Results 11,641-11,660 of 18,734 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (6 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: A Detective Superintendent from outside the relevant Garda Division was appointed immediately after the incident to carry out a detailed investigation into all the circumstances surrounding the person in question's arrest, detention and removal to hospital. The Garda authorities submitted a file to the Director of Public Prosecutions on the matter and furnished a copy to me also. The Director...

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (6 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: Section 16 of the Criminal Evidence Act, 1992, as amended, makes provision for the video recording of any evidence given, in relation to a sexual offence or an act involving violence, by a person under 17 years of age through a live television link in proceedings relating to indictable offences. The relevant subsection — (1)(a) — was commenced in 1993. It will be noted that this...

Written Answers — Garda Equipment: Garda Equipment (6 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: The current analogue system is in accordance with recommendations contained in the third report of the Steering Committee on Audio and Audio/Video Recording of Garda Questioning of Detained Persons. Garda authorities inform me that consequently, there is no proposal at present to purchase digital equipment for the recording of Garda interviews. With regard to future and additional...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (6 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 182 and 183 together. I am informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of personnel and resources, that the Garda Síochána provide security at various locations including embassies, consulates and buildings occupied by foreign diplomatic missions based on an assessment of the threat levels involved. I am further...

Written Answers — Sexual Offences: Sexual Offences (6 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 184 to 186, inclusive, together. The Criminal Law (Trafficking in Persons and Sexual Offences) Act 2006, which has been approved by Government and is at present being drafted, contains several amendments to the Sex Offenders Act 2001. I am now examining further amendments to the Act, in particular to harmonise our laws more closely with those in our...

Written Answers — Sexual Offences: Sexual Offences (6 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Sex Offenders Act, 2001 which commenced on 27 September 2001 sets out the notification obligations on persons convicted of a range of sexual offences against both children and adults. A convicted sex offender must notify his/her name(s), date of birth and current home address to the Garda Síochána within seven days of the conviction for the sexual offence concerned or, where the...

Written Answers — Sexual Offences: Sexual Offences (6 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: On 27 November I signed a Memorandum of Understanding on information sharing arrangements between Ireland and the UK relating to sex offenders. The MOU was negotiated between my Department and the Home Office, with input from the Northern Ireland Office. It relates to information about persons travelling between Ireland and the UK and who are subject to sex offender notification requirements...

Written Answers — Asylum Support Services: Asylum Support Services (6 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: Asylum seekers who apply to the Irish State for recognition as a refugee under the Geneva Convention are provided with all basic needs to ensure that they do not suffer poverty. The Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) of my Department is charged with responsibility to provide accommodation for asylum seekers while their asylum application is being processed. In discharging this task,...

Written Answers — Tribunals of Inquiry: Tribunals of Inquiry (6 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: Neither I nor Ministers of State at my Department have not been contacted by the Moriarty Tribunal.

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (6 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: I presume the Deputy is referring to the recent High Court judgements delivered on 14 November 2006 on test case proceedings taken in relation to the IBC/05 Scheme. The IBC/05 scheme was initiated to provide non-EU national parents of Irish citizen children, who were born in the State prior to 1 January 2005, an opportunity to apply for permission to remain in the State on that basis. One of...

Written Answers — Stardust Fire: Stardust Fire (6 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: I can inform the Deputy that the position remains as set out in my response to Parliamentary Question No. 128 on this subject of Wednesday, 22 November (39279/06).

Written Answers — Prisoner Rehabilitation: Prisoner Rehabilitation (6 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: I can advise the Deputy that €0.5 million was made available from the Dormant Accounts Fund in 2006 under the Economic and Social Disadvantage Category for projects supporting Prisoners / Ex Prisoners. The funding has been equally divided between addiction counselling and employability services for prisoners: €250,000 for addiction counsellors and €250,000 for employability services....

Seanad: Defamation Bill 2006: Second Stage (6 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am pleased to have the opportunity to introduce the Defamation Bill 2006 and to outline its main provisions. We have had a number of very good debates in this House, most recently on 9 February 2005, on the reform of our current defamation legislation which dates from 1961. I took note of the contributions that day and promised Senators not only to take them into account when drafting the...

Seanad: Defamation Bill 2006: Second Stage (6 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have many attributes, but infallibility is not yet one of them.

Seanad: Defamation Bill 2006: Second Stage (6 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: However, the Bill in Schedule 2 provides, in the public interest——

Seanad: Defamation Bill 2006: Second Stage (6 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: —— some guidance as the basic standard expected in such a code. I am not against self-regulation, either by the universities or by the professions.

Seanad: Defamation Bill 2006: Second Stage (6 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: One of the primary benefits of a statutorily recognised press council, as provided for in the Bill, is that qualified privilege would attach to its reports and decisions or to those of a subsidiary body, such as the press ombudsman service it would operate. Subscription to the press council and adherence to its code of practice by a current affairs publication would strengthen its...

Seanad: Defamation Bill 2006: Second Stage (6 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: However, self-regulation must carry with it the notion that there are some rules to which injured parties can point in seeking redress from abuse of press power. There is no point in having an independent press council which can do nothing and is ignored by its members with complete impunity. I am conscious of the danger in arguing that all press activity should be capable of regulation in...

Financial Resolution No. 6: General (Resumed) (7 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: I wish to share time with the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Noel Dempsey.

Financial Resolution No. 6: General (Resumed) (7 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: An interesting piece of archival material, Ray MacSharry's budget speech of early 1987, was played on the radio yesterday morning. I recall the occasion vividly as it was the first year I was elected to this House. In what was effectively my first contribution, it fell to me to reply to that speech. Then an Opposition Member, I remember being in the odd position of having to agree that...