Results 2,521-2,540 of 18,727 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Prisons Building Programme: Prisons Building Programme (9 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am not aware of any legal proceedings initiated with regard to the site selected for a new prison facility to enable the replacement of the Mountjoy Prison complex nor am I aware of any grounds which would successfully support such an action. I am conscious that any major development by the State may, at some stage, be subject to legal challenge.

Written Answers — Prisons Building Programme: Prisons Building Programme (9 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 249 to 252, inclusive, together. The weighting for the selection criterion relating to public transport was not changed once it was agreed by the committee at its meeting on 9 July 2004. In any event as can be seen from the reports of the committee, it transpires that no site was ruled out solely because of failure to meet the public transport criterion...

Written Answers — Prisons Building Programme: Prisons Building Programme (9 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 253 and 254 together. A possible maximum of 15 out of a total 500 marks was allowed for the availability of emergency services. When reviewing this criterion, I understand that the committee took into account the existing location of services as well as planned road developments that may be completed when the new prison facility is likely to come into...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff. : Departmental Staff. (9 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 255 and 256 together. Assignments of responsibility under section 9 of the Public Service Management Act 1997 for the performance of functions in my Department have been made to named officers at assistant secretary level and include, where appropriate, requirements listed under section 9 (1) (a) to (f) of the Act. Given the very extensive range of functions...

Written Answers — Ministerial Responsibilities: Ministerial Responsibilities (9 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: The Ministers and Secretaries Act 1924 and the Public Service Management Act 1997 set out the legal position of Government Ministers and Departments. Section 3 of the Public Service Management Act 1997 restates the responsibility of Ministers for the performance of functions which are assigned to his or her Department. Section 2 (1) of the Ministers and Secretaries Act 1924 provides that each...

Written Answers — Violence Against Women: Violence Against Women (9 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: An interdepartmental group, comprising the Government Departments with responsibilities in the area of violence against women, is currently being convened by my colleague, Deputy Fahey, Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and chairperson of the national steering committee on violence against women, to discuss the roles, responsibilities and budgets...

Written Answers — Security Measures: Security Measures (9 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: On security grounds, it would not be appropriate for me to issue a detailed reply by way of a parliamentary question in this matter. However, I will write to the Deputy on this matter shortly.

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (9 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: The Garda authorities inform me that fingerprint evidence collected from crime scenes by scenes of crime examiners is submitted through the forensic liaison office by divisional liaison officers. Once evaluated and prioritised to determine the usefulness for identification, it is passed to the fingerprint section, where it is then searched against the automated fingerprint identification...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (9 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to Question No. 137 of Thursday, 17 February 2005. The position remains unchanged.

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

Michael McDowell: The Dublin city child care committee is one of the 33 city and county child care committees, CCCs, that were established as part of the quality measure under the equal opportunities child care programme, EOCP, to develop child care at local level. Including its 2005 allocation, Dublin city child care committee has received allocations totalling €1.55 million in EOCP funding since the start...

Written Answers — Travel Documentation: Travel Documentation (9 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: A replacement document was forwarded to the person concerned on 24 February 2005.

Written Answers — Deportation Orders: Deportation Orders (9 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to the reply I gave to Question No. 164 on Thursday, 3 February 2005. The additional information submitted by the Deputy has been considered and the decision to deport remains unchanged.

Written Answers — Refugee Status: Refugee Status (9 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to Parliamentary Question No. 345 of 8 February 2005 which sets out the position in this case. The position remains unchanged.

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (9 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: The person concerned made an application for permission to remain in the State on the basis of her parentage of an Irish citizen child under the revised arrangements on 31 January 2005. Her application was acknowledged on 24 February 2005. A decision has been reached on her application and she will be advised of this decision by post this week.

Seanad: Child Care Services: Motion. (9 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: I welcome the opportunity to speak to the amendment. I utterly refute the implication of the Labour Party motion and welcome the opportunity to put on record the achievements of the Government in the development of quality child care and the support of families since it first came into office in 1997. Senator O'Meara inadvertently spoke the truest words we will hear in this debate when she...

Seanad: Child Care Services: Motion. (9 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: There is no point heckling. I listened politely to the Senator. She should listen to the facts, which are that nothing was done when the socialists were in power.

Seanad: Child Care Services: Motion. (9 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: From 1992 to 1997, no delivery or provision whatsoever was made in this area. It was a big black hole which the great social reformers failed to consider for one second. Now, Senator Derek McDowell in a de haut en bas tone states that the Government has failed in recent years. He should look in the mirror. Nothing was done when the Opposition had the opportunity. Now, Opposition Members...

Seanad: Child Care Services: Motion. (9 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: When Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats entered Government in 1997, its first act was to establish the expert working group on child care. Its extensive report was the basis of the National Development Plan 2000-2006, which I am determined to implement and, more than that, surpass while I have ministerial responsibility in this matter. The equal opportunities child care programme has...

Seanad: Child Care Services: Motion. (9 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: I do not believe anybody is forced to work. I will come back to this point presently.

Seanad: Child Care Services: Motion. (9 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: When the parties opposite were in office, there was such crippling taxation on ordinary families that the complaint was that there was no point in two spouses working because the State took everything off the poor spouse who joined the labour market and it was not worth his or her while. The situation has changed dramatically. The Government originally made available €317.4 million,...