Results 11,921-11,940 of 18,734 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Crime Levels. (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: Recruitment has been increased and proper provisions have been made in Templemore for this. Class sizes vary between 275 and 300 to bring us up to the 14,000 as promised. This will be delivered by the Government. The Garda Síochána Vote this year increased by 13%, at a time of 3% inflation or less. That is a significant increase in resources. This was on top of an increase last year and the...

Crime Levels. (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: I will deal with the last point first. If I was to split the Bill into different parts, we would require long Second Stage debates on each part. As the Deputy appreciates, that would guarantee no progress would be made in the lifetime of this Dáil on these important matters.

Crime Levels. (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: There are now more than 12,200 fully attested members of the Garda Síochána. This is a significant increase over the numbers ——

Crime Levels. (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: If the Deputy wants to interrupt, let the record show that when Fine Gael and the Labour Party were in Government, they allowed the numbers of gardaí to fall.

Crime Levels. (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: Let it also show that they never delivered reform to the Garda, never put in place measures to deliver a decent radio system——

Crime Levels. (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: ——never provided money for prisons and allowed the revolving door revolve so fast that 20% of prisoners were on temporary release. That is the shameful record of the rainbow coalition on law and order. I will not listen to people making specious comparisons.

Crime Levels. (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: The number of offences being committed — the Deputy made a comparison with the 2000 figures — is less than when his party was in Government——

Crime Levels. (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: ——in 1995, when we had a much smaller population.

Crime Levels. (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: Let the figures show that the coalition's record was abject. It was run out of office because it was so poor at handling the issues.

Crime Levels. (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: That the coalition was thrown out of office in 1997 was a kick in the pants for it. The coalition proved conclusively over a long period that it should not be trusted with the criminal justice system.

Crime Levels. (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: That is just waffle.

Crime Levels. (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have not heard one sensible suggestion from the Labour Party on this question in the time I have been Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform.

Crime Levels. (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Labour Party opposed increasing garda numbers in the 1997 and 2002 general election campaigns.

Crime Levels. (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: It did not want an increase.

Crime Levels. (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: That is true. The party did not want an increase and did not make any commitment.

Crime Levels. (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: When the Labour Party was last in office, it allowed the number of gardaí to decrease.

Crime Levels. (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: It is perfectly reasonable to use overtime resources to finance significant Garda operations.

Crime Levels. (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: If the Deputy knew anything about these operations, he would know that when gardaí have to work 12-hour stretches, as they frequently do during surveillance, they must be paid overtime. If they work over and above their usual daily shifts, they must be paid overtime and this is why the additional funds are being put in place. On the figures the Deputy quoted——

Crime Levels. (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy is being wilfully blind to the fact that the spate of gangland killings has abated. He knows very well that this is the case but is pretending it is not. Can he point out such offences that have taken place in the past month or two? They have not occurred because the Garda is getting on top of the issue.

Crime Levels. (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy should not shout me down. There is no point having questions if he does so.