Results 501-520 of 18,726 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Seanad: Private Security Services Bill 2001: Report and Final Stages. (1 Apr 2004)

Michael McDowell: On my own behalf and on behalf of my officials, who have dealt with this matter so efficiently, I thank Members for their kind words. The Bill has been a long time coming. It arises out of a 1997 report and was first published in 2001. Since becoming Minister I have regarded its passage as a priority, although it may seem otherwise. It is not simply that this sector needs regulation. There is...

Seanad: Schools Building Projects. (1 Apr 2004)

Michael McDowell: I thank the Senator for providing me with the opportunity to outline to the House the position relating to post-primary provision in the Lucan area. At the outset it must be made clear that the educational infrastructural needs of the Adamstown strategic development zone, as it develops over time, are separate and distinct from those of the Lucan area and cannot alleviate any current...

Seanad: Schools Building Projects. (1 Apr 2004)

Michael McDowell: I am not in a position to respond, except to deny that the Department of Education and Science is bureaucratic. It seems from the figures I have imparted to the Senator during this debate that the contrary is the case. The Department is well aware of the problems and is providing for them in a sustained way. However, it cannot throw up buildings and create schools without looking to the...

Seanad: Training Centre Closure. (1 Apr 2004)

Michael McDowell: I am grateful to Senator Bannon for raising this matter. I am replying on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Fahey, who has responsibility in this area. The Department of Education and Science and Longford Vocational Education Committee provide core funding for St. Mel's training centre in Longford. The project in question is also supported by FÁS under the community employment...

Seanad: Training Centre Closure. (1 Apr 2004)

Michael McDowell: ——have suggested that this was a type of pre-election stunt on my part. That is far from the case. It will proceed. All the naysayers and back stabbers who believe I have an illicit motive in announcing the commencement of that work will see in the next couple of weeks that I am correct and that the project is proceeding. That is also the case with the Prison Service facility in Longford,...

Seanad: Training Centre Closure. (1 Apr 2004)

Michael McDowell: The Senator raised one possibility and has tried to assist it by appealing to my well-known generosity. If there is any way a portion of the work to which the Senator paid tribute, which is work with marginalised sections of the community, could be assisted under the guise of equality and through any of the programmes the equality section of my Department operates, I would look well on any...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Insanity) Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (7 Apr 2004)

Michael McDowell: There are 139 amendments to this very short Bill. Obviously, there must be some form of grouping. I have no doubt the House is liberal enough to accommodate people with difficulties relating to the exact sequencing of amendments. There is always some latitude on groupings. While I am not a Member of the House with power to order business, I will certainly not be squeamish or rigid on...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Insanity) Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (7 Apr 2004)

Michael McDowell: I tend to agree with Senator Hayes. The amendment Senator Terry is presenting delimits the meaning of another term when used in the Bill. Any criminal law statute, which this effectively is, has to be interpreted as time goes by and in the context of the facts of any particular case. Where there is ambiguity in a Bill, as a matter of legal construction in a criminal statute the Bill is always...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Insanity) Bill 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (7 Apr 2004)

Michael McDowell: I appreciate the reasoning behind Senator Henry's amendment which proposes the alignment of mental disorder for the purpose of this Bill with that of the Mental Health Act 2001. Although this issue has been the subject of much public debate, I profoundly disagree with the proposition that there should be an alignment. It would not be helpful, constructive or enlightening. I hope that does not...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Insanity) Bill 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (7 Apr 2004)

Michael McDowell: It does not exclude it. What is meant by personality disorders? If the term personality disorder is put in the legislation, a definition must be included. We would be here until the crack of doom working out what constitutes a personality disorder. The Mental Health Act raises an issue as to whether mental disorder by definition encompasses personality disorder or not; it can be argued both...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Insanity) Bill 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (7 Apr 2004)

Michael McDowell: I never said anything of the sort.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Insanity) Bill 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (7 Apr 2004)

Michael McDowell: I wish to respond to a point made by Senator Henry. Given that it has been said that a different definition of "mental disorder" to that in the Mental Health Act 2001 is required for the purposes of the Bill, she rightly asks why a reference to the 2001 Act has been included in section 3(3). We are dealing with a slightly different situation here. Section 3 deals with the concept of fitness...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Insanity) Bill 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (7 Apr 2004)

Michael McDowell: First, it is important to examine what is contained in the Bill in this regard. Schedule 1 states: 1.—The Review Board shall consist of a chairperson and such number of members as the Minister, after consultation with the Minister for Health and Children, may from time to time as the occasion requires appoint. The Review Board shall have as an ordinary member, at least one consultant...

Seanad: Citizenship Rights for Non-Nationals: Motion (7 Apr 2004)

Michael McDowell: No.

Seanad: Citizenship Rights for Non-Nationals: Motion (7 Apr 2004)

Michael McDowell: I am pleased to be here this evening for this important debate. As Senators are no doubt aware, the Government has decided to hold a constitutional referendum on 11 June to deal with the impact of the universal entitlement to Irish citizenship on those born in Ireland. The Government is aware that an announcement of this nature is, quite properly, a matter for public and parliamentary debate....

Seanad: Citizenship Rights for Non-Nationals: Motion (7 Apr 2004)

Michael McDowell: Nothing could be further from the truth. In recent years, the issues of immigration and citizenship have assumed a new prominence in public debate. Ireland is experiencing the broader impact of an interdependent world where mass communication and transportation, geographical position, political instability and, indeed, organised crime impact upon the movement of people. We have become a...

Seanad: Citizenship Rights for Non-Nationals: Motion (7 Apr 2004)

Michael McDowell: I had intended to say that I do not believe a reasonable and practical constitutional and legislative proposal, which is designed to bring Ireland's citizenship laws into line with those of our European partners, can be termed racist. It does not bring them into line with our European partners; they will still remain far more generous than the vast majority of our European partners' laws. I...

Seanad: Citizenship Rights for Non-Nationals: Motion (7 Apr 2004)

Michael McDowell: It is the same day. I am fascinated that Senator Brian Hayes seems to think that if we held the presidential election on the same day as this referendum, none of the candidates in the presidential election would be expected or entitled to express views on a major issue happening on the same day. I very much doubt that and I do not think that anybody in good faith believes it. I welcome the...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Insanity) Bill 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (8 Apr 2004)

Michael McDowell: It would not be in compliance with the provisions of the Constitution or the European Convention on Human Rights to provide that matters relating to persons with a mental illness should be reviewed by a judge who had previously exercised criminal jurisdiction in the case. The body, therefore, that it is being established under statute in this case, is intended to make a decision independent...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Insanity) Bill 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (8 Apr 2004)

Michael McDowell: In the neighbouring jurisdiction of the United Kingdom, the verdict given in such cases is "not guilty by reason of insanity". This conveys to ordinary people what is meant and we cannot be too precious about language. The ordinary Josephine and Joe Soap on the street will understand that an individual has been found not guilty by reason of insanity. It is better to stick to that particular...