Results 13,961-13,980 of 18,736 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Judicial Misconduct. (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: No, that is still the case and remains so. The Bill as proposed builds on the report of the committee on judicial conduct and ethics chaired by the former Chief Justice, Ronan Keane. That report recognised the need for a procedure for dealing with complaints of judicial misconduct which, while serious in itself, might not warrant the ultimate sanction of impeachment by the Oireachtas....

Judicial Misconduct. (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: Yes. I have had several meetings with the Chief Justice on the matter and have put several models before him and asked for his views on them. I await those views and will act on them as soon as I receive them.

Judicial Misconduct. (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I cannot agree with that. I have produced a working model of a scheme and have asked the Judiciary to examine it and return to me. I have waited a long time for the response. This has been debated several times in the House and I am sure that the views of the Deputies opposite are generally appreciated but I have not received the response I requested.

Judicial Misconduct. (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: No that is not the case but, contrary to the impression that might sometimes be created, I like to consult with the Judiciary and on a matter of such importance I would be loathe to act unilaterally. For that reason I have since January 2005 sought to elicit its views on the issues involved.

Judicial Misconduct. (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy is entitled to make a judgment on that matter.

Judicial Misconduct. (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am giving the House the facts. Since January 2005 I have been seeking the views of the Judiciary at large. I do not know the extent to which consultation has taken place within the Judiciary but I am not in a position to tell the House that I have had the response I have sought.

Judicial Misconduct. (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: The length of time in question speaks for itself.

Judicial Misconduct. (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: Yes.

Judicial Misconduct. (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: Often.

Judicial Misconduct. (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I have often raised the matter.

Garda Equipment. (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I take the Deputy's reference to two way mirrors in his question to be to one-way mirrors. I did not think up that line — that came from one of my officials. Deputy Cuffe has a fan somewhere. The process by which the identification of a suspect by a victim or witness occurs is an important part of the criminal justice process. Formal identification parades are the main way this...

Garda Equipment. (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I agree with the Deputy but clearly if I was an accused person who allegedly was picked out in an identity parade and I did not see the person picking me out or did not see who was with the person at the time or what they were doing vis-À-vis, me, that would be a matter of concern. One of the implications of the one-way mirror system is that the accused cannot at a later point say what was...

Garda Equipment. (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: No.

Garda Equipment. (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I agree with the Deputy that this is an urgent matter which should be addressed. A decision must be made on this. I do not organise the interior of Garda stations and I urge others to do so.

Garda Equipment. (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I do not.

Garda Deployment. (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that a total of 331 gardaí are dedicated to national and regional drugs units. These units are also supported in their work by officers from other national units such as the national bureau of criminal investigation, the Garda bureau of fraud investigation and the Criminal Assets Bureau. In addition, all gardaí are tasked with confronting...

Garda Deployment. (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: It was before that.

Garda Deployment. (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am consulted. Additional Garda resources are coming on stream all the time, with an accelerated intake of approximately 1,100 new recruits per annum into the Garda College. These additional human resources will facilitate the Garda Commissioner in transforming the Garda Síochána by the allocation of additional manpower to areas most in need. There is a demand for members of the Garda...

Garda Deployment. (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I remind the Deputy that, when his party was in office with the Labour Party, the number of gardaí was allowed to decline at a time when the population was rising.

Garda Deployment. (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I will put this discussion in context. We discussed the Criminal Assets Bureau earlier and the strength of the Garda Síochána in terms of numbers involved in the battle against drugs has grown substantially over recent years but they are located across the country.