Results 2,781-2,800 of 18,727 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Deportation Orders. (12 Apr 2005)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy contradicts me but he is on the wrong ground. Of the family groups who seek asylum here and all of whose children are afforded education by the State, approximately 50% would be immune from deportation for up to ten years were I to accept the Deputy's point that all questions of deportation should be deferred until all the family's children have completed the two educational...

Deportation Orders. (12 Apr 2005)

Michael McDowell: It is grossly irrational to expect a Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to accept this as a way to conduct immigration policy.

Garda Equipment. (12 Apr 2005)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda that Deputy Gormley is wrong in this matter. Student gardaí are not required to pay for their uniforms. However, a notice is sent to students instructing them to bring a formal suit, two pairs of black regulation shoes of solid leather construction of a plain type, a track suit, two gym singlets, two pairs of shorts, gym shoes, a gym kit bag, four pairs of...

Garda Equipment. (12 Apr 2005)

Michael McDowell: It is not the case the students pay for their uniforms. These are accoutrements and a part of the training process for which most students in any third level institution would be asked to pay.

Garda Equipment. (12 Apr 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am not in a position to say whether I own Garda uniforms or whether the individual members do, but I have a feeling I do. I do not know the answer to that question and I will not mislead the Deputy. What the Deputy and I would generally refer to as "Garda uniform", that is, tunics, caps, trousers, skirts and so on, is not required to be paid for by individual members of the Garda Síochána.

Garda Equipment. (12 Apr 2005)

Michael McDowell: We will not be gender discriminatory in regard to this issue. There has been an ongoing redesign of the Garda uniform. Since I have been appointed Minister, zip-up jackets have been supplied as part of the uniform to individual members and various aspects of Garda equipment have been redesigned and modernised. It is not the case that it has been left in some frozen condition for a long time....

Human Rights Issues. (12 Apr 2005)

Michael McDowell: Following from a Council of Europe programme in 1997 entitled, Policing & Human Rights, 1997-2000, the Garda Síochána established a human rights office and a human rights working group in 1999. The human rights working group, on behalf of the Garda Commissioner, commissioned Ionann Management Consultants to carry out a human rights audit of the Garda Síochána. This extensive work was...

Human Rights Issues. (12 Apr 2005)

Michael McDowell: I appreciate that the Deputy welcomes the transparency with which the Commissioner acted in this matter. I can make the action plan available to the Deputy. He will see that each of the issues raised in the report is addressed and responsibility for and a method for dealing with them are identified in the Garda action plan. I back the Commissioner 100% in implementing that action plan. As...

Prisons Building Programme. (12 Apr 2005)

Michael McDowell: A contract has been signed for the purchase of the site and plans are being formulated regarding the development of the site. These will be made available in conjunction with the statutory planning process. In accordance with the Department of Finance regulations, the Prison Service is preparing a business case regarding the development for submission to the Government. It is intended that...

Prisons Building Programme. (12 Apr 2005)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy can be totally assured I will comply with my legal obligations. It should go on the record that the Deputy is pursuing his own policy which is to keep Mountjoy where it is.

Prisons Building Programme. (12 Apr 2005)

Michael McDowell: Will the Deputy please stop interrupting me? I am answering his question. It should be clearly understood that we are hearing that Mountjoy Prison is a heritage site and that the Deputy wants to keep it as it is. I am not prepared to have modern penology and the rehabilitation of prisoners carried out in a museum. If the Deputy has some ulterior motive to keep Mountjoy Prison in its present...

Prisons Building Programme. (12 Apr 2005)

Michael McDowell: I intend to develop a campus in north county Dublin for the purpose and I intend not to be deflected by people who produce notions of fairy ring forts in north county Dublin or architectural details of interest in city centre Dublin. I will not be deflected by all this guff. The people of Ireland deserve that prisoners in Mountjoy should be imprisoned in humane circumstances. We must have...

Prisons Building Programme. (12 Apr 2005)

Michael McDowell: I will explain the position. My Department offered to meet the residents but they did not take up that offer.

Prisons Building Programme. (12 Apr 2005)

Michael McDowell: Since then we have had two letters, one from a firm of solicitors, whose services have since been disposed of, and another from a different firm of solicitors clearly making it obvious to my Department that the residents envisage the commencement of a legal action to restrain the building of the prison at Thornton Hall. I will not have a meeting if its purpose is to dredge for information to...

Prisons Building Programme. (12 Apr 2005)

Michael McDowell: When proposals are sufficiently developed to consult local residents I will certainly ensure they are consulted and that their viewpoint is listened to in regard to the construction of a prison on that site.

Prisons Building Programme. (12 Apr 2005)

Michael McDowell: This site does not have the architectural significance of the Céide Fields.

Prisons Building Programme. (12 Apr 2005)

Michael McDowell: It is remarkable that the opponents of the removal of Mountjoy Prison from a city centre location, which is grotesquely over-crowded and unsuitable, including the members of Dublin City Council, to whom Deputy Costello is well connected, have argued that it should be kept in its present location because they want to make it a conservation area in Dublin.

Prisons Building Programme. (12 Apr 2005)

Michael McDowell: There is huge opposition to any change in Ireland. I am fascinated by the fact that it all ends up as a heritage argument for leaving it in its present location and for not putting it anywhere else.

Death of His Holiness Pope John Paul II: Motion. (12 Apr 2005)

Michael McDowell: On behalf of the Progressive Democrats, I wish to join with the Taoiseach in his tribute to Pope John Paul II. I want to reflect for one moment on the breadth of his vision and his personal experience. As a young man, his mother died and he was left in the guardianship of his father and was dedicated to Our Lady in a particular personal way. He became a loyal son of the church in Poland at a...

Written Answers — Security Industry: Security Industry (12 Apr 2005)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 70 and 91 together. I refer the Deputy to my reply to Priority Questions Nos. 62 and 63 of today's date. In brief, on 31 March last, I met with representatives of the main banks, An Post, the Central Bank and the major cash-in-transit service providers. I convened this meeting in the immediate aftermath of the armed robbery of a security van at Artane early...