Results 6,681-6,700 of 18,729 for speaker:Michael McDowell

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.

Crime Levels. (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy forgets that——

Crime Levels. (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: ——he throws against the Garda the fact that drugs seizures have increased. Does he want the Garda to do its job or not? He throws against the Garda the fact that it has seized more firearms, thereby suggesting circumstances have worsened.

Crime Levels. (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: It is a case of the Garda doing its job. If there were no increases in drugs seizures or charges for possession of firearms, we would then have a problem because it would be clear that policing was not working.

Crime Levels. (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: That is true.

Crime Levels. (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: That is true.

Crime Levels. (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: In the Deputy's day, heroin was the big problem.

Crime Levels. (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: As the Deputy knows, the Bail Act has been enacted. All the aforementioned criteria are relied upon regularly by the Garda. Whether the Judiciary feels the applications by the Garda to withhold bail are correct is a matter for it to decide. I share the Deputy's apprehension that the bail referendum and Bail Act introduced on foot thereof do not seem to have a reforming effect on circumstances...

Crime Levels. (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: If the Deputy examines the Bail Act, he will see that all the criteria he has just mentioned are set out therein.