Results 9,001-9,020 of 18,729 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Government Record: Motion. (4 Jul 2006)

Michael McDowell: I profoundly disagree with the political motivation behind the motion. The Opposition charges us with being tired, divided and arrogant. Is it not ironic that the main proposer of the motion, Deputy Rabbitte, has left on the record of the House the charge that the Ceann Comhairle is congenitally incapable of being fair? It was not enough that he had charged the Ceann Comhairle with being...

Government Record: Motion. (4 Jul 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Opposition parties charge us with being tired. It is they who are tiring. We are tired of the same old lines they put out repeatedly. The Government is not tired. I have set myself many tasks in my area of justice, equality and law reform for the next 12 months that I intend to achieve. I want to use the next 12 months to implement in full the Garda Síochána Act. I want to see the...

Government Record: Motion. (4 Jul 2006)

Michael McDowell: This month the Garda Commissioner takes over as Accounting Officer for the force. I want to use the next 12 months to recruit another 1,100 trainee gardaí to make irreversible our goal of a Garda force of more than 14,000.

Government Record: Motion. (4 Jul 2006)

Michael McDowell: I reject the politics of Deputies Kenny and Rabbitte who at the Cabinet table reduced the number of gardaí. I want to pass the Criminal Justice Bill and bring it into operation. I want to roll out the application of anti-social behaviour orders and make our prisons drugs-free. I want to build new prisons at Thornton and on Spike Island.

Government Record: Motion. (4 Jul 2006)

Michael McDowell: I want to pilot through the House our reforms in the area of defamation and privacy laws.

Government Record: Motion. (4 Jul 2006)

Michael McDowell: A hell of a lot more than you will ever do in your lifetime, buddy.

Government Record: Motion. (4 Jul 2006)

Michael McDowell: I want to secure passage of legislation providing for a legal services ombudsman.

Government Record: Motion. (4 Jul 2006)

Michael McDowell: I want to introduce a new national property services regulatory authority to control the auctioneering profession.

Government Record: Motion. (4 Jul 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Government is not tired. Every one of my colleagues has a packed agenda which we intend to implement in the next year. Just let the Opposition wait.

Government Record: Motion. (4 Jul 2006)

Michael McDowell: My real objection is with the implicit suggestion in the motion that something is on offer from the opposite side of the House.

Written Answers — Forensic Examinations: Forensic Examinations (4 Jul 2006)

Michael McDowell: My understanding is that before the tests in question could proceed, a license to carry out the necessary exhumation is required from the local authority, which would be conditional on the consent of the next of kin of all of the victims in question. The Stardust Victims Committee has been informed that, in the event that such a license is issued, my Department will seek expert advice as to...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (4 Jul 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that there were 51,896 penalty point offence incidents recorded for the first three months of 2006. This figure is provisional/operational and liable to change.

Written Answers — Internet Gambling: Internet Gambling (4 Jul 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Internet is an international and world-wide phenomenon. It has no borders and no single organisation controls it. Measures to combat illegal materials and activities on the Internet are therefore hampered by a multiplicity of jurisdictions, differing legal systems, and differing societal norms. Furthermore, new developments in communications technologies allowing for Internet access by...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (4 Jul 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the personnel strength of An Garda Síochána increased to a record 12,641 (all ranks) on Thursday 8 June with the attestation of 273 new members. This compares with a total strength of 10,702 (all ranks) as at 30 June 1997 and represents an increase of 1,939 (or 18.1%) in the personnel strength of the Force during that period. I have also...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (4 Jul 2006)

Michael McDowell: The person in question made a family reunification application on behalf of his wife, four children, mother and five siblings in January 2005. The application was forwarded to the Refugee Applications Commissioner for investigation as required under Section 18 of the Refugee Act 1996. This investigation is completed and the Commissioner has forwarded a report to my Department. Applications of...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (4 Jul 2006)

Michael McDowell: The person in question made a family reunification application on behalf of his two adult children and two adult nieces in June 2005. The application was forwarded to the Refugee Applications Commissioner for investigation as required under Section 18 of the Refugee Act 1996. This investigation is completed and the Commissioner has forwarded a report to my Department. Applications of this...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (4 Jul 2006)

Michael McDowell: The figures the Deputy refers to are the geographical locations of the applications for leave to remain in the State granted under the revised arrangements for non EU national parents of Irish children born before 1 January 2005, commonly referred to as the IBC/05 scheme. The locations indicated in the report published on 1 May 2006 refer only to the stated addresses at the time of...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (4 Jul 2006)

Michael McDowell: Statistics for the headline offence of assault causing harm are available on a Garda Divisional basis in the Annual Reports of An Garda Síochána for 2002-2005, copies of which are available in the Oireachtas Library. Statistics for 2006 to date are not yet available on a Divisional basis. I am informed by the Garda authorities that it is not recording procedure to identify if an assault...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (4 Jul 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities that the figures requested by the Deputy are not readily available and are currently being researched. I will contact the Deputy again when the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (4 Jul 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the personnel strength of An Garda Síochána increased to a record 12,641 (all ranks) on Thursday 8 June with the attestation of 273 new members. This compares with a total strength of 10,702 (all ranks) as at 30 June 1997 and represents an increase of 1,939 (or 18.1%) in the personnel strength of the Force during that period. I have been...