Results 11,961-11,980 of 18,761 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Crime Levels. (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: It did not want an increase.

Crime Levels. (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: That is true. The party did not want an increase and did not make any commitment.

Crime Levels. (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: When the Labour Party was last in office, it allowed the number of gardaí to decrease.

Crime Levels. (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: It is perfectly reasonable to use overtime resources to finance significant Garda operations.

Crime Levels. (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: If the Deputy knew anything about these operations, he would know that when gardaí have to work 12-hour stretches, as they frequently do during surveillance, they must be paid overtime. If they work over and above their usual daily shifts, they must be paid overtime and this is why the additional funds are being put in place. On the figures the Deputy quoted——

Crime Levels. (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy is being wilfully blind to the fact that the spate of gangland killings has abated. He knows very well that this is the case but is pretending it is not. Can he point out such offences that have taken place in the past month or two? They have not occurred because the Garda is getting on top of the issue.

Crime Levels. (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy should not shout me down. There is no point having questions if he does so.

Crime Levels. (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy forgets that——

Crime Levels. (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: ——he throws against the Garda the fact that drugs seizures have increased. Does he want the Garda to do its job or not? He throws against the Garda the fact that it has seized more firearms, thereby suggesting circumstances have worsened.

Crime Levels. (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: It is a case of the Garda doing its job. If there were no increases in drugs seizures or charges for possession of firearms, we would then have a problem because it would be clear that policing was not working.

Crime Levels. (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: That is true.

Crime Levels. (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: That is true.

Crime Levels. (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: In the Deputy's day, heroin was the big problem.

Crime Levels. (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: As the Deputy knows, the Bail Act has been enacted. All the aforementioned criteria are relied upon regularly by the Garda. Whether the Judiciary feels the applications by the Garda to withhold bail are correct is a matter for it to decide. I share the Deputy's apprehension that the bail referendum and Bail Act introduced on foot thereof do not seem to have a reforming effect on circumstances...

Crime Levels. (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: If the Deputy examines the Bail Act, he will see that all the criteria he has just mentioned are set out therein.

Crime Levels. (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: If the Deputy is suggesting there is a mandatory requirement to withhold bail in certain circumstances——

Crime Levels. (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: I will consider that proposal but cannot be sure it would find favour with the majority of people. On Deputy Costello's point on cocaine, Deputy Gregory has tabled a question on the matter and I believe an attempt is being made to elbow in in front of him on the issue. Huge amounts of cocaine have been seized and these seizures influence the figures on which Deputy Costello is relying to...

Crime Levels. (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: I have never heard one suggestion from Deputy Costello——

Crime Levels. (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: ——that would improve the fight against crime.

Crime Levels. (2 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: Every measure I have introduced to deal with the fight against crime has been resolutely opposed by him.