Results 15,361-15,380 of 18,734 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Crime Levels. (17 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: I could click my fingers and demand that it be done tomorrow but if it is necessary to buy equipment and to establish new training regimes for the workforce and so forth, time is required. However, I should make clear to the chairmen of the banks, most of whom I know personally and whom I hope will hear my remarks because they keep an eye on what happens in this House, that I am not bluffing...

Garda Investigations. (17 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: There is no difference between my reply to certain parliamentary questions on 12 April 2005 and the factual position on this matter vis-À-vis the British authorities. On 12 April last, I stated in this House that outstanding issues relate to the awaited results of a mutual assistance request to the British authorities and certain police-to-police inquiries with the Police Service of Northern...

Garda Investigations. (17 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: I do not intend to publish the interim Garda report which I received some weeks ago or the final results of the Garda investigation. However, I have undertaken to contact the Fullerton family's solicitors with a full response to their concerns, including action I deem appropriate or necessary by way of further investigation. I reject categorically suggestions, one of which was made in public,...

Departmental Properties. (17 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: I assume the Deputy is referring to the four properties purchased in 2000 by the Office of Public Works to accommodate asylum seekers in Rosslare, Carlow, Donnybrook and Macroom, which were not brought into use together with the leasing arrangement entered into by OPW in 2002 for the construction of a custom-built accommodation facility in Kilkenny. I will set out the circumstances that gave...

Departmental Properties. (17 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: The properties that were the subject of recent controversy were all acquired before I became Minister. There is no question of largesse on my part to anybody in regard to them.

Departmental Properties. (17 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: If the Deputy has information that money I or my predecessor expended is ultimately going to criminal or paramilitary beneficiaries, I would like to receive it. I will act immediately on foot of such information and try to confirm it. If confirmed, I would take every step to get the CAB to recover such moneys. The House is not the place to discuss these matters but if the Deputy comes to me...

Departmental Properties. (17 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: If the Deputy has information about sweetheart deals, I would like to hear it. If he brings the information to the Committee of Public Accounts, the deals will be fully investigated. However, if I can conduct an investigation sooner than the committee, I will do so. We should be fair and the Deputy will appreciate the open tendering procedure is fraught with difficulty in these matters. At...

Departmental Properties. (17 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: If people become aware properties are being tendered to the State, there will be a massive outcry every time such a competition is held because every time somebody says he or she has a property, there will be a major problem.

Irish Prison Service. (17 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: The second annual report of the Inspector of Prisons and Places of Detention is a substantial document, which raises many diverse issues and concerns of the inspector. It would not be appropriate for me to indicate in the course of this reply, the action already taken or being taken to address each item of concern raised by the inspector. The report is very lengthy, but if the Deputies wish...

Irish Prison Service. (17 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: Deputy Cuffe will be happy to know that I intend to make provision for an independent prison inspectorship in the new prison rules, which will be published in the coming weeks. On the question of my role regarding the inspector's reports, having considered them it has been my habit to publish them. The only circumstance that has prevented me from publishing all of his reports was legal...

Irish Prison Service. (17 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: No other Minister is engaging in more radical reform than I am.

Irish Prison Service. (17 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: I reiterate my point that Deputy Cuffe may be surprised when reads the third report of the Inspector of Prisons and Places of Detention where it refers to private involvement in the running of prisons.

Coroners Service. (17 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 and 28 together. The report of the coroners review group, published in December 2000, recommended a comprehensive overhaul and modernisation of the coroner service in Ireland, with regard to the legislation governing the work of coroners, the support services available to coroners and the structural organisation of the coroner service. The proposed new...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (12 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 161 and 175 together. Under the Government's decentralisation programme, 230 posts in the Land Registry are scheduled to be relocated to Roscommon town. The Land Registry's implementation plan in respect of this move is available on my Department's website. The November 2004 report from the decentralisation implementation group did not identify the Land...

Written Answers — Refugee Status: Refugee Status (12 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: The 1951 Geneva Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and section 2 of the Refugee Act 1996, as amended, defines a refugee, inter alia, as: "a person who, owing to a well founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of his or her nationality and is unable or, owing to...

Written Answers — Human Trafficking: Human Trafficking (12 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 163 and 164 together. The European Union has a role in ensuring a more effective, joint approach to cross-border problems such as trafficking in and smuggling of human beings. I can inform the Deputy that Ireland's policies in this field complement developments at both the EU and the broader international level. Legislation is currently being prepared in my...

Written Answers — Registration of Title: Registration of Title (12 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Registrar of Titles that this is an application for transfer of part which was lodged on 13 July 2001. Dealing Number D2001SM005438N refers. I am further informed that a query issued to the lodging solicitor on 20 May 2004 and that this query has not yet been satisfactorily resolved. I am, however, also informed that the Land Registry and the lodging solicitor discussed...

Written Answers — Prison Staff: Prison Staff (12 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to my response to Questions Nos. 191 and 207 on 21 April and to Question No. 256 on 5 May 2005, in which I outlined the measures I intend to pursue in an effort to ensure the efficient and effective use of the valuable resources at my disposal. The position regarding alternative placement for the staff currently located at Shelton Abbey is that they will be transferred on a...

Written Answers — Registration of Title: Registration of Title (12 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Registrar of Titles that all four of the applications in question have been completed.

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (12 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the examination of the declaration of post nuptial citizenship from the person referred to has been finalised and that a formal certificate confirming her Irish citizenship will be issued in the next few weeks.