Results 13,341-13,360 of 18,736 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (20 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: My Department is considering, in consultation with other Departments, the legal and policy implications of ratification. The Government will consider whether or not to ratify based on a thorough review of the implications.

Written Answers — Departmental Communications: Departmental Communications (20 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: In keeping with the principles contained in my Department's Customer Charter and the requirements of the Disability Act, my Department endeavours to ensure, insofar as is practicable, that information provided orally is also available in an accessible format where required by persons with a hearing impairment. An internal advisory group monitors the provision of services to persons with a...

Seanad: Prisons Bill 2006 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (20 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: I accepted amendment No. 1 when it was proposed in the Dáil by the Labour Party. While it is not strictly necessary to the meaning, its inclusion means there can be no doubt the definition of "prison rules" refers to a rule in force at a particular time, even if the rule has been since repealed. Amendment No. 10 is a technical Government amendment and amendments Nos. 15 and 17 are also...

Seanad: Prisons Bill 2006 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (20 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: Amendments Nos. 6 and 7 were made to Part 4 of the Bill, which relates to planning provisions. Amendment No. 6 replaces the words "consider only" with the words "take account only of" in section 23(2) of the Bill. This new wording better reflects the role of the rapporteur, which is to receive written submissions and observations and to prepare a report for submission to the Minister, based...

Seanad: Prisons Bill 2006 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (20 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: I accepted amendment No. 8 when it was proposed by Deputy Ó Snodaigh in the other House. It clarifies the meaning of the word "record", as used in this section of the Bill. I was advised that the amendment was not entirely necessary, but I decided to accept it because it provides consistency by reflecting the wording of section 10(3) of the Bill, which relates to access to records,...

Seanad: Prisons Bill 2006 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (20 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: A person who, without the permission of the governor, possesses or uses a mobile telecommunications device, or a person who supplies such a device to a prisoner without such permission, is to be made guilty of an offence. He or she will be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding €5,000, or a prison term not exceeding 12 months. He or she will be liable on conviction on...

Seanad: Prisons Bill 2006 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (20 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: Prisoners who are not in close confinement are given access to telephones, which are monitored, to make domestic telephone calls on an agreed basis within prison. It is not a matter of people being unnecessarily held incommunicado in prison. I do not want to elaborate more at this stage other than to say I have every reason to believe that serious criminals have used mobile telephones...

Seanad: Prisons Bill 2006 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (20 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: I thank Senators for the debate on this Bill and for the helpful amendments brought forward in this House. The Senators will realise that not only did I accept amendments in the House but I also indicated that I would accept amendments brought forward in the other House based on remarks made by Senators in this House. The Bill was published last November and it has been moved through both...

Written Answers — Equality Issues: Equality Issues (21 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: The Equal Status Acts 2000 to 2004 prohibit discrimination, on nine named grounds including that of disability, in the provision of and access to goods and services. The definition of services in this context is broad and would include banking, insurance, grants and credit facilities as well as access to public places, facilities for refreshment, entertainment, transport and travel services....

Written Answers — Crime Prevention: Crime Prevention (21 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the area in question is actively policed by Gardaí from Irishtown sub-District. There are regular foot and mobile patrols carried out by uniform and plain clothes Gardaí with a view to ensuring a concentrated and visible presence in the area. These patrols are supplemented by the District Detective and Drugs Units, the Community Policing Unit,...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (21 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: Following the submission to me in 2004 of a report and recommendations by an expert group on crime statistics, I decided that the compilation and publication of crime statistics should be taken over by the Central Statistics Office, as the national statistical agency, from the Garda Síochána. The Garda Síochána Act 2005 consequently makes provision for this and the CSO has established a...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (21 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: As outlined in my response to Parliamentary Question No. 221 of the 27th February 2007, the person concerned must contact the Immigration Division of my Department. To date the Immigration Division has no record of having received any correspondence from the person referred to by the Deputy. If and when the documentation is received, the application will be processed.

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (21 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 183 and 184 together. I have been informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the personnel strength (all ranks) of An Garda Síochána increased to a record 13,178 following the attestation of 273 new members on Wednesday 14 March, 2007. This compares with a total strength of...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (21 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: I wish to refer the Deputy to my reply to PQ No. 201 which refers to same and which was answered 20 March, 2007. The position remains the same. The person concerned, a Nigerian national, arrived in the State on 28 April, 2003 and applied for asylum. Her application was refused following consideration of the case by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner on 12 February, 2004...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (21 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: The application referred to by the Deputy was received in the Visa Office on 13th March 2007. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the visa application in question was approved on 16th March 2007.

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (21 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: I understand from the Immigration Division of my Department that the person concerned has recently been granted permission to remain in the State and that the passport has been returned.

Written Answers — Crime Prevention: Crime Prevention (21 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: The Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation is the specialist unit within An Garda Síochána with national responsibility for the investigation of fraud-related crime. The Bureau has carried out a number of investigations in relation to complaints made by insurance companies over the years. These investigations have resulted in a number of successful prosecutions. I am informed by the Garda...

Written Answers — Public Service Contracts: Public Service Contracts (21 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: The detailed information required by the Deputy is not readily available in the format requested. As the Deputy will appreciate, having regard to the breadth of activities undertaken by my Department and by the agencies under its aegis, the extent of the procurement activity is necessarily very extensive, running perhaps to several hundred procurement instances in the period in question. In...

Seanad: Defamation Bill 2006: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am a little mystified by the reaction to Senator Maurice Hayes's amendment. I am speaking to the Government amendment which is preferable. Even though it has been praised by Senator Norris, Senator Hayes's amendment No. 23 would have the effect of removing entirely subsection 28(2) from the Bill and therefore remove the capacity of the court to specify the time or date or the form or...

Seanad: Defamation Bill 2006: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: ——significant dilution of what they were talking about. In fairness to Senator Hayes he proposes that there should be an obligation in the order to give due prominence to the correction order to ensure it is communicated to all or substantially all the people involved. This formula is already in place as set out in the last paragraph of section 28(2). Senator Hayes is somewhat less...