Results 8,601-8,620 of 18,761 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Prison Accommodation. (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: On 28 September 2006 there were 3,158 persons in prison custody as compared with a bed capacity of 3,383. This represents an occupancy level of 93%. It is my view, supported by these figures, that there is no overcrowding crisis or immediate issue relating to the capacity of the prison system. There is, however, a need to upgrade existing prison accommodation and to plan for the future and...

Prison Accommodation. (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: On the Deputy's first question, I do not know if he was having a quiet snooze but I dealt with the deaths and weapons in Mountjoy and all the issues approximately five minutes ago. I would like to make a couple of points about Thornton Hall. The Deputy will be aware that the Committee of Public Accounts will examine that issue this month. I am confident the Accounting Officer of my...

Prison Accommodation. (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: Second, nobody is in a position to point to any land suitable for a prison at that distance from or nearer to the city of Dublin which has sold or changed hands for a lesser price. Third, the Comptroller and Auditor General did not say €15 million was wasted. He said — let us be clear about it — that if I had agreed to secretly buy the land and not disclose the purpose for which I was...

Prison Accommodation. (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: That is what he said. The Deputy will appreciate that what happened was that the Accounting Officer of my Department came to the conclusion that it would be ethically wrong to send people out to farms that became available without having a fully transparent, advertised process seeking appropriate land for the purpose.

Prison Accommodation. (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: All of these matters will be thrashed out before the Committee of Public Accounts. I am confident that the decisions made by the committee in question, which was composed of senior public servants, including one of the commissioners of the Office of Public Works, on the basis of an approach which was devised by the Accounting Officer of my Department, will stand up to any scrutiny. I again...

Prison Accommodation. (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: What I would say to the Deputy——

Prison Accommodation. (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: No land which was suitable for a prison was sold for the prices in question closer to or the same distance from the city of Dublin. The second matter about which I remind Deputy O'Keeffe relates to his own auctioneering tendencies. It is interesting to note that in July 2005 he stated that five acres of the Thornton Hall farm which was kept back by the vendor was worth €1 million per acre...

Prison Accommodation. (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy is awake now. It is a curious fact that he thinks five acres out of the 160 acres of the original land parcel were worth €5 million when two minutes ago he stated——

Prison Building Programme. (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: The issue of the acquisition of a prison site at Thornton Hall was included in the 2005 report of the Comptroller and Auditor General at the request of the Committee of Public Accounts and will be examined by it in October. The relevant officials from my Department will be present to account in detail to the Committee of Public Accounts on all the issues raised by the Comptroller and Auditor...

Prison Building Programme. (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: I reject the suggestions that this was a dodgy deal and stinks in any way and that the committee, comprising senior public servants, acted improperly. It is unworthy to suggest that about them without knowing any of the basic facts. This acquisition will be fully investigated by the Committee of Public Accounts. The Accounting Officer and Secretary General of my Department, the director...

Prison Building Programme. (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: That is further from Dublin.

Prison Building Programme. (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: No.

Prison Building Programme. (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: They are not within the distance.

Garda Training. (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: In July of this year, I received Government approval for a number of proposals to strengthen and support the senior management structure of An Garda Síochána. Among the measures approved by the Government was the establishment of a four-person advisory group chaired by Senator Maurice Hayes. The other members of the group are Ms Emer Daly, former director of strategic planning and risk...

Garda Training. (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: I strongly deprecate and reject the reported remarks attributed to the secretary general of the Garda Representative Association concerning the way in which members of the reserve will be regarded. I have asked the Commissioner for a full report in respect of those remarks so that appropriate action can be taken. Regarding the reaction to the Morris tribunal reports, the House will have an...

Garda Training. (3 Oct 2006)

Michael McDowell: All of these matters will be before the House or, if it chooses, a committee of the House because they require our urgent attention as legislators.

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (28 Sep 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the total cost of the 2006 Ryder Cup to the Garda Síochána will not be available until all expenditure claims have been processed, which will take some time. I will be in separate contact with the Deputy in due course when these figures are available.

Written Answers — Departmental Transport: Departmental Transport (28 Sep 2006)

Michael McDowell: Ministerial State cars are placed at the disposal of Government Ministers and others pursuant to a long standing arrangement and are supplied to the following: President Taoiseach Tánaiste 13 Government Ministers Chief Whip Ceann Comhairle Attorney General Director of Public Prosecutions Chief Justice Former Taoisigh & Presidents A total of 5 Lexus GS 450H Hybrid vehicles have been procured...

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (28 Sep 2006)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that local Garda management has put an initiative in place in the area concerned, whereby additional Gardaí are deployed over two tours per day on two dedicated beats. This ensures a concentrated and visible Garda presence in the area. These patrols are in addition to the normal complement of community Gardaí permanently allocated to this area. In...

Written Answers — Garda Vetting Services: Garda Vetting Services (28 Sep 2006)

Michael McDowell: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Central Vetting Unit is currently engaged in a phased expansion of its vetting service to ensure that all organisations in the child and vulnerable adult care sectors are in receipt of vetting for their personnel. This expansion process is being overseen by a multi-agency Implementation Group on Garda Vetting, and it involves a structured and negotiated...