Results 5,561-5,580 of 18,728 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Order of Business (8 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: The legislation in question has been mentioned on each day the House has met.

Order of Business (8 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: We are getting on with the business of the House. We are also getting on with Ireland's business.

Order of Business (8 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: The people appreciate what we are doing and like to see us working hard.

Written Answers — Gaming and Lotteries Acts: Gaming and Lotteries Acts (7 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: In Ireland, the Gaming and Lotteries Act, 1956-86 cover gaming and lotteries other than the National Lottery, which is covered by the National Lottery Act 1986, with the Betting Act, 1931 governing all matters relating to betting. In general, all forms of gaming are illegal in this jurisdiction except where specifically permitted. Sections 21, 26 and 34 of the 1956 Gaming and Lotteries Act...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (7 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am advised by officials in the Citizenship Division of my Department that the applicant in question applied for naturalisation on the 13th January 2003. At the time of his application, he did not fulfil the statutory residency conditions as set out in the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act, 1956, as amended. It is now open to the applicant to submit a new application for...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (7 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: The information sought by the Deputy is currently being compiled by the Garda authorities and I will communicate directly with him when it is to hand.

Written Answers — Prison Staff: Prison Staff (7 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 165 and 166 together. The person in question was for some years a prison chaplain on the nomination of his local Bishop. Subsequent to his taking up the appointment he initiated a large number of claims with different statutory bodies regarding his pay, grading and status as a prison chaplain and other terms and conditions attaching to such appointments...

Written Answers — Juvenile Offenders: Juvenile Offenders (7 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: There are currently 52 children detained in children detention schools and, as of 2 March 2007, 72 young offenders under the age of 18 years detained in St. Patrick's Institution and other facilities under the Irish Prison Service. The average cost of detaining a young person in a children detention school (formerly an industrial or reformatory school) in 2006 was €423,844. This is a...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (7 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: The person concerned was granted a C visit visa to enter the State on 15th December 2006 and was granted permission to remain until 4th March 2007. A wrap-around information sheet accompanies every visa application form. That sheet makes it clear to the applicant that, in general, persons granted visas for particular purposes are not permitted to remain in the State for any purpose other than...

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (7 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the cost, including normal salaries, of ongoing Garda policing arrangements at Shannon Airport in 2006 was approximately €3.85 million. In this regard, the Garda authorities allocate resources in accordance with, inter alia, assessed threat, so it is the latter which ultimately determines the associated costs. It is the statutory function of the...

Written Answers — Drug Seizures: Drug Seizures (7 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: I regret that the information sought by the Deputy is not readily available in the time allowed and is currently being researched. I will contact the Deputy again when the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (7 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that they have made no decision regarding Mountjoy Garda Station at this stage. I should add that the formulation of proposals in relation to the opening and closing of Garda stations is a matter, in the first instance, for the Garda Commissioner in the context of...

Written Answers — Closed Circuit Television Systems: Closed Circuit Television Systems (7 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: As the Deputy is aware I launched the Community Based CCTV Scheme in June 2005 in response to the demonstrated demand from local communities across Ireland for the provision of CCTV systems. This Scheme is designed to provide financial assistance to qualifying local organisations towards meeting the capital costs associated with the establishment of local community CCTV systems. The scheme...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (7 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: 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 13,000 following the attestation of 299 new members on Thursday, 16 November, 2006. This compares with a total strength of 10,702 (all ranks) as at 30 June, 1997 and represents an...

Written Answers — Sexual Offences: Sexual Offences (7 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: I assume the Deputy is referring to the protection afforded by the criminal law to children against sexual abuse. I am satisfied that the criminal law offers comprehensive protection to children against sexual abuse. However, these laws are kept under continuing review and if the need for amending legislation is identified the necessary action is taken. Since the early 1990s there have been...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) (Amendment) Bill 2007: Second Stage (7 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: I was screamed at as if there was something wrong with my head and I could not understand the issue. I was abused for not seeing the obvious. I cannot understand why all the people who accused me then of not being sufficiently urgent about it are now running columns in the same newspapers giving out shots about me for the consequences of legislating in haste. It is strange. Of course I...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) (Amendment) Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (7 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: Either is acceptable. If a section is inserted in lieu of another one, it is substituted. The draftsman prefers "inserted" and the Senator's colleagues in the Labour Party prefer "as substituted". I am indifferent. Rather than bringing the Bill back to the Dáil, I will stick with "inserted".

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) (Amendment) Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (7 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: I was called to the Bar in 1974 and practised in most courts, including the criminal courts and I knew my criminal law at the time. It was accepted among all barristers, all solicitors and all judges that the general rule was that mens rea was required, that is, that one had to know one was committing an offence. However, there were a number of exceptions but one classic exception was in...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) (Amendment) Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (7 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: They are voters.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) (Amendment) Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (7 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: This issue is of some significance. The effect of accepting this amendment would be that the offence of gross indecency would be restored in respect of a young male over the age of 15. Effectively, a young gay man aged 16 who engaged in some act which was not an offence under the 2006 Act, for example, heavy petting — I do not want to get too detailed in this regard — would commit an...