Results 14,861-14,880 of 18,734 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Morris Tribunal: Statements. (17 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: That is not true.

Morris Tribunal: Statements. (17 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: Throughout his period in office, in so far as that coincided with my position as Attorney General, the then Minister, Deputy O'Donoghue, was most anxious at every hand's turn to have the truth of the McBreartys' allegations established by whatever means were available. In May 2001, he wrote to me in my capacity as Attorney General and asked me to advise him of his options in respect of...

Morris Tribunal: Statements. (17 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: The letter stated that in my view the most preferable way of establishing the truth was by an independent public tribunal of inquiry.

Morris Tribunal: Statements. (17 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: It was in June 2001. My letter stated that in the context of the law as it then stood — which was that all tribunals of inquiry had to conduct all of their proceedings in public and receive evidence in public and not otherwise — it was my opinion that at that time the pending criminal prosecutions would tend to be seriously prejudiced and compromised and that it was better in those...

Morris Tribunal: Statements. (17 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: I wish it to be clear that in December or during the late autumn of that year, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, at that stage requested the chairman of the Bar Council to nominate a senior barrister who would have access to all the papers — some of which I had not seen — and who would make a report to him on the appropriate course of conduct. That report was received in...

Morris Tribunal: Statements. (17 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: ——and the tribunal was established in May 2002. Some people have argued that in those circumstances there was reluctance on our part to take action. This is not the case. In January 2002, the appendices to the Carty report were finally delivered to me as Attorney General as requested by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform from the Garda Síochána. It was only at that point...

Morris Tribunal: Statements. (17 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: That material finally became available to me in January and February 2002.

Morris Tribunal: Statements. (17 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: I say all this because it is important that the House should know the facts rather than propagate myths.

Morris Tribunal: Statements. (17 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: The fundamental fact is that at all times Deputy O'Donoghue as Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform wanted to have the truth emerge. At all times I was supportive of that aim subject to the legal difficulty under which I laboured, which was that to have a tribunal of inquiry could pull the plug on the criminal prosecutions then pending. Ultimately it became essential to amend the...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (16 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following tabular statement and refers to the aggregate position for the justice group of Votes. Year Surplus to be Surrendered 000 Net Estimate Provision 000 Surplus to be Surrendered as a % of the Net Estimate Provision 1997 £9,301 £721,932 1.29 1998 £15,249 £882,629 ...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (16 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: An application for naturalisation by the person referred to by the Deputy was received in the citizenship section of my Department on 12 June 2003. The case in question is under active consideration and I will inform both the applicant and the Deputy as soon as I have reached a decision in the matter.

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (16 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy refers to two non-EEA nationals in his parliamentary question and states that the first person in question has applied for naturalisation and seeks to be joined in the State by his wife. My Department's records show that this person received a multi-journey, D-type residence visa in June 2004. Unfortunately, the Deputy omitted to supply a visa application reference number in...

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (16 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Office of Public Works that the current temporary letting of the premises in Ashford used by the Garda will expire on 30 June 2005. Accordingly, at the request of the Garda authorities, my Department has asked the Office of Public Works to arrange for the renewal of the lease. Renovation or refurbishment of the old Garda station, which was badly damaged by fire, is one of...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (16 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: In view of the circumstances and as an exceptional measure, it was decided to process this application immediately upon receipt. On foot of an assessment of the application, the visa officer approved the granting of the visa applied for.

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (16 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: The position remains as I have previously informed the Deputy. There are currently no plans to establish a district headquarters for the area of Maynooth, Leixlip and Celbridge.

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (16 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: In relation to crime figures the Deputy will be aware that, on becoming Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, I arranged for the publication of headline crime statistics on a quarterly basis to improve the quality of information available to the public. While caution should be exercised in interpreting levels of crime between quarters, I am pleased to note that during my term of...

Written Answers — Public Order Offences: Public Order Offences (16 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: 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.

Written Answers — Registration of Title: Registration of Title (16 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 135 to 138, inclusive, together. In my previous response to the Deputy on this issue on 27 April 2005, I set out in some detail the background to the change in land registry practice referred to. My response of that date set out the legal basis for the change in practice as well as consultative process which preceded it and the steps taken to disseminate...

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (16 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources including personnel, that the personnel strength, all ranks, of Carlow-Kildare division as at 1 June 2005 was 326. I am further informed that the personnel strength, all ranks, of the Garda Síochána as at 1 June 2005 was 12,245.

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (16 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am not aware of any proposal to close Rush Garda station or to dispose of the property.