed amendments which were incorporated in manuscript. I am not quite clear why it is so bad in its present...

Coroners (Amendment) Bill 2005: Committee Stage. (14 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: Perhaps it was the identity of the drafter.

Coroners (Amendment) Bill 2005: Committee Stage. (14 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: I assure Deputies that I will certainly do so. I am not sure what is wrong with the section, but it may not sufficiently resemble provisions in the Tribunals of Inquiry (Evidence) Acts, which allow for orders in aid of the High Court punishable as contempt of that court. It may have something to do with that. However, since we are legislating in the very short term, I hope that we will be...

Coroners (Amendment) Bill 2005: Report and Final Stages. (14 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: I want to be associated with the remarks of the other Deputies. It is welcome that this Bill could be dealt with in the way in which we have dealt with it. I have no doubt there are people looking with slitty eyes on tonight's proceedings and saying that this is a precedent which should never have been created, but so be it.

Establishment of Commission of Investigation: Motion. (14 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: I move: That Dáil Éireann, —bearing in mind the significant public concern about the handling of allegations of child sexual abuse against members of the clergy operating under the aegis of the Catholic archdiocese of Dublin; —noting the informal Government decision of 22 October 2002 that the matter required further consideration and reflection, in particular on the part of the...

Establishment of Commission of Investigation: Motion. (14 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: I remind the House of the circumstances which give rise to the motion before the House. In November 2002, an RTE "Prime Time" documentary reported on child sexual abuse by priests in the Catholic archdiocese of Dublin. The programme made a number of disturbing assertions as to the inadequate way in which allegations and complaints of sexual abuse by priests of the archdiocese were handled,...

Establishment of Commission of Investigation: Motion. (14 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: I have a fairly substantial script but it is available for Deputies.

Establishment of Commission of Investigation: Motion. (14 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: I will ring the Protestant Archbishop and ask him.

Establishment of Commission of Investigation: Motion. (14 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: Anyway, we can change that on Committee Stage.

Establishment of Commission of Investigation: Motion. (14 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am told some of my answers are too long.

Establishment of Commission of Investigation: Motion. (14 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: Which was very wise.

Establishment of Commission of Investigation: Motion. (14 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: Ferns is about one tenth the size of the Dublin diocese.

Establishment of Commission of Investigation: Motion. (14 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: That is a good idea.

Establishment of Commission of Investigation: Motion. (14 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: A 15 year inquiry is an attractive idea.

Establishment of Commission of Investigation: Motion. (14 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: Regarding the 15-year proposal——

Establishment of Commission of Investigation: Motion. (14 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: I thank the Deputies for their warm and supportive remarks. The commission will be established for 18 months. It will report not later than 18 months after its establishment. It is open to the Minister of the day to extend that time if it becomes necessary. It will comprise of a number of members. The Chair, Judge Murphy, will work full-time for the commission. The other three members will...

Establishment of Commission of Investigation: Motion. (14 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: No, they are being selected in a consultative process. Judge Murphy has immense experience as a public servant, as a journalist, as an editor of a magazine and as a member of the staff of the National Social Service Board. In addition, she was at one stage a special adviser to the Tánaiste of this State. These are quite extensive qualifications for anyone carrying out this kind of work. She...

Written Answers — Deportation Orders: Deportation Orders (13 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 368 to 370, inclusive, together. There have been no deportations to Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe, Angola or Kenya in the past year. It should be noted that consideration is given to the non-refoulement provision in section 5 of the Refugee Act, 1996, as amended, before making a deportation to any country. My Department uses extensive country of origin information...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (13 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: As I informed the Deputy in reply to Question No. 192, which was for answer on 7 December, 2005, I have been informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the information requested is not readily available in the detail sought. I will communicate further with the Deputy when the Garda authorities have compiled the...