Results 5,341-5,360 of 18,728 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Drug Seizures: Drug Seizures (26 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: It has not been possible within the timeframe available to collate the information required by the Deputy. I will contact him directly when the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Legal Aid Service: Legal Aid Service (26 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: As I set out in my response to Question No. 38 on 20 October 2005, my Department provides for wide access to civil legal advice and assistance via the Legal Aid Board and its nationwide network of law centres. The board's services are available to persons of modest means and at little cost. Funding for the board has been increased by 16% since last year to €21.362 million in 2005 and this...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (26 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: Marriage to an Irish national does not grant any automatic right to reside in the State. However, if a non-EU national spouse of an Irish national was already legally resident in the State prior to the marriage then he or she can make a request to the local registration officer for a change of their status to reflect their marriage to that Irish national. In the event that a non-EU national...

Seanad: Child Care Services: Motion. (26 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: I thank the House for the opportunity to speak here this evening and thank Senator Cox for the full and generous way in which she proposed the Government amendment. It strikes me that I should say a few words on this occasion in response to the debate we heard so far. As Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, my personal responsibility as a Cabinet member is on that aspect of child...

Seanad: Child Care Services: Motion. (26 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: The Senators sound the same but look slightly different.

Seanad: Child Care Services: Motion. (26 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: As Senator Ross said, choice is the crucial element. I accept what Senators Terry and Ross said about the need to respect the rights and values of parents who make a financial sacrifice to provide parenting in their own homes. If we talk about choice we must focus on the supply of child care places. Senator Minihan proposed that we examine the possibility of increasing the number of child...

Seanad: Child Care Services: Motion. (26 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: A number of Members have said there should be one effective political head of the State's child care policy responsibility. From the point of view of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, the assistant secretary in charge of this programme, Ms Sylda Langford, recently told an Oireachtas committee that it is an accident of history that we found ourselves with this responsibility....

Seanad: Child Care Services: Motion. (26 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: When he looked for them, after being confronted by enthusiastic coverage of the issue by RTE, they had all gone to ground. He was right to point out that if people are willing to stick their necks out and make proposals in this area, they should stick with those proposals. My party recently held a policy conference on this issue and there is a real possibility of polarising parents,...

Seanad: Child Care Services: Motion. (26 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: There is no surer sign of this than Senator Ross's proposal of this motion because I note that he moves from the right slightly to the left, as required by the electoral process.

Seanad: Child Care Services: Motion. (26 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: The same applies, I am sure, to Senator Cox. I agree with her that it is frustrating there is not a more sophisticated child care system. I acknowledge that she has been calling for one, both within her party and within this Chamber, for a number of years, but let us not devalue what has been achieved since 1997. Let us not set at nought the equal opportunities child care programme which has...

Seanad: Child Care Services: Motion. (26 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: We hear constantly that they left the economy in perfect nick, were not the incompetents and the slump coalition that I like to paint them out to be but on the contrary were an economic marvel in their time.

Seanad: Child Care Services: Motion. (26 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: If that is the case——

Seanad: Child Care Services: Motion. (26 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: ——let me say that this model economy, which was handed over to the profligate parties which have now brought about an economic boom, simply never managed to seem capable of paying decent child care benefits. It simply forgot to put any money into the provision of child care places. It simply forgot to provide special needs teachers. It simply forgot——

Seanad: Child Care Services: Motion. (26 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: ——to pour more resources into all of these areas.

Seanad: Child Care Services: Motion. (26 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: I will finish on this note. I commend to the House Senator Cox's proposed amendment to this Bill. When one looks at the records of those who have the political responsibility in this area, Senator Terry used the phrase "catch up". Catch up in terms of what other countries in Europe do is one matter, but starting from zero was very much what this Government found because zero was the policy...

Seanad: Child Care Services: Motion. (26 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: That is out of order.

Seanad: Child Care Services: Motion. (26 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: Senator Cox anticipated me by moving it herself.

Seanad: Child Care Services: Motion. (26 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am not allowed under the rules of the House to move an amendment because I am not a Member.

Seanad: Child Care Services: Motion. (26 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: The Labour Party did nothing in government.

Seanad: Child Care Services: Motion. (26 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: Why did the Labour Party do nothing when it was in government and had a brilliant economy?