Results 12,881-12,900 of 18,736 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Judicial Investigations: Judicial Investigations (23 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: The courts are, subject to the Constitution and the law, independent in the exercise of their judicial functions. There are also avenues open to the person concerned to make complaints against the Garda Síochána, the legal profession and others against whom he has a grievance.

Adequacy of Law. (23 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: Sections 18 and 20 of the Non-Fatal Offences against the Person Act 1997 make statutory provision on the justifiable use of force in order to protect a person or property or to prevent a crime. Section 18 sets out the various purposes for which justifiable force may be lawfully used, that does not constitute an offence. The force used must be reasonable by reference to the circumstances...

Adequacy of Law. (23 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: The 1997 legislation was introduced by former Deputy Owen and put through the Houses in the lead up to the general election of that year by the Labour, Fine Gael and Democratic Left Government. The legislation predates the current Government. The wording and balance was chosen by the Opposition parties, not by me.

Adequacy of Law. (23 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: Deputy Jim O'Keeffe has stated that he believes the balance might be recast somewhat in favour of the home owner. Let us see the colour of his money on this issue. Let us see exactly how he believes that should be done. If he wishes to do this, the Criminal Justice Bill provides an opportunity for the House to consider the issue. If the balance that was struck in 1997 in the legislation...

Adequacy of Law. (23 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: I welcome that proposal because the Deputy knows that during discussions at meetings of the Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights, I have made it clear that amendments to the criminal law emanating from any source, in the context of proposed legislation, will be considered in a fair and reasonable way. I look forward to seeing any proposal from Deputy Jim O'Keeffe...

Garda Operations. (23 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: Last year, an inter-agency working group on Garda vetting reported with a clear and focused strategy for enhancing national vetting arrangements from a child protection perspective. This strategy provided for an expansion in the criminal record vetting service provided by the Garda central vetting unit to all organisations which recruit persons having substantial, unsupervised access to...

Garda Operations. (23 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: There is an accumulated backlog of unvetted people which will take some time to deal with. As I indicated in my answer to the Deputy, these sectors will be dealt with by the vetting unit in chronological order as they get their requirements together. To vet 30,000 people the staff in the unit, given its current complement, would need to deal with 1,000 inquiries each in a year, which should...

Garda Operations. (23 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: I cannot answer a hypothetical question but security clearance is a radically different proposition from vetting provided by the central vetting unit. It arises in another question later today so I will not trespass on that but "soft" information, as opposed to "hard" information, is a requisite in a security vetting procedure whereas, as the Deputy knows, the inclusion of soft information on...

Garda Operations. (23 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: I will come to that in a later question.

Prison Building Programme. (23 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: The size of the site purchased will provide for and enable the development to be carried out in a manner which is consistent with best practice from a planning perspective. It will also facilitate the provision of an integrated prison complex with ample recreational and therapeutic facilities. In addition, in line with a recent Government decision a site will be made available for the...

Prison Building Programme. (23 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: On the last point, they would not be on the same campus, they would be on adjacent campuses. On the acquisition cost, the land in question was the cheapest land per acre suitable for the construction of a prison which was offered to the committee.

Prison Building Programme. (23 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: It is true.

Prison Building Programme. (23 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: It is true. I have examined the records and it was the cheapest land per acre for land which was suitable for the construction of a prison.

Prison Building Programme. (23 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy would be asking me different questions if I bought unsuitable land.

Prison Building Programme. (23 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: There is no fox trot, it is just common sense.

Prison Building Programme. (23 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: I want to put on the record that in July last Deputy O'Keeffe announced that five acres, which was part of the farm at Thornton Hall that was kept back by the owner because it had planning permission potential, had a value of €1 million per acre. However, later in this House, his party, not himself, said the remaining 150 acres had a total value of €6 million. It is an interesting...

Prison Building Programme. (23 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: Deputy O'Keeffe valued the five acres at €1 million per acre.

Prison Building Programme. (23 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: That is fair enough. The Deputy accepted this figure and put it into the public domain. I paid less than one fifth of that per acre for the remaining 150 acres.

Prison Building Programme. (23 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: The land in question is totally suitable for the purpose for which it was bought. It was examined carefully by a team of engineers. The report is available under FOI to anyone who wants to see it. The Deputy can examine it at any time if he wishes. He knows it was examined fully at the time of purchase. As an environmental impact procedure will be put in place, the Deputy need not worry about...

Prison Building Programme. (23 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: Yes, and the Deputy should know that it is suitable land. Road access to the land is not inadequate as has been suggested. I wonder has the Deputy driven up the long straight road, because he would be impressed by the road access to the land. It is not as inadequate as the Deputy is implying. On the construction of the prison campus, this will be done on a public private partnership basis....