Results 201-220 of 4,842 for garda speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (5 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: ...for 2006 show a similar encouraging picture, with increases of 10.1% and 0.8% in the first and second quarter respectively and decreases of 1.5% and 3.2% in the third and fourth quarters. The Garda Commissioner has reported that there was an increase in the detection rate in 2006, with the overall detection rate at 40%, compared with rates of 36% in 2003 and 35% in 2004 and 2005. It is...

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (5 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: The information sought by the Deputy is being compiled by the Garda authorities. When the information is to hand I will write to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (5 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I can confirm that the Garda Commissioner has appointed a senior officer at Assistant Commissioner level to investigate these allegations and the Garda Síochána would welcome the receipt of any information that would assist the investigation. The Commissioner takes his responsibility to safeguard information in the possession of the Gardaí very seriously and every allegation such as this...

Written Answers — Garda Remuneration: Garda Remuneration (5 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: Garda superannuation benefits are paid in accordance with the Garda Síochána Pensions Orders and Agreed Reports of the Garda Conciliation Council. Agreed Report 499 provides that members, who were serving on or after 1 January, 1993 would be entitled to a pension, based on unsocial hours allowances earnings with effect from 1 January, 1994. This Agreement, which was agreed with the Garda...

Criminal Justice Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed). (5 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: ...' Questions yesterday. The forgery, if it is a forgery, is a serious matter whatever way one looks at it. I will look into the matter raised by Deputy Howlin in regard to AXA Insurance. The Garda Commissioner regards all these as serious matters. The allegations are based, as I understand it, on the allegedly forged document. I do not know what the Law Society will do about it. As I...

Criminal Justice Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed). (5 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: ...was made that the measure should not be in this Bill, but I have explained honestly and patiently why it is in the Bill. The measure is no more an insult to fishermen than the inclusion of the Garda Síochána management board, which is also in the Bill, is an insult to gardaí. It is not intended to have that effect. We could have a separate debate on this subject with the Minister for...

Criminal Justice Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed). (5 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: ...tiger kidnappings involving firearms, murders involving firearms and so on. I have every reason to say to this House that the existing detention periods are not adequate in these circumstances. Gardaí find themselves trying to put together forensic materials and make inquiries of witnesses but must release people in certain circumstances while inquiries are still taking place. All this...

Criminal Justice Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed). (5 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: ...are a number of firearms offences, namely possession with intent to endanger life, possession with intent to commit indictable offences and possession with a number of other specific intents. If a garda goes to my house this evening and finds, in my sock drawer, a loaded pistol and there is no explanation as to why it is there, meaning it is my possession rather than, for example, that of...

Criminal Justice Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed). (5 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: The issue of corporate governance of the Garda Síochána is important. For that reason, the Government authorised me to ask Independent Senator Maurice Hayes to establish a group to advise on this area. He has given me his report, which I have published. We have also received a report from the Garda inspectorate. Happily, there was considerable overlap between the two in their approach....

Criminal Justice Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed). (5 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: ...believe it would destroy a Government that attempted to do it. I have explained what Senator Maurice Hayes's group had in mind, which is having top level executives with the capacity to assist the Garda Síochána to do its job. As a barrister, I can say that most barristers have no experience of operating at such a level. Mismanaging their own time and managing one secretary is about...

Criminal Justice Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed). (5 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: .... That is what I have in mind. It is not a pay limitation or a substitute for an independent police authority. This is an executive entity that is supposed to move on the agenda of change in the Garda Síochána.

Criminal Justice Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed). (5 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: ...and have a letter saying all these things sent to the Deputy. I share his passion for reform, which is why I said earlier that the Commissioner, who is in the difficult position of keeping the Garda Síochána functioning and, at the same time, changing it, which is a very difficult position for anybody to be in, has led the process of reform while being in the middle of the battle...

Criminal Justice Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed). (5 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: We have an independent Garda authority, of which the Deputies opposite are members. The real thing is for this House——

Criminal Justice Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed). (5 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: The function of this board is as an executive board. Its function is not to advise the Oireachtas or me, but to get stuck into the executive functions of the Garda Síochána. While I appreciate what the Deputy is getting at, I do not want to go down that road.

Criminal Justice Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed). (5 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: ...the board would have anything to do with the Minister of the day or his responsibilities. I am very anxious that the joint policing committees be rolled out, but their primary relationship is with gardaí at a local level. It is not——

Criminal Justice Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed). (5 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: This provision is designed to allow for special inquiries to be held on a number of aspects of the Garda Síochána, such as administration, operation, practice or procedure or the conduct of members. For example, if it was alleged that members of the Garda were or were not favouring a particular insurance company in a manner that has been recently alleged, but heavily denied in today's...

Criminal Justice Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed). (5 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: Perhaps, but let us suppose that something like that emerged and it was not a matter for the Garda Ombudsman Commission to look at it, I want to be in a position to have an effective means of inquiry to get at the truth of such a matter. In drafting the Garda Síochána Act 2005, we discovered that we had watered down the scope of our capacity to appoint a special inquiry, in anticipation...

Order of Business (5 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: ..., I immediately reject the suggestion that State agencies are trying to hide the truth from anybody. As the MacEntee report points out, either reports were sent to the Department of Justice by the Garda Síochána and have disappeared or they were never sent. With regard to that proposition, it is not possible 30 years later for the incumbents in the Department of Justice, Equality and...

Written Answers — Criminal Prosecutions: Criminal Prosecutions (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 and 25. Section 62 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 was enacted for the purpose of specifically prohibiting a person who is or was a member of the Garda Síochána or of its civilian staff, from disclosing information obtained in the course of his or her duties. The section provides stiff penalties, fines up to €75,000 and/or up to 7 years imprisonment...

Written Answers — Drugs in Prisons: Drugs in Prisons (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: ...being coerced into receiving visits from persons not known to them to facilitate the passing of drugs. Enhanced perimeter security involving improved netting and closer cooperation with the Garda Síochána to arrest and prosecute persons attempting to convey drugs into prisons. This has resulted in arrest, prosecution and imprisonment of persons attempting to convey drugs into prisons....