Results 15,521-15,540 of 18,761 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — State Pathologist's Office: State Pathologist's Office (5 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 266 and 267 together. There are currently six officials employed in the State Pathologist's office — the State Pathologist, the Deputy State Pathologist, a senior scientist and three clerical officers. The State Pathologist's office has been allocated a budget of €550,000 for 2005, an increase of 5% on the 2004 figure.

Written Answers — State Pathologist's Office: State Pathologist's Office (5 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: I refer the Deputy to the Adjournment debate in the Dáil on Thursday, 28 April 2005 where this matter was dealt with.

Written Answers — Garda Training: Garda Training (5 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am advised by the Garda authorities that the circumstances of each case wherein the chief medical officer of the Garda Síochána is unable to issue a certificate of fitness differ. However, on receipt of a written application for review accompanied by a report from a treating specialist, the CMO reviews decisions on candidates who have been deemed unfit. Likewise, where an applicant has...

Written Answers — Drugs in Prisons: Drugs in Prisons (5 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: Research undertaken by the Department of Community Health and General Practice, Trinity College, Dublin was published by my Department in 1999 and 2000 under the title Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV in Irish Prisoners: Prevalence and Risk. In view of the recognised link between drug misuse, particularly intravenous use, and the prevalence of both HIV and hepatitis in the general community,...

Written Answers — Vetting Procedures: Vetting Procedures (5 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: I can inform the Deputy that the procedures followed in relation to vetting persons being considered for appointment to State boards under my aegis comply with the various relevant Acts and public service guidelines in place and take into consideration the work of the boards in question.

Written Answers — Emergency Travel Arrangements: Emergency Travel Arrangements (5 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: It is a fundamental requirement for consideration of applications under the revised arrangements announced by me on 15 January 2005, that applicants submit a valid passport or national identity document as proof of their identity. The closing date for receipt of applications under these arrangements was 31 March 2005. Some 18,000 applications were received. To date, in excess of 4,400...

Written Answers — Refugee Status: Refugee Status (5 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: Immigration officers operating at ports and airports throughout the State are members of the Garda Síochána. They are obliged under the provisions of the Refugee Act 1996, as amended, to grant permission to land to a non national "who arrives at the frontiers of the State seeking asylum in the State or seeking the protection of the State against persecution or requesting not to be returned...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (5 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: There has been no change in policy regarding access to employment of a non-EEA national awaiting a decision on a residency application based on marriage to an Irish citizen. Marriage to an Irish national does not grant any automatic right to enter or reside in the State solely on that basis. It has always been the case that the non-national concerned could not work without a valid work permit...

Seanad: Registration of Deeds and Title Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (5 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am taken by the last proposal. If I can write off my house, it would be useful. I was also taken by Senator Leyden's comments about wills. That one can effectively revoke one document with another while the whereabouts of the revoking document is a complete mystery is an extraordinary system. Wills must be registered in some countries but there are implications to registration, such as the...

Seanad: Registration of Deeds and Title Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (5 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: There are some ways around this.

Seanad: Registration of Deeds and Title Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (5 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: Exactly.

Seanad: Registration of Deeds and Title Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (5 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: I have not encountered the level of skullduggery Senator Leyden has.

Seanad: Registration of Deeds and Title Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (5 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: Senator Leyden did remind me of a time when a now deceased senior counsel who was prone to grandiloquent language put it to a witness in a will case that he was trying to establish the testator was beyond making wills and was perhaps a bit "gaga". He suggested to the elderly relative that the testator was in the habit of soliloquising, a terminology the relative did not follow. The counsel...

Seanad: Registration of Deeds and Title Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (5 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: As someone who has always lived on unregistered land, however, it amazes me that we have such a complex system of proving title. I agree with another point in Senator Tuffy's contribution concerning lawyers. It is not in the interest of any lawyer that the land law should be so complex. There may be a few nerds in the legal profession who like this kind of work. However, the great majority of...

Seanad: Registration of Deeds and Title Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (5 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: I thank the House for its support for this Bill. It will be some weeks before I receive the amendments which are with the Parliamentary Counsel and the Office of the Attorney General at present. However, I will forward the scheme for the amendments to interested parties so their substance does not come as a major surprise when they are finally produced.

Seanad: Registration of Deeds and Title Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (5 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: One would not want to be near somebody else's basket——

Seanad: Registration of Deeds and Title Bill 2004: Second Stage. (5 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am pleased to have this opportunity to introduce the Registration of Deeds and Title Bill 2004 and to outline its provisions. Before doing so, however, I wish to explain why the provisions set out in the Bill are so important. I also wish to inform Senators about a related joint project involving my Department and the Law Reform Commission, currently under way, which aims to modernise all...

Seanad: Registration of Deeds and Title Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (5 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: In short, there is now an urgent need to replace the current system with provisions more suited to modern conditions. This will involve the outright repeal of the eight old statutes under which the Registry of Deeds currently operates and their replacement, where necessary, with modern provisions. I think Senator Norris will be struck by the following matter. The Registration of Deeds Act...

Seanad: Registration of Deeds and Title Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (5 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: This is to be taken off our Statute Book.

Seanad: Registration of Deeds and Title Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (5 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: That was before the soup days. In the early 21st century we will repeal a post-penal law statute. I want to acknowledge that the Registry of Deeds has served this country well since its establishment back in 1707. I also want to take this opportunity to thank the Registrar of Deeds and the registry's staff for their commitment and hard work. I visited the registry recently, having studied for...