Results 17,781-17,800 of 18,761 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Freedom of Information. (1 Jun 2004)

Michael McDowell: The procedures followed by my Department in the processing of Freedom of Information requests are as governed by the provisions of the Freedom of Information Acts 1997 and 2003. When a freedom of information request is received by the Department, the request is acknowledged in writing not later than ten working days after receipt of the request. The letter of acknowledgement also notifies the...

Freedom of Information. (1 Jun 2004)

Michael McDowell: On the contrary, a request for information under the Freedom of Information Act does not bind the Minister not to release that information to any other person before the request is dealt with. There is no monopoly on information under the Freedom of Information Act. I know some Ministers have made a habit of releasing such information to everybody if one person asks for it except in the case...

Freedom of Information. (1 Jun 2004)

Michael McDowell: I accept none of those propositions. It is perfectly reasonable to put important information, which is about to be released, into the hands of somebody who will be objective about it rather than put it in the hands of somebody who will make political use of it. Far from politicising the process, by handing it to an independent journalist rather than to a political opponent, the public is much...

Freedom of Information. (1 Jun 2004)

Michael McDowell: There is a misconception, particularly among Opposition Deputies, that if they make a freedom of information request they will be the first to receive the information and that nobody else will receive the information, so that they can put the first spin on it and hunt through it for the bits of it they want to release to put the worst possible complexion on any matter.

Freedom of Information. (1 Jun 2004)

Michael McDowell: I am very sorry to say that I do not play a naïve game of politics like that. While I play a robust game in politics, I will not enable my opponents to spin against me without having at least the opportunity to put my side of the story into the public domain.

Freedom of Information. (1 Jun 2004)

Michael McDowell: I will uphold the rights of a free and independent press wherever necessary.

Computerisation Programme. (1 Jun 2004)

Michael McDowell: I am advised by the Garda Síochána that it is examining the costs and benefits of developing spatial information functionality as an extension to the PULSE system. When this has been done, the merits of developing such a system will be considered alongside other information systems priorities. In this regard, my Department has recently given approval to the Garda authorities to carry out an...

Computerisation Programme. (1 Jun 2004)

Michael McDowell: The Garda radio network is the subject of a later question and I do not want to trespass too much on another Member's business. A proposal to roll out a €100 million to €200 million digital radio network for the Garda is under consideration and a pilot project has already been conducted. I am addressing the issue head-on.

Computerisation Programme. (1 Jun 2004)

Michael McDowell: I do not concede that. It is technologically poor by reference to the capability of a proper digital system. As Minister, I am facing head-on the issue of the introduction of a digital radio communications network for the Garda. The necessary resources will be substantial and it will require considerable effort to ensure that whatever system we chose is the right one and economical. The same...

Computerisation Programme. (1 Jun 2004)

Michael McDowell: I imagine that as part of the strategy for 2004 to 2009, a pilot programme to evaluate spatial technology will probably be deployed.

Road Safety. (1 Jun 2004)

Michael McDowell: I am strongly of the view that some non-core functions carried out by gardaí could just as effectively be carried out by persons without full Garda powers. This is especially true of some aspects of the enforcement of road safety. The current provisions of the Road Traffic Acts specify that certain elements of the administration of its provisions should be carried out by members of the...

Road Safety. (1 Jun 2004)

Michael McDowell: I do not wish to anticipate the results of the working group's studies. By definition, fixed grey-box speed cameras produce a record of the kind in question. As there is no garda sitting inside the box, whatever it produces must constitute a record of a car and its speed. Nobody else is there to witness an offence. While the record is not furnished on the spot to the motorist, it is furnished...

Road Safety. (1 Jun 2004)

Michael McDowell: I am not in a position to state what the costs would be. It would be unwise to do so as there will eventually be some form of tendering process.

Seanad: Adoptive Leave Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (26 May 2004)

Michael McDowell: As Senator McDowell is surprised at my obeisance to social partnership, I am delighted that China and Siberia are off his holiday destination list. It is amazing what has happened since the collapse of Communism. We are dealing here with a matter of some significance. Section 7 puts a new section 11A into the Act. It allows that "an employee shall be entitled, in accordance with regulations...

Seanad: Adoptive Leave Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (26 May 2004)

Michael McDowell: I am minded to refuse the amendment. Whatever merit such a scheme would have and subject to whatever controls would have to be put in place, there is no reason in the world to suggest an employer should bear this cost. It is one thing for the Labour Party or Senator Terry to suggest the Exchequer should fund exploratory visits abroad with a view to adoption. However, it is difficult to tell...

Seanad: Adoptive Leave Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (26 May 2004)

Michael McDowell: The amendment is not reasonable. We cannot visit on employers running small companies in competition with others, in addition to the liabilities such competition imposes, an obligation to bear the expense of an employee and his or her substitute while the employee in a year prior to adoption makes a number of visits abroad for a number of weeks each time. If we want to go down that road, the...

Seanad: Adoptive Leave Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (26 May 2004)

Michael McDowell: I do not know.

Seanad: Adoptive Leave Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (26 May 2004)

Michael McDowell: I presume the statistics do not differentiate between the two. I am unable to give that information to the Senator.

Seanad: Adoptive Leave Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (26 May 2004)

Michael McDowell: Yes, it is, and my next point is also relevant to today's debate. I can understand a proposal that the Exchequer subsidise trips abroad for the purpose of adoption if that proposal is to be part of the social welfare system, be it wise or unwise bearing in mind the other areas to which the money could be addressed. What I do not understand is a proposal that we should decide the employer is...

Seanad: Adoptive Leave Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (26 May 2004)

Michael McDowell: I sometimes wonder how any of these things would work in practice. I know that would-be adopters of foreign children make considerable sacrifices, sometimes unsuccessfully, to go to places and return with nothing or return with arrangements which have fallen through or whatever. I do not underestimate the sacrifices they make and I salute them. However, I am not dealing here with a clause of...