Results 9,081-9,100 of 18,729 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (13 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: In line with international practice I introduced a fee for immigration registration certificates with effect from May 27 2006. The introduction of such a fee had been flagged both in the Immigration Act 2004, and in the discussion document containing the outline policy proposals for an Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill. Non-EEA nationals who register with an immigration registration...

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (13 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have requested a report from the Garda authorities in relation to the allegations in question. I will contact the Deputy again when the report is to hand.

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (13 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am aware from a considerable volume of correspondence that both families wish to meet with me to demand separate independent inquiries into the tragic deaths of their sons — deaths which were unrelated save for the fact that both occurred following detention in Garda custody. With regard to the first family I have read the Garda investigation file in the matter and the Director of Public...

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (13 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Garda Central Vetting Unit (GCVU) was established in January 2002 to deal with the then known demand for vetting applications. From a child protection perspective, the Unit processes vetting requests in respect of the following: —prospective employees of the Health Service Executive (HSE); —prospective employees of certain agencies funded by the HSE; —childcare places funded by the...

Written Answers — Garda Training: Garda Training (13 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that members of the Garda Síochána are allowed to drive official vehicles in two circumstances: (a) they hold at least a class "B" Driving licence and have been authorised to drive by the Chief Superintendent or (b) they have completed an official driving course. Members on provisional licences are not permitted to drive official vehicles. Divisional...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (13 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: As already indicated in my answer to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 491 and 494 on 30 May 2006, in discussions held with my officials at the request of a body called the Gaming and Leisure Association of Ireland, representing a number of casino-style operations, the following views and proposals were conveyed in clear terms to that Association. Public policy in the matter of casino gambling in...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (13 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that I have recently approved the application for naturalisation of the person in question. A letter is due to issue to him in the next few days informing him of my decision and the procedures that need to be finalised before a certificate of naturalisation can issue.

Written Answers — Ministerial Responsibilities: Ministerial Responsibilities (13 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: There are two Ministers of State attached to my Department. Minister of State Frank Fahey, T.D. was appointed by the Government on 29 September, 2004 with responsibility for equality matters, particularly disability. There is no Statutory Instrument in this regard. Powers and duties were delegated to Mr. Brian Lenihan, T.D. under S.I. Number 474 of 2002. However, as the Deputy is aware, a New...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (13 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 342 and 343 together. I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the personnel strength (all ranks) of An Garda Síochána rose to a record 12,641 on 8 June 2006 with the attestation of 273 new members. This compares with a total strength of 10,702 (all ranks) as at 30 June 1997 and represents an increase of 1,939 (or 18.1%) in the personnel strength...

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (13 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 344 to 347, inclusive, together. Headline crime statistics for 2002 to 2005 for the Garda Division of North Cork, which includes the Garda District of Fermoy, are contained in the relevant Garda Annual Reports which are available in the Oireachtas Library.

Order of Business. (14 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: Deputy Stagg is a great man for the questions.

Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998: Motion. (14 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I move: That Dáil Éireann resolves that sections 2 to 12, 14 and 17 of the Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998 (No. 39 of 1998), shall continue in operation for the period of 12 months beginning on 30 June 2006. This motion seeks approval for the continuance in force of those sections of the Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998 which would otherwise cease to be in...

Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998: Motion. (14 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I thank Deputies for their contributions. Regarding Deputy Cuffe's last few remarks, he was not here when I stated that so-called dissident republicans, who are not and never have been true republicans, have in recent months been found trying to assemble bombs on the same scale as that which exploded in Omagh. I hope that it will never happen, but when one such bomb is detonated, I would like...

Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998: Motion. (14 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy cannot be reading the right parts of the newspapers. Massive efforts have been made to detonate very serious bombs.

Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998: Motion. (14 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: It has nothing to do with George Bush. I am talking about the people who were blown to pieces in Omagh.

Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998: Motion. (14 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy would be dumbstruck if another attack such as that on Omagh took place and his words today were recalled. If they get away with what they are trying to do and, to use the phrase the Provos once used, get lucky, the Deputy will be embarrassed to hear his words spoken back to him in this House. He will realise that he is in breach of a legislator's duty to protect ordinary people's...

Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998: Motion. (14 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: ——and stand up for the State against those trying to damage it. I entirely agree with Deputy Jim O'Keeffe's comment on recent remarks by Deputy Ferris. It is totally inappropriate for any person to say regarding an offence subject to investigation by the Garda Síochána that people should withhold information. Deputies Ferris and Ó Snodaigh are no exceptions to the rule that one sits in...

Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998: Motion. (14 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: The real reason that Deputy Ferris made those remarks is that he still clings to the idiotic ideology of the Provisional movement that somehow their acts were not crimes because they were carried out at the behest of the army council, in whom, the idiots all believe, the Irish people's powers of government are somehow vested. It is the sad delusion of fanatics, and the sooner they abandon...

Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998: Motion. (14 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: It was brought about by the political emergency following the Omagh bombing but it is part of our law, subject to the rule that it be renewed annually. Certain comments have been made about my Department. My Department takes its job very seriously. Officials involved in security take their job very seriously but they are not the securocrats they are portrayed as. They are very reasonable...

Written Answers — Ombudsman Services: Ombudsman Services (14 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: In relation to services within my remit, I should explain that the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005, is empowered to directly and independently investigate complaints against members of the Garda Síochána. It is also empowered to investigate any matter, even where no complaint has been made, where it appears that a Garda may have...