Results 2,681-2,700 of 18,727 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Deportation Orders: Deportation Orders (22 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: The person concerned arrived in the State on 10 February 2002 and applied for asylum. His application was refused following consideration of his case by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner and, on appeal, by the Refugee Appeals Tribunal. He was notified of my decision to refuse him refugee status by letter of 8 July 2003 in which he was informed of the three options open to...

Written Answers — Ministerial Responsibility: Ministerial Responsibility (22 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: Section 3 of the Public Service Management Act 1997 provides that a Minister of Government having charge of a Department shall, in accordance with the Ministers and Secretaries Acts 1924 to 1995, be responsible for the performance of functions that are assigned to the Department pursuant to any of those Acts. That statutory position applies to me as a Minister of Government in charge of the...

Written Answers — Irish Prison Service: Irish Prison Service (22 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: On security grounds, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on the route taken by prison vans while escorting prisoners. However, I have asked the director general of the Irish Prison Service to bring the Deputy's concerns to the attention of the appropriate governors.

Written Answers — Deportation Orders: Deportation Orders (22 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: The persons concerned arrived in the State on 21 March 2003 and applied for asylum. Their applications were refused following consideration of their cases by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner. Subsequently, in accordance with section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999, as amended, the first named person was informed by letter, dated 7 October 2004, that the Minister proposed to...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (22 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: The persons concerned made an application for permission to remain in the State on the basis of their parentage of an Irish-born child, under the revised arrangements on 23 February 2005. Their applications were acknowledged on 28 February 2005. Applications are being dealt with as expeditiously as possible and, where possible, in order of receipt. A significant number of incomplete...

Written Answers — Deportation Orders: Deportation Orders (22 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: A deportation order was made in respect of the applicant to whom the Deputy refers on the 21 June 2003. He was notified of this by registered letter, dated 11 November 2003. The applicant instituted judicial review proceedings on 1 December 2004 challenging the deportation order. These proceedings are ongoing and, accordingly, as the matter is sub judice, it would not be appropriate to...

Written Answers — Deportation Orders: Deportation Orders (22 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: The person concerned arrived in the State on 4 April 2002 and claimed asylum. His application was refused by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner and he was notified of this recommendation by letter of 8 November 2002. His subsequent appeal was refused by the Office of the Refugee Appeals Tribunal and he was notified of this recommendation by letter of 30 September 2003. He was...

Tribunals of Inquiry: Motion. (23 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: I move: That Dáil Éireann: —noting that following agreement reached between the British and Irish Governments at Weston Park in 2001, retired Canadian Supreme Court Judge Mr. Peter Cory was appointed to undertake a thorough investigation of allegations of collusion between British and Irish security forces and paramilitaries in six incidents; —noting that the aim of this process was to...

Tribunals of Inquiry: Motion. (23 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: One of the policemen had a white handkerchief in his hand when he was found.

Tribunals of Inquiry: Motion. (23 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: Hear, hear.

Tribunals of Inquiry: Motion (Resumed). (23 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: I thank the Deputies who contributed to the debate and supported the Government's motion. Deputy Jim O'Keeffe asked why the Commissions of Investigation Bill was not used on this occasion. Section 8 of that Bill provides that the proceedings under those inquiries should be held in private as much as possible whereas Judge Cory recommended the opposite, that this inquiry should be held in...

Tribunals of Inquiry: Motion (Resumed). (23 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: No, but the scheme of the Act is that its proceedings should be held in private as much as possible and, effectively, one must get the permission of the High Court to issue the report. It is not the type of tribunal Judge Cory had in mind. Obviously on grounds of expense it was quite attractive. On the other hand, in the context of the controversy about the inquiries Bill, in which I...

Tribunals of Inquiry: Motion (Resumed). (23 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: Those who doubt that should look at today's newspapers and see how polarised opinion is. Sometimes we are asked to believe that a sectarian head count in Northern Ireland will decide its political future. It is interesting to note that whereas the provisional movement has alienated and polarised Protestants in Northern Ireland, one third of Catholics are not with the movement on the project...

Road Traffic Offences. (23 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am grateful to Deputy Keaveney for raising this matter. I share her concern at the presence of untaxed vehicles on our roads. As she points out, honest motorists are fed up with the small hardcore who continually evade paying their road taxes. The Exchequer loses millions in revenue each year to those evaders. I was interested to hear the Deputy say that she had raised this issue in the...

Garda Investigations. (23 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: I thank Deputy Rabbitte for raising this matter. The facts of this case have been outlined to the House on a number of occasions. I do not propose to set them out again in full, but a brief summary may be helpful. The main facts, as notified to me by the Garda authorities, are as follows. Sylvia Shiels and Mary Callinan were murdered on the night of 6-7 March 1997 as they were sleeping....

Written Answers — Refugee Legal Services: Refugee Legal Services (23 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 229 to 237, inclusive, together. The information requested by the Deputy, in so far as it is readily available to me, is provided in this reply. The number of appeals against the recommendations of the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner received by the Refugee Appeals Tribunal in 2002, 2003 and 2004 and the number of appeals which were granted for...

Written Answers — Courts Service: Courts Service (23 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: As I stated in reply to Question No. 351 from Deputy Costello on 8 March 2005, it has not been possible in the time available to compile the information requested by the Deputy. The information sought is currently being compiled and I will forward it to the Deputy as soon as it is available.

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (23 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the speed detection equipment available to gardaí can be used during day time and night time hours.

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (23 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: I regret the information the Deputy requested in Question No. 798 for written answer on 26 January 2005 was not available at that time. The information requested is outlined in a table which is being made available to the Deputy. The table shows the number of cases reported to the Garda Síochána for 2002, 2003 and 2004 by division and indicates where a firearm or firearms were stolen and...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (23 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: There are reciprocal recognition arrangements in respect of admission of lawyers in place between Ireland and the states of Pennsylvania, New York and California. This is facilitated by section 44(6) of the Solicitors Act 1954 as inserted by section 52 of the Solicitors (Amendment) Act 1994. The Act permits a person who is qualified in a profession corresponding to that of solicitor in non-EU...