Results 11,281-11,300 of 18,729 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (21 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities, which are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the information requested is not readily available and can only be obtained by the disproportionate expenditure of Garda time and resources relative to the information sought.

Written Answers — Closed Circuit Television Systems: Closed Circuit Television Systems (21 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: Section 38 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 provides a legislative basis for the operation of CCTV systems in public places for the purposes of crime prevention and crime detection by the Garda Síochána and community-based groups. It does not apply to persons operating CCTV cameras on their premises for the purposes of protecting persons or property on the premises or environs. Officials of...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (21 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: In order to ensure public safety and security, I propose to introduce a wide range of amendments to the Firearms Acts 1925 to 2000 in the context of the Criminal Justice Bill 2004, which is before the Dáil. Included in these new proposals will be measures which will create mandatory minimum sentences, of between five and ten years, for certain firearms offences, including possession of a...

Order of Business. (21 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: I withdraw the remark.

Garda Reserve Force. (9 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 2 together. Under section 15 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005, which provides for the establishment of a Garda reserve, the powers and duties of reserve members may be determined by the Garda Commissioner. The Garda Commissioner, in a comprehensive submission to me on the Garda reserve, has proposed that the powers of reserve members will be confined to...

Garda Reserve Force. (9 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: I welcome the acknowledgement by Deputy O'Keeffe that his party has solidly and fully supported the establishment of a Garda reserve and that it promised it to the electorate on a number of occasions. I note he has not, in any way, resiled from that. On the question of consultation, as the Deputy well knows, the Bill was crafted on the supposition that the initiative and proposals for a...

Garda Reserve Force. (9 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: Deputy O'Keeffe is aware that he urged me in this House to scrap the delay mechanism on their introduction because the legislation provided for a one year delay. He said in this House that he wanted it done now. He also said in the House that he wanted 5,000 reservists.

Garda Reserve Force. (9 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: No, but——

Garda Reserve Force. (9 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: I indicated in response to Opposition requests that I should expedite the introduction of the reserve force——

Garda Reserve Force. (9 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: The third point is in regard to power.

Garda Reserve Force. (9 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: I want to make this point in regard to power. I am in the process of consultation. The Commissioner has made proposals to me. Like the Deputy I will be very careful to ensure the reserve's powers are commensurate with its training and capacity. I will not budge from that because I, just as much as everybody else in this House, am committed to the success of a reserve. I hope the Deputy is not...

Garda Reserve Force. (9 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: I favour a consensus approach. That is what I am doing. My door is open. I am bringing the regulations to the Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights. It is open to the members of that committee to bring in the representative associations and to discuss any principled difficulties they may have with them. I met with the AGSI and told it that until I had a proposal...

Garda Reserve Force. (9 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: I assure the House that my door is always open. I am behaving in a conciliatory way. I want everybody, including Members, to have confidence in the fact that I will fully accommodate any reasonable points people wish to make in regard to this matter.

Garda Reserve Force. (9 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have not breached trust with anybody. As a Minister, my trust is to implement the law as laid down by this House, as backed by all the Members of this House. It is true that when the recruitment of 2,000 extra gardaí was held back by the public service embargo I made it clear to the associations that I would not use the reserve force as a substitute for the expansion of An Garda Síochána...

Garda Reserve Force. (9 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: Deputy Jim O'Keeffe urged me to get on with the job and remove the delays. He is now resiling from that position.

Garda Reserve Force. (9 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Garda Commissioner's proposal is for a force of 4,000 with initial pilot projects in a number of areas. In 2006, 900 members will be recruited for allocation on a pilot basis to a number of areas. There was no question of there not being a pilot approach. That is why there was provision in the Estimates of €1.28 million.

Garda Reserve Force. (9 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: I do not need to apologise to the associations. My door has been open. I have not used intemperate language and I will not do so.

Garda Reserve Force. (9 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: I did not give an undertaking to anyone.

Garda Deployment. (9 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: It is standard practice for visiting Heads of State and other similar VIPs to make the Government, via the Department of Foreign Affairs, aware of any intention to visit or pass through the State so that any necessary security arrangements may be put in place to ensure an incident-free event from the perspectives of both the visiting VIP and the local communities. In the case of two stopovers...

Garda Deployment. (9 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform does not decide the security arrangements at any event. Such decisions are for the operational judgment of gardaí under the Commissioner. I am not consulted in advance and have no input into Garda security arrangements. I do not micro-manage them. The strength of the Garda Síochána at either event or at any other is not dictated by me so my...