Results 12,481-12,500 of 18,761 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Chief Executive of Centre for Public Inquiry: Statement by Minister. (13 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: With regard to Deputy Ó Caoláin's wild fantasies——

Chief Executive of Centre for Public Inquiry: Statement by Minister. (13 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: This case was unique in that a body charged with upholding ethical values in the Irish political system under its own constitution chose as its chief executive a person who had been publicly described as far back as 2002 as having visited Colombia under a false name in a visit prior to that of the Colombia three. Mr. Justice Flood is on record today as saying that he only knew Mr. Connolly...

Chief Executive of Centre for Public Inquiry: Statement by Minister. (13 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: I have already told Deputy Cuffe that, in order to brief Mr. Feeney, I asked the Garda Síochána to give me a copy of the particular form, which it did.

Chief Executive of Centre for Public Inquiry: Statement by Minister. (13 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: I have already given the answer to Deputy Cuffe. I do not accept Deputy Ó Caoláin's argument about the level playing field. I believe that north of the Border the Deputy's party is engaged in falsification of its electoral expenditure. It is fanciful to suggest that in the last elections his party spent less than the Alliance Party in a massive campaign in Northern Ireland, as it has claimed.

Chief Executive of Centre for Public Inquiry: Statement by Minister. (13 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: The provisional movement is in possession of tens of millions of euro.

Chief Executive of Centre for Public Inquiry: Statement by Minister. (13 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: It continued to accumulate tens of millions of euro right up to the time of the Northern Bank robbery. If it was not being used for military purposes, I must come to the conclusion that it was being used for the purpose of fighting elections.

Chief Executive of Centre for Public Inquiry: Statement by Minister. (13 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: Every normal person in Ireland believes that to be the case.

Chief Executive of Centre for Public Inquiry: Statement by Minister. (13 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: That is fantasy.

Chief Executive of Centre for Public Inquiry: Statement by Minister. (13 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: Having briefed Mr. Feeney on the issue, I had hoped he would see that it was inappropriate to have such a person in a position of such importance and that the CPI would replace Mr. Connolly.

Chief Executive of Centre for Public Inquiry: Statement by Minister. (13 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: There was great resistance to such a proposition.

Chief Executive of Centre for Public Inquiry: Statement by Minister. (13 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: When I heard Mr. Connolly on the radio repeatedly saying that these allegations lacked substance, I decided that I would accede to the request of Independent Newspapers to give it a copy of the application form so that the truth of this matter would be established.

Chief Executive of Centre for Public Inquiry: Statement by Minister. (13 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: It is not the case that I thought that FARC money was going to go to the CPI. The CPI was very adequately funded, as the Deputy knows. It is my view that the provisional movement, after its second ceasefire, sent that team to Colombia to bring money back to Ireland in exchange——

Chief Executive of Centre for Public Inquiry: Statement by Minister. (13 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: ——for know-how in terrorism and explosives, which has cost the lives of hundreds of people since in Colombia.

Chief Executive of Centre for Public Inquiry: Statement by Minister. (13 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: Deputy Timmins asked why the Irish Government assisted in the provision of bail for the Colombia three. This happened at the request of the gentlemen behind him who all claimed that lives of the Columbia three were in danger if they remained in prison. They skipped bail as soon as they were given it. The Irish Government——

Chief Executive of Centre for Public Inquiry: Statement by Minister. (13 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: I thought the Deputy claimed to be a democrat.

Chief Executive of Centre for Public Inquiry: Statement by Minister. (13 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: The Irish Government was told by Deputy Finian McGrath and others that the lives of these men were in danger as long as they were in prison. As a humanitarian gesture inspired by these gentlemen and no one else, they got bail and then they skipped it. That is what happened.

Chief Executive of Centre for Public Inquiry: Statement by Minister. (13 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am grateful to the Dáil for affording me an opportunity to make a statement to the House. For the information of Members and clarity in proceedings, I am circulating with this statement the reply to the written parliamentary question tabled by Deputy Finian McGrath, the document which was furnished by me to the Irish Independent at its request and published on 26 November last and a...

Chief Executive of Centre for Public Inquiry: Statement by Minister. (13 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: As Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, it falls especially to me, along with the Minister for Defence, to safeguard the security of the State and prevent the subversion of our democracy. While I am honoured to hold that position, it is one which is both challenging and demanding, constantly requiring the exercise of good authority in a firm and robust manner. Each of us, as a...

Chief Executive of Centre for Public Inquiry: Statement by Minister. (13 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: In that context, I must ask whether others have shown the requisite vigour in pursuing these matters. In particular, commentators who never asked the hard questions about an issue that was staring them in the face — since, as the Taoiseach said, all of this was in the public domain a number of years ago — should perhaps pause before condemning those among their colleagues who genuinely...

Written Answers — Auctioneering Industry: Auctioneering Industry (8 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: I commissioned the auctioneering and estate agency review group in July 2004 to examine the future licensing and regulatory requirements of property practitioners against a background of serious public concern about certain selling practices in the property industry. When the group invited submissions from the public about its work, experiences similar to those detailed with this question...