Results 12,421-12,440 of 18,734 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Disability Act 2005: Disability Act 2005 (13 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: I commenced the sections of the Disability Act 2005 for which I have responsibility on 29 July 2005 by signing the Disability Act 2005 (Commencement) Order, SI 474 of 2005. With the exception of section 29, which deals with the accessibility of heritage sites and nature reserves, and Part 6, which provides for the establishment of a centre for excellence in universal design in the National...

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

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the person in question was found dead on the Isle of Doagh, Clonmany, County Donegal on 29 January 2003. The death was fully investigated and found to be consistent with accidental drowning. No evidence was found to suggest the commission of a criminal offence. An inquest file was also prepared for the coroner who found the person's death was due to...

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

Michael McDowell: The Garda Síochána has not to my knowledge placed any allegation in the public domain about this person. I can confirm, however, the Garda Síochána informed me of the factual basis for matters which I have put into the public domain regarding the person in question.

Written Answers — Public-Private Partnerships: Public-Private Partnerships (13 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: No public-private partnership-based capital expenditure has been incurred by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform in the years in question.

Coroners (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (13 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: This speech will be more sincere.

Coroners (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (13 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: Ba mhaith liom mo chuid ama a roinnt leis an Teachta Ó Conchúbhair, le cead an Tigh. I welcome the introduction of this Private Members' Bill by Deputy Rabbitte and his colleagues in the Labour Party. It has a very specific focus, namely, to address certain deficiencies in the current law pertaining to the conduct of an inquest by a coroner. These deficiencies — the restriction on the...

Chief Executive of Centre for Public Inquiry: Statement by Minister. (13 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: I did not leak any document from any file. I was asked by Independent Newspapers whether I would be prepared to give it a document in the possession of the State, which is the forged application form for a passport in the name of Mr. Johnston, which was used by the perpetrators on one of the journeys as part of the Colombia three episode. I decided that I would do so for proper reasons to...

Chief Executive of Centre for Public Inquiry: Statement by Minister. (13 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: ——yet it appears to be a huge surprise to people opposite that this is the case. Deputy Jim O'Keeffe knows well that no Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform has ever commented in this House on whether a person's telephone has been tapped, and I do not intend to do that. That is a fact.

Chief Executive of Centre for Public Inquiry: Statement by Minister. (13 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: I reiterate I did not leak any document. I did not have any official file on this matter and I did what I said I did and what I said yesterday openly and candidly on radio. I arranged for a document which the Irish Independent sought to be delivered to it, and it was looking for it for some time.

Chief Executive of Centre for Public Inquiry: Statement by Minister. (13 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: There is no question of it being a confidential document. It is a forgery. Whose confidential interests are protected by keeping it private? What person has a right to say it should not be published because it could affect him or her?

Chief Executive of Centre for Public Inquiry: Statement by Minister. (13 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: Nobody has a right to do so. Let us be clear about this. This was a document which was sent to the Department of Foreign Affairs by people who wanted to obtain a forged passport in the name of a real person who had nothing to do with it and who forged the signature of a priest in Belfast on it. All I have done is to give to the Irish Independent, at its request, a copy of the forgery in order...

Chief Executive of Centre for Public Inquiry: Statement by Minister. (13 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: I will finish on this point. There appear to be people in this House who are afraid of the truth.

Chief Executive of Centre for Public Inquiry: Statement by Minister. (13 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: There appear to be people in this House who have a deep aversion to the truth emerging in these matters. They are not by any means universally representative of their parties because I want to put on the record of this House that in the summer of this year, I was approached by a senior Opposition Front Bench Member——

Chief Executive of Centre for Public Inquiry: Statement by Minister. (13 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: ——and asked to ensure that the truth about these matters emerged.

Chief Executive of Centre for Public Inquiry: Statement by Minister. (13 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: Upon request.

Chief Executive of Centre for Public Inquiry: Statement by Minister. (13 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: The first I heard of any such suggestion was today in the House. I had no notice of the agenda of that body.

Chief Executive of Centre for Public Inquiry: Statement by Minister. (13 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am telling the Deputy the truth. He may not like the truth but I am telling him the truth.

Chief Executive of Centre for Public Inquiry: Statement by Minister. (13 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: When it became apparent to the Government that Mr. Connolly was the chief executive of this organisation, I had discussions with my colleagues in Government and I agreed that I would approach Chuck Feeney——

Chief Executive of Centre for Public Inquiry: Statement by Minister. (13 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: ——and ask him to review his support for this institution because of the involvement of Mr. Connolly in the trip which was the prequel to the Colombia three and part of the same pattern of events. It was my intention in going to America earlier this year to see Mr. Feeney there but unfortunately he was not there. Eventually he saw both the Taoiseach and me in Dublin and I intimated all of...

Chief Executive of Centre for Public Inquiry: Statement by Minister. (13 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: I ask the Deputy to listen to me. Now we are suddenly being told that this does not have a security dimension. I do not think anybody listened to the remarks I made earlier. I reiterate that I am satisfied on intelligence grounds——