Results 2,001-2,020 of 18,726 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Bill 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (8 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: The main purpose is to insert a new subsection, subsection (5) in section 23 of the European Arrest Warrant Act 2003. As mentioned in regard to the previous group of amendments, section 23 deals with requests for the surrender of persons by the issuing state to other member states. Section 23 gives effect to Article 28 of the framework decision and that article deals with the question of a...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Bill 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (8 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: The purpose of these amendments is to amend section 24 of the European Arrest Warrant Act. Section 24 gives effect to Article 28.4 of the framework decision. It deals with situations where the person may be extradited by the issuing state to a third state, that is, to a non-EU state. Similar to previous sections, a presumption is being added that the issuing state has complied with the...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Bill 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (8 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: I totally agree with Senator Cummins. I regret that they have not been circulated so far. However, I am doing my best and I will get them to Senators tomorrow afternoon so they will not be presented with them on Thursday for the first time.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Bill 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (8 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: This is obviously something which someone inserted to see if we were all awake. The word "inter" will be removed because it is a printing error. It is not something to which any of us have put our minds up to now. Therefore, a formal amendment is not necessary. I am grateful to Senator Tuffy for trying to work out what it might have been about and for advancing the proposition that it must...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Bill 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (8 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: The effect of this amendment would be to delete from Schedule 2 the offence of assault causing harm under section 3 of the Non-Fatal Offences against the Person Act 1997. Schedule 2 sets out acts which, combined with the requisite intention, give rise to terrorist offences. The intent would have to be proven in order to render the offences into terrorist offences, which is the crucial...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Bill 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (8 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: There are two reasons the Long Title is being amended. First, it will remove any doubt as to whether the proposed Part 7 of the Bill, which deals with data retention, comes within the scope of the Bill. Access by the Garda to retain data is important in investigating terrorism and protecting the security of the State but it is also used for investigating non-terrorist offences and, because of...

Northern Ireland Issues: Motion (Resumed). (9 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: I wish to share time with Deputies Kirk and Glennon and the Minister of State, Deputy Treacy. I speak as a constitutional republican who, to use the words of Article 3 of the Constitution, shares the firm will of the Irish nation in harmony and in friendship to unite all the people who share the territory of the island of Ireland in all the diversity of their identities and traditions,...

Northern Ireland Issues: Motion (Resumed). (9 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: Is that a demanding question or requirement to make of anybody? Of course it is not. It is the basis upon which we all participate in politics, to uphold the rights and safety of others. Time and again, however — and I know this because I sat there and saw the drafts going this way and that — this proposition was put to Sinn Féin. Time and again, every effort was made to avoid signing up...

Northern Ireland Issues: Motion (Resumed). (9 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: I welcome the fact that the motion has been so widely supported in the House. I believe the motion will attract not only the support of the great majority of Members of the House but also that of the great majority of the Irish people. Failing to live up to the logic of this motion is a self-inflicted handicap that the provisional movement has taken upon itself. When and if its members go...

Written Answers — Rights of the Child: Rights of the Child (9 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: Under section 6A of the Guardianship of Infants Act 1964, as inserted by section 12 of the Status of Children Act 1987 an unmarried father may apply to the court to be appointed a guardian of his child. Alternatively, where there is agreement between the parents, they can make a statutory declaration under section 2(4) of the Guardianship of Infants Act, as inserted by section 4 of the...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (9 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: Clontarf Garda station is responsible for policing the Marino area and the current strength there, all ranks, is 67, an increase of 10 gardaí since 1998. The policing strategies for the area are predicated on the policy of reducing and preventing incidents of public order offending, the prevention of crimes of violence against persons and property and the maintenance of an environment where...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (9 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: The equal opportunities child care programme provides grant assistance towards the staffing costs of community and not for profit based child care services which have a clear focus on disadvantage. The group in question was awarded a staffing grant of €136,824, over three years in August 2000. In addition, it was awarded staffing continuation funding totalling €76,667, up to 31 August...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (9 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: An agreed pilot scheme was implemented in the cities of Cork, Limerick and Waterford between 20 March 2000 and 28 October 2002 in respect of those stations where the three relief system operates — shift system covering 24 hours. Consultation took place between Garda management and the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors and the Garda Representative Association during the pilot...

Written Answers — Refugee Accommodation: Refugee Accommodation (9 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: On 25 January 2005, I introduced new arrangements for the speedier processing of asylum applications by nationals of five states, Nigeria, Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia and South Africa. The new arrangements also provide for the speedier processing of deportation orders for those applicants who are found not to be in need of refugee protection and have no other protection or humanitarian needs....

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (9 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: The documentation submitted to the Department conflicts with certain other information supplied independently to the Department by the authorities of the applicant's country of origin. My Department has now written to the authorities in question, enclosing a copy of the information supplied by the applicant. I am not in a position to issue the document in question pending a resolution of this...

Written Answers — Registration of Title: Registration of Title (9 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: This is an application under section 49 namely, acquisition of title by virtue of long possession, of the Registration of Title Act 1964, which was lodged on 4 March 2004. Dealing Number D2004XS003669E refers. Due to their complicated nature, applications under section 49, which require detailed examination as owners, can take some time to process. Accordingly, it is not possible to estimate...

Seanad: Privacy and Defamation: Statements. (9 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: I welcome this opportunity to again address Seanad Éireann on this topic. Members may recall that I last spoke here in this regard on 9 December 2003, a few days after a major conference which I organised as part of the public consultation process on the topic of defamation. Our debate today is on privacy and defamation, which though related are not the same thing. I said during our...

Seanad: Privacy and Defamation: Statements. (9 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: Exactly. The public are the best judges of these matters and they do not need a press council to speak on their behalf. On occasion I, and I have no doubt many others, feel a certain degree of distaste for individual articles or editorial decisions. While politicians have to develop thick skins, vulnerable people in society need not have to do so. It is in vogue these days to query the...

Seanad: Privacy and Defamation: Statements. (9 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: ——and record that he either responded to the facts and told one to get lost or denied them or that he did not respond to the facts. That then becomes the story, which is simply not an acceptable way to try to educate public opinion.

Seanad: Privacy and Defamation: Statements. (9 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: For some public figures, the situation in more recent times has become more complicated by security issues such as kidnapping or surveillance by criminal or terrorist groups. This must be weighted in the balance in the coverage of their activities. Newsworthy or profit worthy and information versus entertainment, essentially these are the choices facing the media in deciding on the extent of...