Results 11,161-11,180 of 18,729 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Criminal Law (Insanity) Bill 2002 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (23 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: One can find a word in a thesaurus which has a fairly clear meaning but also means something else that sounds similar. I take the point that it looks slightly circular. Such definitions are frequently used in Acts, for example, "an assault for the purpose of this section means an assault which has the following characteristics".

Criminal Law (Insanity) Bill 2002 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (23 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: I do not have Roget's Thesaurus to hand to provide another word. There are many colloquial and other terms for having taken too much of something. I would prefer to leave the term as it is.

Criminal Law (Insanity) Bill 2002 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (23 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: There are lobby groups that want to expand the meaning of the term "intellectual disability". They are activists in this area and I admire them for that. This Act, however, does not have to follow what they, in different contexts, may want to achieve by including things within or outside the definition of intellectual disability. On balance, Deputy Costello's amendment No. 6 is preferable.

Criminal Law (Insanity) Bill 2002 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (23 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: I move amendment No. 10: In page 4, between lines 8 and 9, to insert the following: ""patient", in sections 11, 12 and 13, means a person detained in a designated centre pursuant to this Act;". This is a technical amendment which follows from one suggested by Fine Gael on Committee Stage. The current construction is somewhat unusual in that "patient" is defined in section 12 although it first...

Written Answers — Garda Personnel: Garda Personnel (22 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: There are currently 1,857 civilians employed in the Garda Síochána, which works out at almost 13% of total staff. This figure includes approximately 1,000 staff carrying out clerical and administrative duties and 49 staff employed in professional-technical areas such as financial accounting, information technology, teaching, nursing, research and human resources. The remainder are employed...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (22 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: Temporary travel documents are never intended to be issued as a substitute for a passport from a person's own country of origin. However, in exceptional circumstances they can be issued in the event that a person has been unreasonably refused a passport from their country of origin. There is no evidence that the person concerned has made an application for a temporary travel document and the...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (22 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: As the Deputy may be aware, responsibility for the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010 has been assigned to the Department of Health and Children as part of the establishment of the new Office of the Minister for Children under the Minister of State with responsibility for children, Deputy Brian Lenihan. With regard to the application for capital grant assistance under the Equal...

Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (22 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: My Department has not received any representations, invitations or meeting requests from the Open Republic Institute nor have I met with any representatives of same.

Written Answers — Closed Circuit Television Systems: Closed Circuit Television Systems (22 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 219 and 220 together. I launched the community based CCTV scheme last year in response to a demonstrated demand from local communities across Ireland for the provision of CCTV systems. The purpose of the scheme is to support local communities who wish to install and maintain CCTV security systems in their area, with the aim of increasing public safety and...

Written Answers — Legal Aid Service: Legal Aid Service (22 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: Funding for the Legal Aid Board has been increased by over 19% during the last two years, from €18.388 million in 2004 to €21.9 million in 2006. This additional funding has contributed to a significant improvement in waiting times across the country. The present position with waiting times at the Legal Aid Board's law centres is that legal services are being provided to all eligible...

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (22 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: It has not been possible within the timeframe involved to collate the information required by the Deputy. I will contact the Deputy directly when the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (22 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: Over €448.5 million has been allocated to child care providers under the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006 over the period 2000 — 2005. This funding is expected to lead to the creation of some 41,000 new child care places and support over 32,000 existing places. In respect of counties Meath, Cork and Tipperary, funding of €15.4 million, €50.1 million and €19.5...

Written Answers — Land Registry: Land Registry (22 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have requested the Land Registry to contact the Deputy directly concerning the current position of the application in question.

Written Answers — Land Registry: Land Registry (22 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have requested the Land Registry to contact the Deputy directly concerning the current position of the application in question.

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (22 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: An application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to by the Deputy was received in the citizenship section of my Department on 6 July 2004. The average processing time for such applications is 24 months at present. It is likely, therefore, that the case of the person in question will be finalised in or around July this year. I will contact the Deputy and the...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (22 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Reception and Integration Agency, RIA, is responsible for the accommodation of asylum seekers through the policy of direct provision. Direct provision is the means by which the State discharges its obligations to provide for the basic requirements of asylum seekers. For the most part, that represents a cashless system, with the State assuming responsibility for providing suitable...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (22 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: Citizens of the Chinese Republic who wish to take up employment in this State are required to hold a valid work permit. Such work permits are issued by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. Information regarding the issue of work permits may be found on that Department's website at www.entemp.ie. Additionally, as non-EEA nationals, citizens of the Chinese Republic travelling to...

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (22 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that in the case of Garda stations employing individual cleaners, vacancies to be filled are advertised in the relevant local FÁS offices. Local Garda management arranges interviews and, subject to security and medical clearance, the successful candidate commences employment. In the case of contract cleaning services, I am advised by the Garda...

Written Answers — Deportation Orders: Deportation Orders (22 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 171 of 9 March 2006. The table provides details regarding the enforcement of the eight deportation orders I referred to on that occasion. U.S. citizens Deportations enforced Deportations evaded Total 3 5 8 Of the five persons recorded as having "evaded deportation", it is considered likely that they have left the State without first...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (22 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: Specific inquiries are not made as to whether an applicant for naturalisation is the holder of a medical card.