Results 3,721-3,740 of 18,728 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Liquor Licensing Laws: Motion. (14 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am equally glad to say to this House——

Liquor Licensing Laws: Motion. (14 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: ——that I have and will listen to the expression of public opinion. I advanced the proposal for café bars because my Cabinet colleagues asked me to put it out there for consultation.

Liquor Licensing Laws: Motion. (14 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: The aim was to test the waters.

Liquor Licensing Laws: Motion. (14 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy should not let the truth get in the way of his own prejudices.

Liquor Licensing Laws: Motion. (14 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: This is the truth. I put it out there and we have had a public debate. I will be the person and the Government will be the Government that has done something about this matter. The waffle, posturing and moralising opposite will be long dead——

Liquor Licensing Laws: Motion. (14 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: ——when the Bill is law and the people salute a Government that had the moral courage to take on vested interests instead of moralising and blustering about it.

Liquor Licensing Laws: Motion. (14 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: That is in the Bill.

Child Care Services. (14 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: I thank the Deputy for affording me the opportunity to update the House on the important issue of child care. I reject the suggestion that I attempted to withdraw funding from any groups.

Child Care Services. (14 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy said I attempted to withdraw it.

Child Care Services. (14 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: She should check the record.

Child Care Services. (14 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy just said it again.

Child Care Services. (14 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: That is not so. The equal opportunities childcare programme is the Government's key response to the need to develop child care to support the child care needs of parents, with a particular emphasis on those who may be in employment or education or training to prepare for employment. The programme aims to increase the supply of centre based child care places by 55% at its conclusion. Since the...

Child Care Services. (14 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: When the assessments on the outstanding projects in Kerry are completed, the applications will be considered by the programme appraisal committee, chaired by my Department, before I make a decision on each case. In addition, the Deputy may be aware that I have recently approved the continuation to the end of December 2007 of staffing grant assistance for all groups whose first three year...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (14 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: The present position in on the admission of family members to Ireland to join non-EEA nationals already here is that in all cases the person must be in a position to support his-her family without recourse to public funds. A non-EEA national who is not visa required and is working in the State on an employment permit or under the work authorisation scheme may apply for family reunification...

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (14 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: The Garda station referred to by the Deputy is not for sale and there are no plans at present to sell it.

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (14 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: There is no record in the immigration division of my Department of an application for permanent residency having been received from this person.

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (14 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: I regret that it has not been possible in the time available to obtain the necessary information. I will contact the Deputy again when the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (14 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: The author of the correspondence is serving a 40-year prison sentence for the capital murder of Garda Sergeant Patrick Morrissey. He had originally been sentenced to death for this horrific and callous crime and the sentence was commuted to one of 40 years by President Patrick Hillary on 29 May 1986. I am satisfied that this person is detained in accordance with law and I am not prepared to...

Written Answers — Garda Vetting Procedures: Garda Vetting Procedures (14 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 572 and 620 together. The Garda central vetting unit, GCVU, carries out criminal record vetting in respect of, inter alia, prospective full-time employees having access to children and vulnerable adults of the Health Service Executive and in certain agencies funded by the executive. The unit deals with approximately 100,000 vetting applications per annum. The...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (14 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: The person concerned arrived in the State on 23 July 2001 and claimed asylum. His application for asylum was refused and a deportation order issued in respect of him. Judicial review proceedings have been instituted challenging the deportation order. Accordingly, as the matter is sub judice, I do not propose to comment further in this case.