Results 12,641-12,660 of 18,761 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Order of Business (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: ——and that the procedures——

Order of Business (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: ——under the statute would be fully respected. We made it a serious offence to breach the confidentiality of a draft report. I understand, contrary to what Deputy Rabbitte is saying, that we are not dealing here with a case where somebody had the final report; we are dealing with a case where somebody had a draft, which was submitted to them in confidence with a warning attached that they...

Order of Business (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: ——a serious offence if they disclosed that draft to a third party.

Order of Business (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: That is the law.

Order of Business (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: If we want tribunals of inquiry in every case——

Order of Business (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: ——we can go down that road——

Order of Business (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: ——-and we can spend a great deal of money on them. George Birmingham SC conducted this inquiry and did so in a very expeditious way. He rigorously adhered to the letter of the law. In these circumstances it is entirely proper that this House upholds the law and does not criticise it.

Order of Business (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am saying to the House again that the Secretary General of my Department became aware that it was proposed to publish an article in a newspaper based on a leaked report. The newspaper was warned that it was a criminal offence to publish the material before it published it. The Secretary General in those circumstances decided himself——

Order of Business (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: ——when the publication took place that he would make a complaint to members of the Garda Síochána.

Order of Business (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: He informed me and Mr. Birmingham SC of his intention to do so——

Order of Business (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: ——having previously sought from Mr. Birmingham SC, first, whether it was an authorised disclosure because that was a necessary precondition to make such a complaint and, second, whether Mr. Birmingham was of the view there should be an investigation into the leak. All he did was to ask that there should be an investigation by the Garda Síochána.

Order of Business (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: That was a decision made by him of which I was informed. I was not asked to express a view on the matter.

Order of Business (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: It was expressly put to me that it would be inappropriate for me to be the person who made a decision on the matter.

Order of Business (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I have told the truth to the House in unvarnished and very simple terms.

Order of Business (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I have told the House the truth. If politics in Dublin South-East become so vindictive that the truth can be ignored and allegations are thrown around the House, then that is sad.

Order of Business (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I have told the House the unvarnished truth. I had no hand, act or part in the arrest of those men. I did not request anyone to make a complaint. I was informed by the Secretary General of my Department that he proposed to make a complaint.

Order of Business (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: He expressed to me the view that it was inappropriate for me to be involved in the matter and that he himself would make this complaint.

Order of Business (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: That is the plain, unvarnished truth. It may not suit people's agendas.

Order of Business (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: Can I finish please? I want to be accountable to this House. I have told the truth to this House on my honour. It is not spun or varied in any way. I am asking the House to accept my word that what I have outlined is a true and fair picture of what happened. In no way was I the moving party in the making of this complaint.

Order of Business (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: Deputy Jim O'Keeffe, who has just come in, heard me say this last night. He wrote an article in today's newspaper saying that my fingerprints were all over this arrest. This is wholly untrue.