Results 7,061-7,080 of 18,761 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Crime Levels. (7 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am just making the point that it is simply not correct for the benefit of those who are listening to this debate on their monitors.

Crime Levels. (7 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: It does not.

Crime Levels. (7 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: That is wrong; that is what I am asking the Deputy to appreciate. If he looks at the headline of the survey, he will note that it states, "Dublin continues to top Ireland's burglary table with a 12% increase in burglaries, representing 35% of all burglaries nationwide".

Crime Levels. (7 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am reading from the report.

Crime Levels. (7 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: I see that; it is further down.

Crime Levels. (7 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: The question reads, "35% in the Dublin area".

Crime Levels. (7 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: That is not true.

Crime Levels. (7 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: Yes, but one fact is that the number of burglaries did not increase by 35% in Dublin.

Crime Levels. (7 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Central Statistics Office has analysed the reported burglaries and, for the third quarter, it indicates an overall decrease in headline offences of 1.6%——

Crime Levels. (7 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: May I finish my answer? The CSO highlighted a rate of 12.2% in burglary offences in the third quarter. It is not a case of my trying to manipulate the figures. I am pointing out that the CSO has been given the job to monitor crime figures and that what it is saying does not seem to correspond——

Crime Levels. (7 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am not trying to get stuck into a statistical battle. I was asked to comment on a particular report by Eircom PhoneWatch and to accept the proposition that it has no axe to grind in this matter. It published this report to encourage people to use its alarm system.

Crime Levels. (7 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy should calm down for a second. We have all agreed to ask the Central Statistics Office, CSO, to monitor crime figures and, having agreed to do that, let us stick with its statistics rather than use surveys which seem to be at variance with its statistics.

Crime Levels. (7 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: I would like to know if there is a problem with the CSO figures.

Crime Levels. (7 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am not willing to accept that, having entrusted the preparation of crime statistics to the CSO, I should now say that a commercial survey is more accurate.

Crime Levels. (7 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have indicated that, as far as I could see, the report to which Deputy Howlin drew my attention, was based on a sample prepared by a loss adjuster's firm.

Crime Levels. (7 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: It is my understanding, but maybe not the Deputy's understanding, that one cannot recover on an insurance claim unless one reports it to the Garda Síochána. I cannot understand how there could be such a wide disparity. I do not believe people would report matters to their loss adjusters and attempt to make a claim without reporting the theft to the Garda Síochána.

Garda Equipment. (7 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: As I stated when welcoming the publication of the Barr report in July, in accordance with the provisions of the Garda Síochána Act 2005, I chose to forward a copy of the report to the chief inspector of the Garda inspectorate in order that Garda procedures and practices for dealing with incidents of the type which unfolded at Abbeylara might be reviewed. I understand from the Garda...

Garda Equipment. (7 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: Bean bag shot is effectively a bag containing something like lead shot which when flung out results in a muffled impact. I know what pepper spray is but must confess that I have no idea what ferret pepper spray is and will not make a pretence of knowing or try to wing it today.

Garda Equipment. (7 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: I will arrange for an explanation of the difference between pepper spray and ferret pepper spray to be forwarded to the Deputy.

Garda Equipment. (7 Dec 2006)

Michael McDowell: The equipment has been furnished to the ERU which has been fully trained in its use, whatever it is. We are considering the use of the Taser gun which fires a projectile consisting of an electrode stunning the victim electrically. It has been used in the United Kingdom and other places. It is an effective weapon but can cause problems. The Deputy expresses some degree of impatience with...