Results 14,601-14,620 of 18,734 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (22 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: With regard to crime figures, the Deputy will be aware that on becoming Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, I arranged for the first time in the history of the State for the publication of headline crime statistics on a quarterly basis in order to improve the quality of information available to the public. While caution should be exercised in interpreting levels of crime between...

Written Answers — Registration of Title: Registration of Title (22 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Registrar of Titles that the applications referred to by the Deputy are associated and comprise: an application for transfer order which was lodged on 23 August 2004, dealing number D2004SM006350T refers; and an application for charge which was lodged on 13 October 2004, dealing number D2004SM008627Q refers. I am also informed that a query issued to the lodging solicitor...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (22 Jun 2005)

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 28 August 2003. In the normal course, it would fall due to be processed in the next few months. My officials will communicate directly with the applicant and the Deputy in the near future regarding the application.

Written Answers — Drug Seizures: Drug Seizures (22 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: The Garda authorities are aware of the drugs referred to by the Deputy and I understand there have been small quantity seizures. I am informed by the Department of Health and Children that crystal meth is a form of methamphetamine and is a controlled drug under schedule 2 of the Misuse of Drugs Acts 1977 and 1984. As such, it is subject to stringent controls. I am further informed by the...

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (22 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities that given the large number of sporting, concert and other public events that the Garda Síochána is required to police, detailed policing plans and costings are only collated for a representative sample of events. The 2004 All-Ireland hurling final required 94 gardaí of various ranks to be deployed within Croke Park. In addition, 188 gardaí of...

Written Answers — Registration of Title: Registration of Title (22 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Registrar of Titles that this is an application under section 49, that is, acquisition of title by virtue of long possession, of the Registration of Title Act, 1964, which was lodged on 5 March 2004. Dealing number D2004CR002695J refers. I understand that due to their complicated nature, applications under section 49, which require detailed examination of claims for...

Written Answers — Registration of Title: Registration of Title (22 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Registrar of Titles that this is an application under section 49, i.e., acquisition of title by virtue of long possession, of the Registration of Title Act 1964, which was lodged on 25 February 2003. Dealing number D2003CR001976A refers. I am further informed that this application was completed on 18 May 2005.

Written Answers — Garda Complaints Procedures: Garda Complaints Procedures (22 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: I do not accept the Deputy's contention. The Garda Síochána Complaints Board investigated a complaint made by the person in question with regard to the matter. The complaints board found that neither an offence nor a breach of discipline on the part of any member of the Garda Síochána had been disclosed.

Written Answers — Criminal Justice Legislation: Criminal Justice Legislation (22 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: As the Deputy will appreciate, a substantial body of criminal justice legislation has been enacted over the past 20 years. I refer the Deputy to the Irish Statute Book 1922-2003, which is available on the website of the Office of the Attorney General at http://www.attorneygeneral.ie, and to the legislation enacted 1997-2005, which is available on the website of the Oireachtas at...

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (22 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: I regret that it has not been possible in the time available to obtain the necessary information. I will contact the Deputy again when the information is to hand.

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed). (22 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: I wish to start by drawing attention to the remarks made by Deputy Costello regarding, as he put it, the pressure of time on Report Stage of this Bill during which the issue of whether there should be a one-person or a three-person ombudsman would be discussed. It should be put on the record of this House that all sympathy has now evaporated for the proposition that the Opposition parties...

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed). (22 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy is shouting again. He will have his opportunity to reply. Deputy Stagg deliberately ate into the time provided by the House for this evening's proceedings by pointless repetitions of votes on Private Members' time.

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed). (22 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: That cynical behaviour of kicking the ball around in the opposition's own penalty area clearly crowns a day in which quorums were called, half an hour was spent ——

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed). (22 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: I was not.

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed). (22 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: Deputy Costello knows that three quarters of an hour of this debate has been chewed up by nonsense.

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed). (22 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am happy to continue to the substance of this issue. When the heads of this Bill were first published, I indicated that I was in a consultative process. I abandoned the notion contained in the heads of the Bill as originally published of an inspectorate and said I would do what the Human Rights Commission asked for, which was an ombudsman function equivalent in every respect to the powers...

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed). (22 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: What I have put in place, and what I stand over completely, is that for the purposes of sovereign Government and accountability to this House, if a dispute arises as to whether a file in the possession of An Garda Síochána should be made accessible to the Executive power of this State, it should only be accessible if the most senior civil servant in my Department, who is not under my...

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed). (22 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: If it had done so——

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed). (22 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: ——and I had come up with the alternative view that one person would suffice, people would be banging the table here and saying that the Patten Commission's proposal was the only way forward and that a single person commission was some kind of lap-dog of the Minister that was obviously deficient, and all the reasons would have been given the other way. Having listened to the debate and...

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed). (22 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: We have the Tánaiste.