Results 1,041-1,060 of 18,726 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Citizenship Referendum: Citizenship Referendum (1 Jun 2004)

Michael McDowell: It is a matter for groups such as the Children's Rights Alliance to determine their own course of action with regard to the forthcoming referendum. I do not share its view that the referendum proposal, to give to the Oireachtas a power to determine in what circumstances a right to Irish citizenship will automatically arise from birth of a person in Ireland to non-national parents, is in any...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (1 Jun 2004)

Michael McDowell: I have met the SDLP about this matter and I have noted its proposal. I fully accept the need for the greatest possible level of co-operation between the relevant agencies in both jurisdictions. Section 5 of the Criminal Assets Bureau Act 1996 sets out the functions of the bureau. This provides for co-operation with police forces and with tax and social security authorities outside the State....

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (1 Jun 2004)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities that they have sought the advice of the law officers on the recent decision of Cork District Court on the provisions of section 21 of the Road Traffic Act 2002, which deals with the evidence in regard to speeding. I am further informed that a determination of the number of cases likely to be affected cannot be made pending receipt of such advice....

Written Answers — UN Conventions: UN Conventions (1 Jun 2004)

Michael McDowell: In December, 2001, the General Assembly of the United Nations established an ad hoc committee to consider proposals for a UN convention to promote and protect the dignity and rights of persons with disabilities. The first meeting of the ad hoc committee took place in New York from 29 July to 9 August 2002 and was concerned mainly with procedural matters. At the second meeting in June 2003, it...

Written Answers — Citizenship Referendum: Citizenship Referendum (1 Jun 2004)

Michael McDowell: As I stated in my reply to the Deputy on this issue last Tuesday, the claim that the national consultative committee on racism and interculturalism has made such a finding emanated from recent newspaper reports which, according to the NCCRI, are exaggerated. The Garda racial and intercultural office, which monitors racist incidents reported to Garda, informed me there has not been a sharp...

Written Answers — Garda Training: Garda Training (1 Jun 2004)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the continuous professional development programme of Garda personnel is a core activity of Garda training. Training and development programmes are delivered on an ongoing basis to enhance the competency of members in various specialties. These programmes are...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (1 Jun 2004)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 2 on 5 May last, tabled by Deputy Jim O'Keeffe. I expect to seek Government approval to publish a Bill on judicial conduct and ethics in the current year. Heads of the Bill have not been approved by the Government.

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (1 Jun 2004)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the investigation into the murder of the person concerned is still ongoing. On completion of the investigation, a file will be forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions. The Deputy will appreciate that the investigation of this matter is an operational matter for the Garda and it would be inappropriate for me to comment further.

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (1 Jun 2004)

Michael McDowell: I have no plans to carry out an examination as suggested by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (1 Jun 2004)

Michael McDowell: The question concerned relates to the Chen case. The Chen baby is an Irish citizen and not a stateless child as the question suggests. The question of statelessness, therefore, does not arise nor will the citizenship of the child in question be affected by the Government's proposals. This case arose as a result of the referral of certain questions by the UK immigration appellate authority to...

Written Answers — Legal Costs: Legal Costs (1 Jun 2004)

Michael McDowell: I recently announced my intention to establish a group to examine the issue of the taxation of legal costs. The terms of reference and composition of the group are currently being considered. I hope to be in a position to announce the details shortly.

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (1 Jun 2004)

Michael McDowell: The position in relation to the matters raised by the Deputy was set out in my reply to Question No. 29 of 5 May, 2004. Since then, the central application facility, CAF, has been launched by the Civil Service Commission and civil servants have been invited to indicate their preferred decentralisation locations by 12 July 2004. When information is to hand on the initial CAF interest in...

Written Answers — Legal Aid Service: Legal Aid Service (1 Jun 2004)

Michael McDowell: As the Deputy is aware, the Legal Aid Board is examining the possible benefits of relocating some or all of its suburban law centres in Dublin to locations in the city centre, to bring them closer to the courts. In accordance with good public service management practice, the Legal Aid Board keeps the operation of its law centre network under constant review. About 90% of the board's caseload...

Written Answers — Equality Issues: Equality Issues (1 Jun 2004)

Michael McDowell: I was pleased to launch the annual report of the Equality Authority for 2003 on 19 May 2004 and to congratulate the authority on its continued work in successfully promoting equality of opportunity and the elimination of discrimination across the nine discriminatory grounds covered by the Employment Equality Act 1998 and the Equal Status Act 2000. As I stated on that occasion, the 2003 report...

Written Answers — Family Support Services: Family Support Services (1 Jun 2004)

Michael McDowell: Support towards staffing costs under the equal opportunities childcare programme 2000 — 2006 is only made available to community based projects which can demonstrate that they are providing child care in areas of significant disadvantage and are supporting parents who are availing of employment, education or training opportunities. In July 2001, the group in question received a staffing...

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (1 Jun 2004)

Michael McDowell: I understand that the Deputy has been informed by the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Parlon, in a recent reply to Question No. 128 of 25 May 2004 that, for operational reasons , the completion of works to Burnfoot Garda station must precede works to the station mentioned by the Deputy. This is because it is necessary to have one of these stations operating with cell...

Written Answers — Garda Recruitment: Garda Recruitment (1 Jun 2004)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the personnel strength of the Garda Síochána, all ranks, as at 28 May 2004 was 11,964. In April 2000, the Government agreed, inter alia, to a system of delegated authority under which recruitment is carried out to maintain the strength of the force at an agreed...

Written Answers — Proscribed Organisations: Proscribed Organisations (1 Jun 2004)

Michael McDowell: Section 18 of the Offences against the State Act 1939 provides, inter alia, that any organisation which raises or maintains or attempts to raise or maintain a military or armed force in contravention of the Constitution shall be an unlawful organisation. Section 19 of the 1939 Act provides that it shall be lawful for the Government by order to declare that such an organisation is an unlawful...

Written Answers — Prisoner Transfers: Prisoner Transfers (1 Jun 2004)

Michael McDowell: The Transfer of Sentenced Persons Acts 1995 and 1997 provide a mechanism whereby Irish persons who are imprisoned overseas may apply to serve the remainder of their sentences in Ireland under the terms of the 1983 Council of Europe Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons. The purpose of the convention is to facilitate the transfer of foreign prisoners to their home countries by...

Written Answers — Registration of Title: Registration of Title (1 Jun 2004)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Registrar of Titles that this is an application for conversion of title which was lodged on 19 May 2004. Dealing No. D2004CR004960R refers. I understand that due to their complicated nature, applications for conversion of title can take some time to process. Accordingly, it is not possible to estimate a completion date at this stage. However, I assure the Deputy that the...