Results 7,121-7,140 of 18,728 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Budget Statement 2006 (6 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: Where is the Democratic Left now?

Seanad: Defamation Bill 2006: Second Stage (6 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am pleased to have the opportunity to introduce the Defamation Bill 2006 and to outline its main provisions. We have had a number of very good debates in this House, most recently on 9 February 2005, on the reform of our current defamation legislation which dates from 1961. I took note of the contributions that day and promised Senators not only to take them into account when drafting the...

Seanad: Defamation Bill 2006: Second Stage (6 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have many attributes, but infallibility is not yet one of them.

Seanad: Defamation Bill 2006: Second Stage (6 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: However, the Bill in Schedule 2 provides, in the public interest——

Seanad: Defamation Bill 2006: Second Stage (6 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: —— some guidance as the basic standard expected in such a code. I am not against self-regulation, either by the universities or by the professions.

Seanad: Defamation Bill 2006: Second Stage (6 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: One of the primary benefits of a statutorily recognised press council, as provided for in the Bill, is that qualified privilege would attach to its reports and decisions or to those of a subsidiary body, such as the press ombudsman service it would operate. Subscription to the press council and adherence to its code of practice by a current affairs publication would strengthen its...

Seanad: Defamation Bill 2006: Second Stage (6 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: However, self-regulation must carry with it the notion that there are some rules to which injured parties can point in seeking redress from abuse of press power. There is no point in having an independent press council which can do nothing and is ignored by its members with complete impunity. I am conscious of the danger in arguing that all press activity should be capable of regulation in...

Written Answers — Coroners Service: Coroners Service (5 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: I can inform the Deputy that, insofar as the question of the receipt of post-mortem reports are concerned, it is not possible to provide an average timeframe. A number of factors can influence this in different cases including whether toxicological or other specialist reports are required as part of the post-mortem process.

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (5 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Data Protection Acts 1998 and 2003 already apply to personal data recorded through the operation of CCTV systems or other monitoring equipment. The Privacy Bill which was published on 4 July 2006 creates an offence to be known as the tort of invasion of privacy, for a person wilfully and without lawful authority to violate the privacy of another individual. Where material obtained from...

Written Answers — Registration of Title: Registration of Title (5 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: As the Deputy will be aware, under the provisions of the Registration of Deeds and Title Act 2006, the Property Registration Authority was established as and from 4 November, 2006. The Property Registration Authority replaces the Registrar of Deeds and Titles as the registering authority in relation to property registration in Ireland and, subject to the above Act, is independent in the...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (5 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: An application for naturalisation from the individual in question was received in the Citizenship Division of my Department on 16 October 2006. In the interests of fairness to all concerned, it is the practice of the Citizenship Division to process cases in chronological order based upon the date of receipt of the application. However, due to the circumstances outlined by the Deputy, I...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (5 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to Parliamentary Questions No. 1121 of Wednesday, 25 January, 2006 and No. 199 of Thursday 29 June, 2006, and the written replies to those Questions. The position is unchanged.

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (5 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 166 and 167 together. Traffic Corps personnel deployments are designed to optimise service delivery and are intended to match as closely as possible operational demands in the areas of both traffic management and traffic law enforcement. I am informed by the Garda authorities that peak traffic times in Dublin on weekdays are approximately 07.00 to 10.30 and...

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (5 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that a Headquarters Directive was issued to An Garda Síochána on 8 November 2006 outlining the provisions of section 12 of the Road Traffic Act 1994 (substituted by section 2 of the Road Traffic Act 2003), whereby a member of An Garda Síochána may request the provision of a preliminary breath specimen in a public place, and section 15 of the Road...

Written Answers — Family Reunification: Family Reunification (5 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: I understand from the Immigration Division of my Department that a decision has been reached in relation to the application in question. The refugee will be informed of the details of the decision shortly.

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (5 Dec 2006)

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

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (5 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: The application referred to by the Deputy was received in the Dublin Visa Office on 16th November, 2006. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the application in question was approved on 28th November, 2006.

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (5 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: An application for naturalisation from the individual in question was received in the Citizenship Division of my Department on 6 December, 2004. Applications received in the second half of 2004 are currently being processed and there are approximately 500 applications awaiting processing before that of the person in question. I would expect the file to be presented to me for decision by mid...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (5 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that from January 2004 to date there have been 243 prosecutions initiated for breaches of the three tonne restriction on Kennelsfort Road, Palmerstown. I am also informed that there are 77 convictions recorded for the same period. Since 3 April, 2006 this offence is captured by the Fixed Charge Processing System (FCPS). Forty two fixed charge penalty...

Written Answers — Garda Vetting Services: Garda Vetting Services (5 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: The vetting of persons by the Garda Central Vetting Unit (GCVU) is statutorily supported according to the category of person to be vetted by, inter alia, the Civil Service Commissioners Act 1956, Employment Agency Act 1971, Child Care Act 1991 and Private Security Services Act 2004. Moreover, legislative proposals are currently under preparation within my Department to statutorily underpin...