Results 7,361-7,380 of 18,729 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Explosive Devices. (9 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: Will the Deputy stay quiet? I am trying to use my time.

Explosive Devices. (9 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy is fascist. He shouts down everybody in the House.

Explosive Devices. (9 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: There is a pair of shouting cornerboy fascists across the floor.

Written Answers — Civil Partnerships: Civil Partnerships (9 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have acknowledged, on behalf of the Government, that the position of same-sex couples before the law, and others in caring relationships, including extending State recognition to civil partnerships between such persons, needs to be addressed. As indicated by the Taoiseach on 24 January 2006 at the launch of the All-Party Oireachtas Committee on the Constitution Report on the Family, I am...

Written Answers — Equality Issues: Equality Issues (9 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: An official in my Department has had some discussion with the Equality Authority about the report since its publication.

Written Answers — Commemorative Events: Commemorative Events (9 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am further informed by the Garda Commissioner that a comprehensive operational plan for the policing of this event is being prepared. It will be based on the available intelligence and the experience of Garda personnel in city centre stations, in dealing with parades and protests, in particular the protest surrounding events of Saturday, 25 February. I am further informed that an assistant...

Written Answers — Prison Education Service: Prison Education Service (9 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 and 15 together. I refer the Deputies to a series of four questions on this topic, Questions Nos. 27, 56, 64 and 65, which I answered on 2 February 2006. On that date, I stated that I had been informed by the director general of the Irish Prison Service that construction of the Cloverhill Prison education unit — comprising a physical education section and...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (9 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 14 and 24 together. I am pleased to have the opportunity to clarify matters in relation to a range of media reports concerning the Omagh bombing and related matters, many of which serve only to confuse rather than clarify. I would like to deal first with the reported comments of assistant chief constable Sam Kinkaid who gave a briefing to the Omagh relatives...

Written Answers — Prison Building Programme: Prison Building Programme (9 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: A total of ten freedom of information requests have been received by my Department regarding the Thornton Hall Prison project. Eight of these requests have been responded to. The remaining two requests were received by my Department yesterday and will be processed in accordance with the Act. One appeal request is currently being dealt with by my Department.

Written Answers — Public Order Offences: Public Order Offences (9 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 17 and 173 to 175, inclusive, together. I refer the Deputy to my comprehensive statements to both Dáil and Seanad Éireann on 28 February and 2 March 2006, respectively. It is the responsibility of the Garda Síochána and not I as Minister to put in place appropriate and proportionate operational policing plans for rallies, parades and similar events in the...

Written Answers — Drug Treatment Court: Drug Treatment Court (9 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: A decision was taken last month to put the pilot Drug Treatment Court, currently operating in the Dublin 7 area, on a permanent footing. It will be extended on a phased basis to the wider Dublin area in consultation with the other agencies involved in supporting the court. The president of the District Court has assigned a judge of the Dublin metropolitan District Court to the Drug Treatment...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (9 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: I presume that the Deputy is referring to applications for leave to remain in the State made pursuant to section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999, as amended. It must be acknowledged that it is particularly difficult to provide meaningful statistics for the time period cited in the question given the transitional nature of asylum and deportation system at the time. First, the Immigration Act...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (9 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: My most recent contact with the Omagh victims and their families was in February 2006 when I issued responses to questions about the investigation that were submitted earlier to the Taoiseach. This response issued via the liaison officer at the Department of Foreign Affairs who was nominated by my colleague, the Minister, Deputy Dermot Ahern, to keep in contact with the families. The...

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (9 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: Operation Anvil commenced in the Dublin metropolitan region on 17 May 2005 with a view to addressing the problem of serious crime such as gun crime, robberies and burglaries and combating an emerging gun culture. At my request Operation Anvil is being extended outside the Dublin metropolitan region during 2006. I have also obtained funding to enable Operation Anvil to continue as long as it...

Written Answers — Garda Reserve Force: Garda Reserve Force (9 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 22, 26, 52, 158 and 181 together. I wish to refer the Deputy to my response to Priority Questions Nos. 1 and 2 of today's date.

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (9 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 23, 196 and 199 together. I refer the Deputies to my reply to Priority Question No. 3 of today's date.

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (9 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am advised by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner that there are no applications awaiting a first instance determination with an application date prior to 1 January 2001. While the Refugee Appeals Tribunal has advised that there are no appeals with it with an appeal date prior to 1 January 2001, there are 11 appeals in the RAT with an application date prior to 1 January...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (9 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 27 and 43 together. I can inform the Deputy that legislation is at an advanced stage of preparation in my Department which will create a specific offence of trafficking in human beings for the purpose of their sexual and labour exploitation as provided for in EU Council Framework Decision on combating trafficking in persons. The criminal law provisions in...

Written Answers — Claims against Garda Síochána: Claims against Garda Síochána (9 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: With respect to compensation claims against the Garda Síochána, section 48 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 simplifies matters for members of the public taking civil actions against members of the Garda Síochána. The section provides that the State is liable to an action for damages in respect of any damage resulting from an actionable wrong committed by a member of the Garda Síochána...

Written Answers — National Security Service: National Security Service (9 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Garda Síochána acts as both the State's national police service and national security service. Ireland does not have a "secret service". The function of the Garda Síochána in its capacity as the State's national security service is to protect the State from national security threats from within and without, in association with the Defence Forces, as appropriate. For sound security and...