Results 2,581-2,600 of 18,727 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Deportation Orders. (22 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: Nearly 700 staff have been recruited across the asylum system, representing the biggest influx of staff in any area of the public service in decades. The Government has established three offices to deal with the asylum issue. As regards the immigration of non-EU nationals into Ireland, the Government has two basic options. We can operate an open door policy where anyone can come to Ireland...

Deportation Orders. (22 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: I will say this if the Deputies will listen to me for a moment. In recent months I have put in place a scheme for parents of Irish born children, which is being availed of by about 10,000 to 20,000 applicants. I do not need a lecture from any of the Deputies opposite about fairness in our system. That is something I was not legally obliged to do, but felt morally compelled to do and it was...

Deportation Orders. (22 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: I do not know what the Deputy is talking about.

Deportation Orders. (22 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: Is the Deputy referring to Nigeria?

Deportation Orders. (22 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: I urge the Deputy to consider in a week's time when all the facts tumble out on this whether he will not be seriously embarrassed by some of the rhetoric he is employing.

Deportation Orders. (22 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: There are some people in politics who appear to believe they can dress up as racist everything they oppose in this area.

Deportation Orders. (22 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy does not have to shout me down. I did not interrupt any of the Deputies.

Deportation Orders. (22 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: It should be clearly understood that the one thing that would play into the hands of racists in Ireland is an immigration law that was seen not to work or to have been circumvented and abused——

Deportation Orders. (22 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: A fair law is the way to ensure that there are good relations between the immigration population here and the Irish.

Deportation Orders. (22 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy's theatricals will not work with me. The Deputy is being disorderly and he is interrupting.

Deportation Orders. (22 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: A young man, aged 21, was returned to Nigeria after due process was made available to him. The young gentleman was accorded and afforded by the Irish State every reasonable facility while he was here.

Deportation Orders. (22 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: Deputy Curran, at least, had the courtesy to note that I was coming to the House in a personal capacity, to address the views of a number of Deputies. I find it sorely disappointing to be shouted down and barracked by a group of people who should not and could not be put in charge of this area of Irish administration.

Deportation Orders. (22 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: I thank Deputy Crawford for raising the issue of this family. I have no doubt that what he says is correct, that the mother and children are decent people who were close to the hearts of the community in which they stayed while here. I want, however, to put a few facts on record. The person referred to by the Deputy and her three children arrived in Ireland on 28 November 2001 and claimed...

Deportation Orders. (22 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: In my view — I do not want to be rancorous — this family's case was examined carefully——

Deportation Orders. (22 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: Deputy Crawford will be aware that all I can offer in these cases is to operate a fair system applicable to all people in similar circumstances.

Deportation Orders. (22 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: I cannot select one person and say on an arbitrary basis that I will treat him or her differently from others.

Deportation Orders. (22 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: I do not know what point the Deputy is making. I comply with my obligations.

Deportation Orders. (22 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: Yes, so what?

Deportation Orders. (22 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy should acquaint herself with the Carltona principle.

Deportation Orders. (22 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: Dealing with Deputy Crawford's case, in such cases every leniency is given.