Results 6,201-6,220 of 18,728 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Sex Offenders Register: Sex Offenders Register (20 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: The Sex Offenders Act which commenced on 27 September 2001 sets out the 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 offender is sentenced to...

Written Answers — Restorative Justice: Restorative Justice (20 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: As the Deputy will be aware, I view Restorative Justice as an important element in the way we deal with offending behaviour. I am committed to fostering and developing further such initiatives over time. We must, of course, learn from the experience of how restorative justice has worked both here in Ireland — in Tallaght and Nenagh — and also look to international developments so that...

Written Answers — Stolen Property: Stolen Property (20 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: The information requested by the Deputy in respect of the years 2002 to 2005 is available in the relevant Garda Annual Reports, copies of which are available in the Oireachtas Library. 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...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (20 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 243 to 246, inclusive, together. An application for Leave to Remain in the State made pursuant to Section 3 (6) of the Immigration Act, 1999 arises where a non-Irish national is served with a notice of intent to deport under section 3 (3) (a) of the Immigration Act, 1999. A person served with such a notice of intent to deport is afforded three options, viz....

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (20 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: Since 1 January 2007, on the accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the European Union (EU), citizens of those countries are, in terms of immigration controls, covered by the provisions of the European Communities (Free Movement of Persons) (No. 2) Regulations 2006. They have the same rights of access to the Republic of Ireland as a citizen of an existing EU member state with the exception of...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (20 Feb 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 — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (20 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I understand the Immigration Division of my Department are currently considering an interdepartmental report. They will be in touch with the applicant in due course.

Written Answers — Drug Seizures: Drug Seizures (20 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities that the following table shows the drugs seized, by type, quantity and approximate street value for the years 2005 and 2006 for Gorey Garda District, which includes the area of Arklow. Garda Drug Seizures — Gorey Garda District 2005-2006 Drug Type Quantity Estimated Street Value € 2006 * Amphetamine 706.782 grams 10,616 Cannabis...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (20 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities that housing estates not yet taken in charge by local authorities are a public place for the purpose of enforcement of road traffic legislation. The taking in charge by the local authority of estates is not a prerequisite for the prosecution of offences under road traffic legislation. I am further informed that offences which are contingent on...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (20 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: Under my Department's Decentralisation Programme, around nine hundred posts are scheduled to transfer from twelve agencies to seven locations around the country. To date, one hundred and thirteen civil servants from within my Department have been re-assigned to provincial locations. By the second half of this year, we will have a presence in all seven locations when over four hundred posts...

Civil Unions Bill 2006: Second Stage (20 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: Legislative reform in this area might then include a civil registration scheme alongside the contract and redress models recommended in the Law Reform Commission report. The working group and the Law Reform Commission suggest that such an approach would allow cohabitants either to opt-in to a set of rights and duties towards each other and attain a formal and public status or make a...

Civil Unions Bill 2006: Second Stage (20 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I have asked and I have discovered what is the situation.

Civil Unions Bill 2006: Second Stage (20 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I do not believe we should walk the road of saying, "We know best; this is the way to run a gay relationship". The only State recognition available for a gay relationship is if it is on the same basis as marriage. That is not fair to gay and lesbian people, and is highly unrealistic.

Civil Unions Bill 2006: Second Stage (20 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy should listen.

Civil Unions Bill 2006: Second Stage (20 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: Will the Deputy stop heckling? He has been heckling and speaking for over an hour. He should keep quiet.

Civil Unions Bill 2006: Second Stage (20 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: It is not fair to say to gay and lesbian people that only one model of State recognition is available, namely, that one must take on all the incidents of marriage. It is not fair to say to heterosexual cohabiting couples that the only basis on which they can be recognised is if they enter into a marriage equivalent.

Civil Unions Bill 2006: Second Stage (20 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: It is not right to say to people who have a non-sexual relationship and who want to give next-of-kin rights to each other, or who want to be recognised for those purposes, that they can have no support from the State unless they decide to also take on the incidents of marriage.

Civil Unions Bill 2006: Second Stage (20 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: Those are not fair propositions. The Deputy has not thought this through.

Civil Unions Bill 2006: Second Stage (20 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: Some couples may prefer a form of civil partnership which protects certain rights of importance to them but which may not have the full set of legal implications of marriage. I want to do something for them.

Civil Unions Bill 2006: Second Stage (20 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: We are working on it.