Results 1,621-1,640 of 18,726 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (9 Dec 2004)

Michael McDowell: I am grateful to Senators for pointing out significant improvement in this area on my watch and that of my predecessor. Garda reports are being submitted in comprehensive form reasonably promptly by comparison with the situation in the past. I will not be tempted into making unfair comparisons as to how bad the past was which would excite party animosity.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (9 Dec 2004)

Michael McDowell: We will leave it like that. I thank the Commissioner and his predecessors for bringing about the improvement under discussion. When I took office, annual reporting of crime figures, which is a matter of some significance though by no means the sole subject of the Commissioner's report, took place in the public domain up to 18 months after the period to which they related had ended. In effect,...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (9 Dec 2004)

Michael McDowell: The purpose of this amendment is to provide that the Garda Commissioner shall ensure that the statistical information is made available not only to the Minister but also to the Central Statistics Office. This follows on from my acceptance of a recommendation from the expert group on crime statistics that a central crime statistics unit should be established, and I decided it should be...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (9 Dec 2004)

Michael McDowell: Senator Cummins talks about spin. When I receive the quarterly figures I study them carefully and then I make a totally vain attempt to convey the truth to the people. Whatever I do, my good friends in the media immediately engage in a massive distortion of the figures. That is what happens on every occasion. If there is a decrease of 4% in overall crime, it is reported that rape incidents...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (9 Dec 2004)

Michael McDowell: No. That is not spin. I am simply reminding people that there are other aspects to be considered. If I claim crime has decreased by 5% people must look carefully at the individual components of that. In all the statements I have produced there is not a whit of spin in them.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (9 Dec 2004)

Michael McDowell: On the contrary, I always tell people to read these things carefully and not draw rash conclusions from them. I am aware, however, that crime sells newspapers. That is an immutable fact in public life and it has been the case as long as newspapers have been produced. A good crime story is better even than a corruption in politics story. Crime stories sell newspapers. I am not naive enough to...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (9 Dec 2004)

Michael McDowell: A sensible counsel against quarterly publication of crime figures was that a news story would be reported on a quarterly basis rather than an out of date story 18 months after publication and the media would be given four bites at the cherry every year. That was good advice but, on the other hand, not producing the figures quarterly would break the chain of accountability and distract the...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (9 Dec 2004)

Michael McDowell: I accept that but, even without making a provision in law, it would be difficult to return to the old regime. However, I do not want to create a mess for the CSO, without consultation, if it takes over this function. Significant progress has been made in publishing the figures on a quarterly basis. They are published without spin and, if Members do not believe me, I invite them to ask for the...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (9 Dec 2004)

Michael McDowell: Normally, I receive the first quarter figures in mid to late April and I turn them around within ten or 14 days. In a vain effort to ensure they are reasonably presented to the public, I have come to the view that I should be available to discuss them. On some occasions I am involved in a major issue and I decide to do the press briefings the following week so that I can absorb the figures...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (9 Dec 2004)

Michael McDowell: I promised the representative associations I would introduce legislation relating to vicarious liability so that members would understand where they stood when they became involved in the criminal process. We have reached a funny point. Legal aid fees are substantial compared to when I began to practise at the Bar in 1974. There was a time when legal aid was regarded as a dirty raincoat end...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (9 Dec 2004)

Michael McDowell: The amendment defines the term "an t-Ard Chláraitheoir" and gives it statutory meaning.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (9 Dec 2004)

Michael McDowell: It might be useful to set out briefly the general position with regard to service abroad by members of the Garda Síochána. Where a member of the Garda is stationed overseas in his or her capacity as such a member, for example with Interpol, he or she receives an allowance for such duty and accrues service and pension entitlements as normal. Where a member opts to leave the Garda to serve...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (9 Dec 2004)

Michael McDowell: This part of the Bill is effectively a repeal and re-enactment of the Garda Síochána (Police Co-Operation) Act 2003. That Act has a part in the Patten report and the outworking of the Good Friday Agreement. Until now, there has been a delay in the practical implementation of the Act, based on the question of the remuneration of members going North or South. With regard to members going...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (9 Dec 2004)

Michael McDowell: We are discussing the amendment rather than the section generally. However, I suppose we can talk about both at the same time. The amendment runs contrary to the terms of section 17, which we have already discussed, and for the reasons I expressed in regard to that I will not change my view at this point. On this issue, I would ask Senators, some of whom have been nominated by a federation...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (9 Dec 2004)

Michael McDowell: To be honest, it is much of a muchness to me. I do not wish to get involved in the politics of competitive penalisation for offences. Let us remember that in the case of a summary offence, it has to be a minor offence under the Constitution. The seriousness of the offence has to be taken into account. I will think about this between now and Report Stage. I will consult the Parliamentary...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (9 Dec 2004)

Michael McDowell: I will consider the matter between now and Report Stage. I note that this is a summary offence, which is largely due to the fact that it is a re-enactment of an existing provision. To have in one's possession or to wear a Garda uniform is a serious matter. However, if it is not an impersonation offence, which is dealt with under the previous section, I do not want to go wild on penalisation....

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (9 Dec 2004)

Michael McDowell: This amendment is a drafting change preferred by the Parliamentary Counsel. It deletes the words "the duties of that person's office, employment contract or other arrangement" and inserts the words "duties under the contract or other arrangement". It aligns the text with similar phraseology earlier in the subsection.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (9 Dec 2004)

Michael McDowell: This amendment is a drafting change which provides that the disclosure of information shall not have a harmful effect unless it comes within the parameters set out in section 55(2). I would prefer to state it in this way because, in its original form, the section states that it has a harmful effect if it does any of these things. It is better to state that it does not have a harmful effect...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (9 Dec 2004)

Michael McDowell: A number of amendments to section 55(2)(h) have been proposed. Amendment No. 75 takes account of amendments Nos. 76 and 77, tabled by Labour Party Senators and, as discussed with the Parliamentary Counsel, may meet their concerns. I refer to the reference to personal information relating to a deceased person and the need to insert the word "otherwise" in the paragraph. At this stage, it might...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (9 Dec 2004)

Michael McDowell: Section 55(2) provides that the disclosure of information referred to in subsectioin (1) has a harmful effect in a number of circumstances, including those set out in paragraph (k), which states: [if it] affects adversely the relations of the Government with any political party, group or institutions in Northern Ireland or the Government's ability to promote agreement, advance the peace...