Results 3,901-3,920 of 18,728 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Morris Tribunal: Statements. (17 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: Deputy Jim O'Keeffe asked me if I would consider the question of a security committee and I have said I will. I intend to act on his suggestions. I also intend to change the Bill on the internal audit unit and to establish a professional standards unit within the Garda Síochána. I will make it possible to second into the Garda Síochána people from police forces other than the Police...

Morris Tribunal: Statements. (17 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: Lest there be any misunderstanding, I also intend to implement all of the areas of reform Mr. Justice Morris mentioned in his first report and on which Deputy Commissioner Fitzgerald has provided working papers on reform. Most of them do not require statutory reform but regulatory reform. I have realised, and I ask every Member of the House to realise, that the revolution in culture in the...

Morris Tribunal: Statements. (17 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: All of those things must happen. It has taken three years to get to where the Bill is now. I was appointed in June 2002. I went through a public consultation process and I brought the Bill through the Seanad because this House was busy with other things. I brought it through one of the longest debates on its principles on Second Stage that this House has ever seen. I brought it through hours...

Morris Tribunal: Statements. (17 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: The time has come now for us to screw our courage to the point where we get on with reform rather than walk away from it. There have been harsh words in this House today but I have spoken the truth in this House because I have a respect for it and the House is entitled to know that Deputy O'Donoghue, when he was Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, behaved impeccably and at all...

Morris Tribunal: Statements. (17 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: There were legal constraints in the way at the time and he cleared them away on legal advice and established a public inquiry which led to the Morris report.

Morris Tribunal: Statements. (17 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: Those in this House who have spent so much time praising Mr. Justice Morris, and I join them in doing that, should also remember that it was the tenacity of Deputy O'Donoghue as Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform that led to the tribunal being set up.

Morris Tribunal: Statements. (17 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: He pushed through this House the reforming legislation that was necessary to ensure that the DPP or parties to the criminal litigation would not have injuncted the tribunal from undertaking any hearings until there cases were over.

Morris Tribunal: Statements. (17 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: That is what he did.

Morris Tribunal: Statements. (17 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: He is a man who is now being criticised by those who should think better of it. As his Attorney General at the time, I know that he was more than anxious to get to the truth because he said it to me on many occasions.

Morris Tribunal: Statements. (17 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: I said in my opening remarks that all of these events arise from a massive systems failure.

Morris Tribunal: Statements. (17 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: The fact that people thought they could get away with it, and the fact that they got away with it for so long, shows that there was a collapse of morale and, as Mr. Justice Morris says, a collapse of discipline and accountability structures in the area. It shows that management at local and national levels were not getting their act together and things had gone seriously wrong.

Morris Tribunal: Statements. (17 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: There is no doubt about that. I was glad that at least some Deputies opposite conceded this did not all happen on the watch of one Government,——

Morris Tribunal: Statements. (17 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: ——that the fundamental background circumstances that led to Donegal, the lack of accountability and discipline and the attitude to accounting to one's superiors did not arise in a fortnight in Donegal. They were a long time coming.

Morris Tribunal: Statements. (17 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: I will tender a formal apology to the McBrearty, McConnell and, as Deputy McGinley reminded me, the Gallagher families on behalf of all the Governments——

Morris Tribunal: Statements. (17 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: ——that brought about the situation in which these events occurred.

Morris Tribunal: Statements. (17 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: I intend to do more than simply apologise or simply offer to deal with the litigation. I intend out of all of this that the Garda Síochána will be reconstituted as a force based on a proper written constitution for the first time in 80 years. This is a challenging agenda that I will fulfil. No Member on the opposite side of the House came forward with a garda Bill——

Morris Tribunal: Statements. (17 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy did not.

Morris Tribunal: Statements. (17 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: They were only partial Bills about little items.

Morris Tribunal: Statements. (17 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: No one has ever come up with comprehensive legislation of the kind like the Garda Síochána Bill.

Morris Tribunal: Statements. (17 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: Forget it buddy — you were not even half way up to the height of this Bill.