Results 13,541-13,560 of 18,733 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Departmental Programmes: Departmental Programmes (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: The RAPID or revitalising areas by planning, investment and development programme targets the most concentrated areas of disadvantage in the State by ensuring that priority attention is given to these areas by Departments and State agencies dealing with disadvantage and local development in the widest sense. The RAPID programme selected 45 target areas in cities and towns for priority...

Written Answers — Traffic Calming Measures: Traffic Calming Measures (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: I regret that it has not been possible in the time available to obtain the information requested by the Deputy. I will be in contact with the Deputy regarding this matter when it becomes available.

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: I can assure the Deputy that the toll of deaths and injuries on our roads is a matter of great concern to me. The human cost of road collisions is high. Road fatalities and serious injuries affect many more people than those killed and injured. Families, friends, communities and others involved in the incidents are affected as well. The road safety strategy 2004-2006 sets highly ambitious...

Paramilitary Activities. (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: The Irish and British Governments yesterday jointly published the seventh report of the Independent Monitoring Commission on the continuing activities of paramilitary groups, pursuant to Articles 4 and 7 of the international agreement establishing the IMC. The report focuses primarily on the six month period from 1 March to 31 August. Consequently, it deals with a period encompassing the five...

Paramilitary Activities. (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: The Government has, since January of this year, consistently stated that the Northern Bank robbery was the work of the Provisional IRA. Subsequently, gardaí uncovered a Provisional IRA money-laundering operation dealing with what is now clearly established to be the proceeds of that crime in the Republic. There is an ongoing investigation of the individuals involved in that so I cannot say...

Paramilitary Activities. (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: My best estimate of the number of members of the IRA was between 1,100 and 1,500 persons. I have no doubt that some of them were capable of sadistic, thuggish and brutal activities in the past and may be tempted to repeat such actions in the future on their own account. The gravamen of the statement of 28 July is that they cannot adhere to that statement while engaging in any breaches of the...

Paramilitary Activities. (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: I understand that Sinn Féin claims to have spent less than the Alliance Party on recent elections in Northern Ireland. Only a child would believe that, taking into account the evidence on the ground.

Garda Investigations. (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: I would like to express my sympathies again to the families of Terence Wheelock and Brian Rossiter on the untimely deaths of their sons. I will speak firstly about the death of Terence Wheelock, who had been detained in Store Street Garda station. I have been informed by the Garda authorities that an officer from outside the division was appointed to investigate the incident immediately after...

Garda Investigations. (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am satisfied that the Garda Síochána is fully and properly investigating the unfortunate death of Terence Wheelock. Deputy Costello made a number of points. I have been informed that Mr. Wheelock was found hanging from a ligature that was tied around his neck and suspended from a permanent fixture in the cell, which was an alarm buzzer panel. I have been further informed that the ligature...

Garda Investigations. (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am simply informing the Deputy of my understanding of the circumstances in question. He will appreciate that the cell continues to be in daily use. When the Garda discovered that a ligature had been suspended from the alarm button in such an unlikely manner——

Garda Investigations. (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: ——the responsible thing to do was to photograph the panel as it was found and to replace it so that it could not be used in such a manner again. If an event of this nature was to happen again, I am sure Deputy Costello would be the first to say that to leave the panel in such a condition was evidence of gross Garda negligence. I wish to clear up any doubt by reminding the House that such...

Garda Investigations. (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: Tribunals of inquiry operate in public, but commissions of inquiry do not. Deputy Costello should consult the relevant legislation for further details. It was always likely to be a private inquiry, unless the Deputy would have preferred me to have established a public tribunal of inquiry. I hope Mr. Hartnett's inquiry will proceed rapidly to investigate all the issues involved. I do not...

International Agreements. (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: A bilateral agreement on immigration matters, including re-admission, was concluded in 2001 between the Government of Ireland and the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The agreement has not yet been officially ratified by the Nigerian side so there is not, as yet, in existence a co-ordinating committee as provided for in Article XIX of the agreement. Notwithstanding its...

International Agreements. (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: Every country of the European Union returns people to Nigeria. If I was to take on board the ill-considered views of the Deputy on this matter, nobody would be returned to Nigeria.

International Agreements. (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: He is not. A couple of others have equally ill-considered views, perhaps including Deputy Finian McGrath.

International Agreements. (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: If I were to state in the House, as Deputy Cuffe invites me to do, that nobody who comes to this country from Nigeria will be sent back there, the result would be plain for all to see.

International Agreements. (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy is saying that. He is suggesting that nobody should be sent back there.

International Agreements. (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: The Deputies cannot have it every way. There has been a significant flow of people from Nigeria to Ireland, where they claim asylum, with a very high rejection rate. The predominant motivation of the great majority of people who come to Ireland and claim asylum has been economic — let us be honest about it. If this country, which has had an inordinately high flow of asylum seekers from...

Garda Equipment. (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: I have always recognised the need to provide the Garda Síochána with secure radio communication systems. As the Deputy is aware, a pilot digital radio system covering the Dublin north central division and traffic section, Dublin Castle, has been completed by the Garda Síochána. Following its completion the Garda Síochána prepared and submitted to me a detailed business case for the...

Garda Equipment. (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: The contract is now the subject matter of a tender procedure which I hope will be concluded in the next few weeks. I hope after that we will be in a position to sign a contract with the successful tenderer for the roll-out of a national digital radio system for the Garda Síochána.