Results 9,141-9,160 of 18,761 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Prison Suicides: Prison Suicides (28 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: The statistical information sought by the Deputy is as follows: Year Reported Self-Injury by Prisoners 2000 73 2001 73 2002* 144 2003* 180 2004* 170 * Source — National Suicide Research Foundation. The National Suicide Research Foundation (NSRF) established the National Parasuicide Registry in 2000 as a national monitoring system for the occurrence of parasuicide. The...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (28 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: The information requested by the Deputy is available in the 2005 Annual Report of An Garda Síochána, a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas library.

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (28 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: The figure for the number of headline offences in 2005 is available in the annual report of the Garda Síochána, a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas library.

Written Answers — Prison Suicides: Prison Suicides (28 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: All deaths in prison custody are the subject of an internal investigation, a Garda investigation and an inquiry by a Coroner. The cause of death is determined on foot of the Coroner's inquiry or by the jury on the basis of the information presented to the Coroner's court, if a plenary inquest is held. The number of deaths in prison custody which are attributed to suicide are as follows: ...

Criminal Justice Bill 2004: Report Stage (Resumed). (28 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: Deputies Ó Snodaigh and Cuffe oppose Part 7 of the Act. It will come as no surprise to them that I do not propose to drop it, since I am advised that it is necessary to allow for transposition of our obligations under the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime and the European Union joint action on making it a criminal offence to participate in a criminal...

Criminal Justice Bill 2004: Report Stage (Resumed). (28 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: It is a framework decision.

Criminal Justice Bill 2004: Report Stage (Resumed). (28 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I take the point the Deputy is making. This State, unlike the US, does not provide a constitutional right to have a firearm.

Criminal Justice Bill 2004: Report Stage (Resumed). (28 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: There is no general right to have a firearm. The State does not have a presumption one way or another — it does not hold that everyone who wants a firearm can have one. The State's view is that having a firearm is a licensed and certificated activity.

Criminal Justice Bill 2004: Report Stage (Resumed). (28 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: That is the way Ireland works.

Criminal Justice Bill 2004: Report Stage (Resumed). (28 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: There is no presumption in favour of everybody who wants to have a firearm in their house. That is not the way Ireland has ever worked as an independent State.

Criminal Justice Bill 2004: Report Stage (Resumed). (28 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: We are not going down that road now. That is the first point.

Criminal Justice Bill 2004: Report Stage (Resumed). (28 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: The second point is that if a superintendent asks for a psychiatric report but does not get co-operation from the psychiatrist — the psychiatrist may be on holiday or there may be no conclusive evidence——

Criminal Justice Bill 2004: Report Stage (Resumed). (28 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: Of course the superintendent can refuse to grant a certificate in circumstances of that nature.

Criminal Justice Bill 2004: Report Stage (Resumed). (28 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: The superintendent can refuse if he does not have the evidence on the last day.

Criminal Justice Bill 2004: Report Stage (Resumed). (28 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: If he does not make a decision because he simply does not want to do so on the basis of nothing, he will be deemed to have refused. The applicant will not be in a worse position in such circumstances. I honestly believe we have to be clear about this. To possess a firearm is a matter of some consequence. To apply to the State for a permit to have a firearm is also a matter of some...

Criminal Justice Bill 2004: Report Stage (Resumed). (28 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I did not say the Deputy said that. I am saying I do not agree with that proposition.

Criminal Justice Bill 2004: Report Stage (Resumed). (28 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: Applying to possess a firearm is not like applying for planning permission, for example. The possession of a firearm is a matter of such consequence that there should not be a presumption in favour of it. I think it should be a neutral proposition, at the best. Those who want to possess firearms should always carry the onus of proof.

Criminal Justice Bill 2004: Report Stage (Resumed). (28 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: Very briefly, there is no——

Criminal Justice Bill 2004: Report Stage (Resumed). (28 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I thought this was my second contribution on these amendments.

Criminal Justice Bill 2004: Report Stage (Resumed). (28 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: I do not know.