Results 301-320 of 18,465 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Seanad: Report on Dublin and Monaghan Bombings: Motion. - Defamation: Statements. (10 Dec 2003)

Michael McDowell: I thank the Members of the House for what has been another broad ranging and stimulating debate. On this matter, I feel somewhat like a pendulum. I found myself swinging this way and that when listening to the various contributions. I wonder does this show some lack of political substance on my part or is it merely that the power of rhetoric is very strong. I was attracted by some of the...

Seanad: Report on Dublin and Monaghan Bombings: Motion. - Defamation: Statements. (10 Dec 2003)

Michael McDowell: The Government is accountable to the people.

Seanad: Report on Dublin and Monaghan Bombings: Motion. - Defamation: Statements. (10 Dec 2003)

Michael McDowell: The Government is not required to go naked into some kind of communal sauna in order to be accountable to the people. We are entitled to our privacy. We are entitled to generate our proposals in private. We are entitled to come up with foolish ideas and then spike them. We are entitled to put trenchant views against each other's positions coming up to a Cabinet decision and if we want to...

Seanad: Report on Dublin and Monaghan Bombings: Motion. - Defamation: Statements. (10 Dec 2003)

Michael McDowell: The media naturally wanted to know everything. Quite naturally they always want to know everything. I do not blame the media for using every pressure at their command to achieve maximum transparency, but good government requires a deal of privacy and confidentiality, and on occasion, things have to happen behind closed doors. The deliberative process must be protected. I have held two public...

Seanad: Report on Dublin and Monaghan Bombings: Motion. - Defamation: Statements. (10 Dec 2003)

Michael McDowell: I accept that is a point. I acknowledge that people who are critical of the media should always remember that spin and leaks are the other side of the coin. Senator Mansergh put this point more pithily than I but I accept that proposition. I said earlier that one must be robust with the media. The media are better at giving it than taking it. They order ink by the barrel-load and those who...

Order Of Business. (3 Feb 2004)

Michael McDowell: The Opposition wants unlimited blather.

Order Of Business. (3 Feb 2004)

Michael McDowell: We have not refused to answer questions.

Order Of Business. (3 Feb 2004)

Michael McDowell: Yes, I did. I sought to change the rota but it was impossible to do so.

Order Of Business. (3 Feb 2004)

Michael McDowell: That is not true.

Order Of Business. (3 Feb 2004)

Michael McDowell: That is rubbish. It is another lie.

Order Of Business. (3 Feb 2004)

Michael McDowell: I withdraw it.

Written Answers — Probation and Welfare Service: Probation and Welfare Service (3 Feb 2004)

Michael McDowell: I propose to answer Questions Nos. 432 and 433 together. I can inform the Deputy that the full complement of staff for the Donaghmede Probation and Welfare Service Office when it is fully operational will be 15, of whom 13 will be professional staff and two will be clerical staff. The Deputy will be aware that I undertook to establish a monitoring committee for the office comprising...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (3 Feb 2004)

Michael McDowell: As the Deputy may be aware, the Government responded to the issue of increased demand for quality child care by providing, with EU assistance, almost €437 million to my Department to facilitate the operation of the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006, EOCP. At this stage of the programme, over €249.2 million has been committed in funding, of which €206.5 million has been...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (3 Feb 2004)

Michael McDowell: As the Deputy may be aware, the national child care strategy was drawn up by an expert working group on child care chaired by my Department in the context of Partnership 2000. Key among these recommendations was the designation of my Department as the lead Department with respect to the development of child care to meet the needs of parents in employment, education and training. These...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (3 Feb 2004)

Michael McDowell: My Department has recently been in correspondence with the person in question in relation to her application. On receipt of the documentation requested the application will be fully considered.

Written Answers — Statutory Instruments: Statutory Instruments (3 Feb 2004)

Michael McDowell: The Government has brought forward the Immigration Bill 2004 to address the immediate situation arising from the High Court finding that parts of the Aliens Order 1946 are invalid. The Bill restates in primary statute form, and with a small number of changes, the contents of the Aliens Order 1946 as it was presumed to be in effect up the date of the High Court judgment. It passed all stages...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (3 Feb 2004)

Michael McDowell: I am of the view that the wording used in the Juries Act 1976 describing deaf people — and others — as "incapable persons"— in the context of serving on a jury — is dated. I have asked that the matter be borne in mind in the context of any future review of the legislation in question. Such a review would encompass the categories of persons deemed ineligible and excusable as of right...

Written Answers — Closed Circuit Television Systems: Closed Circuit Television Systems (3 Feb 2004)

Michael McDowell: It is assumed that the Deputy is referring to the community based CCTV scheme which was launched to facilitate community based groups who wish to install their own local CCTV system. It is not, understandably, possible for the Garda Síochána to install CCTV systems in all areas that have sought them. Some applications for CCTV systems received by the CCTV advisory committee, established by...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (3 Feb 2004)

Michael McDowell: In October 2002 the child care provider in question was approved for capital grant assistance under the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000 — 2006. I have been informed that Area Development Management Limited, which administers the programme on behalf of my Department, has sought clarification on a number of significant issues in relation to the project which must be resolved if...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (3 Feb 2004)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources including personnel, that the current personnel strength — all ranks — of Tallaght Garda station at 2 February 2004 is 163. This compares with a figure of 133 at 31 December 1997 and represents an increase of 30 members, or 22.6%, since that date. The current personnel strength —...