Results 15,501-15,520 of 18,736 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Emergency Travel Arrangements: Emergency Travel Arrangements (5 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: It is a fundamental requirement for consideration of applications under the revised arrangements announced by me on 15 January 2005, that applicants submit a valid passport or national identity document as proof of their identity. The closing date for receipt of applications under these arrangements was 31 March 2005. Some 18,000 applications were received. To date, in excess of 4,400...

Written Answers — Refugee Status: Refugee Status (5 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: Immigration officers operating at ports and airports throughout the State are members of the Garda Síochána. They are obliged under the provisions of the Refugee Act 1996, as amended, to grant permission to land to a non national "who arrives at the frontiers of the State seeking asylum in the State or seeking the protection of the State against persecution or requesting not to be returned...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (5 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: There has been no change in policy regarding access to employment of a non-EEA national awaiting a decision on a residency application based on marriage to an Irish citizen. Marriage to an Irish national does not grant any automatic right to enter or reside in the State solely on that basis. It has always been the case that the non-national concerned could not work without a valid work permit...

Seanad: Registration of Deeds and Title Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (5 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am taken by the last proposal. If I can write off my house, it would be useful. I was also taken by Senator Leyden's comments about wills. That one can effectively revoke one document with another while the whereabouts of the revoking document is a complete mystery is an extraordinary system. Wills must be registered in some countries but there are implications to registration, such as the...

Seanad: Registration of Deeds and Title Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (5 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: There are some ways around this.

Seanad: Registration of Deeds and Title Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (5 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: Exactly.

Seanad: Registration of Deeds and Title Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (5 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: I have not encountered the level of skullduggery Senator Leyden has.

Seanad: Registration of Deeds and Title Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (5 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: Senator Leyden did remind me of a time when a now deceased senior counsel who was prone to grandiloquent language put it to a witness in a will case that he was trying to establish the testator was beyond making wills and was perhaps a bit "gaga". He suggested to the elderly relative that the testator was in the habit of soliloquising, a terminology the relative did not follow. The counsel...

Seanad: Registration of Deeds and Title Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (5 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: As someone who has always lived on unregistered land, however, it amazes me that we have such a complex system of proving title. I agree with another point in Senator Tuffy's contribution concerning lawyers. It is not in the interest of any lawyer that the land law should be so complex. There may be a few nerds in the legal profession who like this kind of work. However, the great majority of...

Seanad: Registration of Deeds and Title Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (5 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: I thank the House for its support for this Bill. It will be some weeks before I receive the amendments which are with the Parliamentary Counsel and the Office of the Attorney General at present. However, I will forward the scheme for the amendments to interested parties so their substance does not come as a major surprise when they are finally produced.

Seanad: Registration of Deeds and Title Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (5 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: One would not want to be near somebody else's basket——

Seanad: Registration of Deeds and Title Bill 2004: Second Stage. (5 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am pleased to have this opportunity to introduce the Registration of Deeds and Title Bill 2004 and to outline its provisions. Before doing so, however, I wish to explain why the provisions set out in the Bill are so important. I also wish to inform Senators about a related joint project involving my Department and the Law Reform Commission, currently under way, which aims to modernise all...

Seanad: Registration of Deeds and Title Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (5 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: In short, there is now an urgent need to replace the current system with provisions more suited to modern conditions. This will involve the outright repeal of the eight old statutes under which the Registry of Deeds currently operates and their replacement, where necessary, with modern provisions. I think Senator Norris will be struck by the following matter. The Registration of Deeds Act...

Seanad: Registration of Deeds and Title Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (5 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: This is to be taken off our Statute Book.

Seanad: Registration of Deeds and Title Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (5 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: That was before the soup days. In the early 21st century we will repeal a post-penal law statute. I want to acknowledge that the Registry of Deeds has served this country well since its establishment back in 1707. I also want to take this opportunity to thank the Registrar of Deeds and the registry's staff for their commitment and hard work. I visited the registry recently, having studied for...

Order of Business. (5 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: A lot done, more to do.

Written Answers — Ground Rents: Ground Rents (4 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: The position is that a statutory scheme for the acquisition of the fee simple in dwelling houses is contained in the Landlord and Tenant (Ground Rents)(No. 2) Act 1978. Part III of that Act provides a special procedure, operated at low cost by the Land Registry, whereby a person may acquire readily and relatively inexpensively the fee simple in their dwelling house.

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (4 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 384 and 385 together. I understand that an application for capital grant assistance under the Equal Opportunities Child Care Programme, EOCP, 2000-2006 was submitted by the group in question to my Department some time ago. As the Deputy may be aware, each application for funding undergoes a thorough assessment by Area Development Management Limited, ADM, which...

Written Answers — Garda Vetting Procedures: Garda Vetting Procedures (4 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that police certificates of character are issued solely for the purpose of obtaining a visa from non-national embassies and consulates. These certificates are issued locally by Garda superintendents. In tandem, the Garda central vetting unit, GCVU, carries out criminal record vetting in respect of prospective full-time employees of the Health Service...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (4 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: My Department received the visa application to which the Deputy referred on 9 April 2005. In general, applications are dealt with strictly in the order in which they are received. This ensures the fairest possible service to all customers in their dealings with my Department. In exceptional cases, where it can be demonstrated that there are extenuating circumstances, a particular application...