Results 13,401-13,420 of 18,733 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Seanad: Child Care Services: Motion. (26 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: Senator Cox anticipated me by moving it herself.

Seanad: Child Care Services: Motion. (26 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am not allowed under the rules of the House to move an amendment because I am not a Member.

Seanad: Child Care Services: Motion. (26 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: The Labour Party did nothing in government.

Seanad: Child Care Services: Motion. (26 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: Why did the Labour Party do nothing when it was in government and had a brilliant economy?

Seanad: Child Care Services: Motion. (26 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: I thank the House for the opportunity to speak here this evening and thank Senator Cox for the full and generous way in which she proposed the Government amendment. It strikes me that I should say a few words on this occasion in response to the debate we heard so far. As Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, my personal responsibility as a Cabinet member is on that aspect of child...

Seanad: Child Care Services: Motion. (26 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: The Senators sound the same but look slightly different.

Criminal Justice Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (26 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: The situation is improving in Dublin.

Criminal Justice Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (26 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: It is difficult to require 11 year olds to show a gas or ESB bill when they purchase a mobile phone.

Written Answers — Property Management Services: Property Management Services (25 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: I published the report of the auctioneering — estate agency review group on Tuesday, 18 October 2005 and, at the same time, I announced that the Government had approved the establishment of the national property services regulatory authority, one of the key recommendations in the report. A further key recommendation is that the new authority should assume responsibility for the licensing...

Written Answers — Irish Prison Service: Irish Prison Service (25 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my response to Question No. 137 on 19 May, 2005 and to Question No. 961 on 28 September 2005 in which I outlined the position of staff who were previously employed at Fort Mitchel. As I indicated previously, I understand that the director general of the Irish Prison Service is addressing the issue of the permanent redeployment of Fort Mitchel staff in the context of the...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (25 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: The visa applications in question were received in my office on 30 September 2005. When assessing the applications in question, consideration was given to the personal circumstances of the applicants and the extent of their ties in their country of origin, The applications were refused because it was not established, on the basis of the documentation supplied to my Department, that the...

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (25 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that there are plans to refurbish and extend Youghal Garda station to bring it up to the status of an area headquarters station. In the meantime, the Office of Public Works is preparing a tender specification to invite tenders for approved remedial works to be carried out at the station. This forms part of an ambitious national Garda building programme...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (25 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: I informed the Deputy in response to Question No. 269 on 17 May 2005 that an application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person concerned had been received in March 2004 and that it was likely that it would be finalised in early 2006. This is still the position.

Written Answers — Garda Complaints Procedures: Garda Complaints Procedures (25 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 465 to 467, inclusive, together. I have been informed by the Garda authorities that individuals have the opportunity to have complaints dealt with by the Garda Síochána complaints board or have them dealt with by the Garda authorities. The person named in the question has had complaints dealt with to a conclusion by the Garda Síochána complaints board....

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (25 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am considering my response to a number of communications received by and on behalf of the person in question dealing with, inter alia, the matter raised by the Deputy. My response will issue in due course.

Written Answers — Equality Legislation: Equality Legislation (25 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: The Equal Status Acts 2000 to 2004 prohibit discrimination in the provision of accommodation on nine grounds — gender, marital status, family status, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, race and membership of the Traveller community. Being in receipt of a rent allowance is not of itself a discriminatory ground within the meaning of the Equal Status Acts 2000 to 2004. A review of...

Written Answers — Explosives Licences: Explosives Licences (25 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: As the Deputy will be aware, the question of whether the quarry to which he refers is an unauthorised development under the Planning and Development Acts 1963 to 2000 is entirely a matter for the local planning authority, in this case Monaghan County Council, or the planning appeals board and one in which I as Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform may not intervene. Any person wishing...

Written Answers — Asylum Support Services: Asylum Support Services (25 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: The information requested by the Deputy was forwarded by me on 24 October 2005. The delay in providing the substantive information sought by him is regretted. However, the level of detail required to answer the question was not readily available in electronic format and, consequently, had to be compiled by hand. This required a detailed and exhaustive analysis of a very large number of files...

Written Answers — Compensation Claims: Compensation Claims (25 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: Following a review of the criminal injuries compensation tribunal's commitments relative to its allocation for 2005, I understand that the tribunal is in a position to meet a number of the outstanding awards, either in part in the case of larger awards or in whole in the case of a number of smaller awards. The award referred to by the Deputy is one of the latter such cases and I understand...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (25 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 473 and 474 together. The procedures to be applied in engaging consultants are set out in the Department of Finance guidelines on this subject which supplement the general guidelines relating to public procurement. Ministerial approval of individual contracts is not a requirement of these guidelines. The Deputy will be aware that the Government has also...