Results 12,521-12,540 of 18,761 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Legal Representation: Legal Representation (8 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am satisfied that the arrangements in place under the Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) Act 1962 and the Civil Legal Aid Act 1995 meet the State's obligations in respect of the provision of legal aid for criminal and civil matters.

Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed). (8 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: Ba mhaith liom mo chuid ama a roinnt leis an Aire Iompair. The announcement of the new and expanded provision for child care services, including the new child care programme, in budget 2006 is a major and welcome landmark in the Government's policy on child services and the important issue of child care. As Minister with responsibility in recent years for the development of Ireland's child...

Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed). (8 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: Yes, more people are working. That is a very good point. The reason so many people were unemployed when Fine Gael and Labour were in office on the last occasion is because there was a high tax on work.

Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed). (8 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: When the Government was elected in 1997, the rate of tax on capital gains was 40%.

Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed). (8 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: Capital gains tax is now 20% and yet the State's yield from capital taxation has exploded from £168 million in the glorious days of the rainbow coalition to a budgeted €2.025 billion next year. Lower rates have again produced higher yields. I remember a Labour Party spokesman describing the plan of the former Minister, Mr. McCreevy, to reduce the rate of capital gains tax from 40% to 20%...

Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed). (8 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: Because it was the last time when we were in a position to see the colour of the Opposition's money and how it can ruin an economy. Some will say that yesterday's budget was more of a Fianna Fáil budget than a Progressive Democrats one. They will point to all the increased State spending as being a Fianna Fáil goal rather than a Progressive Democrats one. I could not disagree more. It never...

Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed). (8 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: It is our goal to strengthen our economy so as to increase the opportunities people have to develop themselves to their full potential. Yesterday's spending increases are ones the Progressive Democrats fully stand over. They represent the fruits of a low tax, high yield economic strategy.

Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed). (8 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: From the late 1970s to the mid-1980s this country tried the opposite approach to that which the Government is following. That mistaken policy produced the disastrous combination of high spending, high tax rates, high unemployment, low tax yields and a budget deficit spiralling out of control.

Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed). (8 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: It was only the political arrival of the Progressive Democrats and the national threat of bankruptcy that led Ireland to abandon that failed policy. The result since then has been an endorsement of our economic logic and our political philosophy. However, not everyone sees it that way. The Labour Party, for instance, cannot get rid of its reflexive instinct to meddle, muddle and increase...

Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed). (8 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: The Labour Party wants to go beyond what we have done. It wants a wealth tax. Deputy Rabbitte stated in The Irish Times on 24 February 2003: "You can't simply say we will impose what are still pretty hefty taxes on work and no taxes on wealth". A single person on the average industrial wage will pay just 16% of his or her income in income tax next year compared to 28% when the parties...

Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed). (8 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am finishing. The Green Party mentioned today that it wants to introduce taxes on fuel, a site value tax, new pollution levies and increase capital gains tax.

Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed). (8 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: The choice is very simple. We can go forward and build a new Ireland on the policies that have made this country successful or go back down the cul-de-sac of social and economic failure which is well populated by the Members on the benches opposite.

Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed). (8 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: Would somebody throw the Deputy some meat?

Written Answers — Sexual Offences: Sexual Offences (7 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that a garda inspector has been appointed in each Garda division throughout the State with responsibility for liaising with the domestic violence and sexual assault investigation unit at the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Harcourt Square, Dublin 2, concerning the supervision of sex offenders.

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (7 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 186 and 187 together. Certificates of naturalisation are being prepared at present and I understand these will be issued to the two persons concerned within the next week.

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (7 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: My Department provides funding for child care services under the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006. The EOCP is funded by the Government under the national development plan, which receives co-financing under European Union Structural Funds. Funding available includes capital grants for child care facilities, grants to support staffing costs in child care services and grants...

Written Answers — Registration of Title: Registration of Title (7 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: I wish to inform the Deputy that I have requested the Land Registry to contact him directly concerning the current position of the application in question. I understand that, in circumstances where the completion of an application in a particular case is urgent, the Land Registry will make every reasonable effort to facilitate such requests on receipt of a written explanation as to the reason...

Written Answers — Registration of Title: Registration of Title (7 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: I wish to inform the Deputy that I have requested the Land Registry to contact him directly concerning the current position of the application in question. I understand that, in circumstances where the completion of an application in a particular case is urgent, the Land Registry will make every reasonable effort to facilitate such requests on receipt of a written explanation as to the reason...

Written Answers — Security Industry: Security Industry (7 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: My concern in regard to unacceptable elements within the private security industry was one of the reasons why I brought forward the Private Security Services Act 2004 to regulate the private security industry. The Private Security Authority is the statutory body established under the Act to regulate this important industry. The PSA has put in place stringent criteria to ensure the private...

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (7 Dec 2005)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the information requested is not readily available in the detail sought. I will communicate further with the Deputy when the Garda authorities have compiled the information to the extent that it is practical to do so.