Results 4,861-4,880 of 18,761 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Order of Business (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: The ethics Bill will be initiated in the Seanad. The Government has approved its text and it will be put before the Seanad at the earliest available opportunity, although I do not know the exact timing.

Order of Business (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: There has been no broken promise. I understand from the Chief Whip that the House will reconvene on 24 April. The Government has considered the issue relating to the census, raised by Deputy Kenny. There is no question of invalidity in holding an election in those circumstances. If Deputy Kenny had raised the matter relating to the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors with me...

Order of Business (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: The Government has no proposals to introduce legislation relating to the term "accountant" as the term is rather generic. For example, there are turf accountants, as well as chartered and certified accountants, just as there are lawyers who are not barristers or solicitors.

Order of Business (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I believe I have answered that question three or four times in the past month. Serious consideration needs to be given to the issue of legislation to give effect to the protection of children by preventing unsafe people from working with them. One of the problems relates to the issue of soft information and hard information. One of the points that arises in that contexts is what we propose...

Order of Business (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: There is very close co-operation between the PSNI and the Garda Síochána regarding dangers to children from sexual offenders.

Order of Business (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I will need to communicate with the Deputy on those matters. I do not know when the uncommenced sections of those Acts will commence. The Deputy will need to ask the Minister in question.

Order of Business (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I did not say another day. However, if the Deputy raises it in a week's time, I will be in a position to deal with it.

Order of Business (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I do not know the answer to the Deputy's question and it would be disrespectful for me to wing it.

Order of Business (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I do not know the section to which the Deputy is referring.

Order of Business (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: If the Deputy does not know, how do I know——

Order of Business (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: ——and how can I answer?

Corporate Manslaughter Bill 2007: First Stage (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: No. We welcome the Deputy's interest.

Criminal Justice Bill 2007: Report Stage (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: To avoid confusion, we are technically on Report Stage and are recommitting a number of matters.

Criminal Justice Bill 2007: Report Stage (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: Yes. We are on Report Stage and are reverting to Committee Stage for these amendments.

Criminal Justice Bill 2007: Report Stage (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy's amendment refers to the person in respect of whom bail is being varied or an application for bail is being made being given adequate time before the proceedings in the court are dealt with. In the District Court if somebody needs extra time, he or she will get it. If the prosecution tried to proceed prematurely there would be an adjournment. It is not necessary to tell the...

Criminal Justice Bill 2007: Report Stage (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: Yes.

Criminal Justice Bill 2007: Report Stage (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: With regard to amendment No. 43, the court will always give a person brought before it adequate time to meet the case against him or her. It is not necessary to provide for that in a statute. If we started to do that, it would have to be included with regard to every offence and procedure in a court.

Criminal Justice Bill 2007: Report Stage (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: On Committee Stage we discussed the question of cost effectiveness. Deputy Howlin was particularly interested in this. The Department has been examining this issue and has looked at evidence from, among other places, the United Kingdom, where a report by its Comptroller and Auditor General showed that the numbers on curfew had risen from 9,000 in 1999 to over 50,000 in 2004-05. It showed...

Criminal Justice Bill 2007: Report Stage (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: Curfew monitoring.

Criminal Justice Bill 2007: Report Stage (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I have no information on that point.