Results 1,501-1,520 of 18,726 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Prisoner Complaints Procedures: Prisoner Complaints Procedures (23 Nov 2004)

Michael McDowell: The Irish Prison Service does not use solitary confinement, although there is provision in the prison rules for the use of close confinement. I am not aware of any such other claims by former prisoners.

Written Answers — Irish Prison Service: Irish Prison Service (23 Nov 2004)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 407 to 409, inclusive, together. I refer the Deputy to the answers provided to Questions Nos. 228 and 299 of 16 November 2004, which are relevant to the matter in hand. I said on that date that a small cohort of prison staff is assigned to duties at the Curragh and Fort Mitchel for security reasons and because of the need to carry out essential maintenance. I...

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (23 Nov 2004)

Michael McDowell: The compilation of the information requested by the Deputy took longer than originally anticipated. The delay in dealing with this matter is regretted. The information is as follows: Title of Report Reason Publication has not taken place Policy Research Relating to Victim Support Organisation Not intended for publication Two confidential reports on the security of the Department's...

Seanad: Irish Nationality and Citizenship Bill 2004: Second Stage. (1 Dec 2004)

Michael McDowell: I welcome this opportunity to address the House again on the subject of Irish citizenship laws. Senators will recall that my last major excursion into this august Chamber on this topic was in connection with the Bill for the referendum proposal which is the direct antecedent of the measure now before us. Previous to that, in autumn of last year, I was here to address Senator Quinn's Private...

Seanad: Irish Nationality and Citizenship Bill 2004: Second Stage. (1 Dec 2004)

Michael McDowell: That is true.

Seanad: Irish Nationality and Citizenship Bill 2004: Second Stage. (1 Dec 2004)

Michael McDowell: As for asylum, any proposal to include in the reckoning a period spent as an asylum seeker as distinct from a refugee would serve to encourage false claims and the protraction of the asylum process. The reckonability or otherwise of periods of residence in the State by non-EEA or Swiss nationals can be easily ascertained by examining the passports of the persons concerned for stamps affixed...

Seanad: Irish Nationality and Citizenship Bill 2004: Second Stage. (1 Dec 2004)

Michael McDowell: The answer to the Senator's question is "No". We have decided that there must be a more tangible, long-term and real link between the parent of the child before citizenship, as of right, becomes available. In this respect, we as a people have decided to restore to the Houses of the Oireachtas the power to judge collectively, by legislation, whether there is a sufficient link between a parent...

Seanad: Irish Nationality and Citizenship Bill 2004: Second Stage. (1 Dec 2004)

Michael McDowell: That is because I got a decent hearing in this House whereas I did not get one in the other House.

Seanad: Irish Nationality and Citizenship Bill 2004: Second Stage. (1 Dec 2004)

Michael McDowell: Yes.

Seanad: Irish Nationality and Citizenship Bill 2004: Second Stage. (1 Dec 2004)

Michael McDowell: Every country in Europe considers Nigeria to be a safe country——

Seanad: Irish Nationality and Citizenship Bill 2004: Second Stage. (1 Dec 2004)

Michael McDowell: ——generally speaking.

Seanad: Irish Nationality and Citizenship Bill 2004: Second Stage. (1 Dec 2004)

Michael McDowell: They are not excluded at all.

Seanad: Irish Nationality and Citizenship Bill 2004: Second Stage. (1 Dec 2004)

Michael McDowell: I can deal with her in the Irish associations Bill.

Seanad: Irish Nationality and Citizenship Bill 2004: Second Stage. (1 Dec 2004)

Michael McDowell: Yes.

Seanad: Irish Nationality and Citizenship Bill 2004: Second Stage. (1 Dec 2004)

Michael McDowell: I thank Members for participating so actively in what was an interesting debate. I agree with Senator O'Toole that a balance needs to be struck on this issue because the debate on it has become too polarised. As I irritate others, I am entitled on occasion to say what I find irritating in others, which in this regard is what I would call the politics of competitive compassion. Some feel they...

Seanad: Irish Nationality and Citizenship Bill 2004: Second Stage. (1 Dec 2004)

Michael McDowell: They will posture further and further towards the compassionate end of the spectrum to find whether anybody will be foolish enough to challenge their bona fides. Ireland is not a xenophobic society and has responded well to a novel situation. However, we are at times inclined to airbrush events out of our history. I think of the Jews who came to Ireland in the late 19th and early 20th...

Seanad: Irish Nationality and Citizenship Bill 2004: Second Stage. (1 Dec 2004)

Michael McDowell: They were boxed in and discriminated against. We should look forward to the kind of society which is emerging. Let us not have ghettos and under-classes which are culturally or ethnically distinct but, instead, let us try to create a new society. We are beginning this process from a simple position. Let us not make the mistakes other societies have made in the wake of immigration. Some...

Seanad: Irish Nationality and Citizenship Bill 2004: Second Stage. (1 Dec 2004)

Michael McDowell: One only has to look at what happened to the candidacy of Justin Barrett in the Leinster constituency to see that there is no rich seam of votes to be obtained by exploiting race or fears about immigration. That is an encouraging feature.

Seanad: Irish Nationality and Citizenship Bill 2004: Second Stage. (1 Dec 2004)

Michael McDowell: Regarding what will happen now, I have indicated that we will take a common sense, decent and pragmatic approach to the numbers of people in this country who in effect arrived before the Supreme Court decision when the law was different — as perhaps were expectations — to what it will now be. It is not reasonable to think that everyone was reading the Irish reports in foreign places. We...

Seanad: Irish Nationality and Citizenship Bill 2004: Second Stage. (1 Dec 2004)

Michael McDowell: I must first halt the process we have been facing until recently. That is why, when this legislation is passed, one of the first steps I will take is to bring a memorandum to Government to show how we will quickly deal with all the problems left in the aftermath of this controversy and the legal development.