Results 13,561-13,580 of 18,733 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Garda Equipment. (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: I thank the Deputy for reminding us that this system is so antiquated. I remind him that it was not dealt with in the lifetime of previous Governments.

Garda Equipment. (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am the Minister who is dealing with this issue. I have avoided the pitfall which was put to me of purchasing an entire system with a huge capital outlay. I have decided instead do it on an outsourced, service basis so that the Garda will have a proper system. If there is anything wrong with it, it will fall to the account of the service provider and not the Garda. I fully accept the point...

Garda Equipment. (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: As usual, the job, which was left undone by others, is being done by me.

Garda Equipment. (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: I notice there were no supplementary questions.

Drug Seizures. (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: The national drugs strategy addresses many of the problems of drug misuse across a number of pillars — supply reduction, prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and research — and implementation of that strategy across a range of Departments and agencies is co-ordinated by the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, in particular by the Minister of State, Deputy Noel Ahern....

Drug Seizures. (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: To set the record straight, we are talking about kilograms rather than grams. Some 3 g would not be a great seizure rate in any year and we are talking about a very considerable trade in cocaine. I hope the Deputy does not take this point amiss but the majority of cocaine coming into Ireland comes from South America and a very considerable amount of it comes from Colombia. Persons not too...

Drug Seizures. (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: I agree with the Deputy that we have a considerable problem with cocaine and crack cocaine as an emerging aspect of the cocaine problem. I agree with him that it would be great if we could devote more resources to the battle against drugs. However, Garda resources have been used on other issues, as the Deputy knows. I hope part of the peace dividend, once the various paramilitary...

Communications Masts. (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: The agreement was made in June 1997 between Esat Digifone, now O2, and the Commissioners of Public Works, the Minister for Finance, the Garda authorities and the Minister for Justice. I was not party to that agreement, as the question implies.

Communications Masts. (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: I wanted the Deputy to know in case he is wondering about the wisdom of the agreement.

Communications Masts. (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy might like to know who was there at the time. It was a Government consisting of the Fine Gael Party, the Labour Party and Democratic Left which pushed through this agreement on its last day in office. It was not this Government that signed that agreement.

Communications Masts. (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy may appreciate that Deputy O'Donoghue was appointed as Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform on 26 June 1997 but the agreement was authorised to be signed by Cabinet on 25 June 1997.

Communications Masts. (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: This deal and all its provisions were done by the rainbow Government. What is interesting is not merely did that Government sign it on the last day in office, but it provided that Esat could extend it for five years, which it did. The agreement will only expire in 2007.

Communications Masts. (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: It is not possible to provide a definitive figure of its value as some of the services provided under the terms of the agreement, such as calls within the 086 network and replacement masts, are provided free of charge to the Garda Síochána. Amounts relating to mobile usage for which charges apply are deducted from the gross fees paid to the Office of Public Works in accordance with the...

Communications Masts. (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: I suggest the Deputy stops digging. The terms of this agreement were agreed by the Fine Gael-Labour-Democratic Left Government. It was in such a rush to agree it, a provision was included that the rents payable under the agreement would be provisional and the ultimate rent would be established by a system of arbitration. The arbitration went on and on. However, the providence of the erstwhile...

Communications Masts. (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: The terms provided for an extension up to ten years. I agree the terms are open to a degree of criticism. However, any infelicity in concluding the terms falls into the hands of those who negotiated it. The arbitration process was delayed, at a cost to the taxpayer, because no provision was made for the company to pay any interest on the arbitrated award. This was an extraordinary omission by...

Child Care Services. (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform has lead responsibility for the equal opportunities childcare programme, EOCP, 2000 to 2006. The programme was established to deliver the Government's commitment, identified in the national development plan to develop quality child care services in Ireland through a major investment programme. This commitment was given in direct response to...

Child Care Services. (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: I agree with the Deputy that it is strange that child care policy is located in the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. The reasons were explained to the Deputy by my officials who attended the committee meeting. I agree with the Deputy that in a reorganisation of Government, it might well be appropriate to put it into a single social affairs or child-orientated Department. That...

Child Care Services. (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: As long as it is our responsibility to discharge it, we will continue to do so as well as we have done to date. The Deputy asked whether there was a queue of Departments which thought it would fit neatly into their own administrative structures or areas of responsibility. I do not think there is but I believe any prospective Minister would find it attractive to have the brief in his or her...

Garda Operations. (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: Operation Anvil commenced in the Dublin metropolitan region on 17 May 2005. The primary focus of this intelligence-driven operation is the targeting of active criminals and their associates involved in serious crime by preventing and disrupting their activities through additional overt patrolling and static checkpoints and by uniform mobile and foot patrols supported by armed plain clothes...

Garda Operations. (20 Oct 2005)

Michael McDowell: I have already promised that the additional gardaí will not be put on administrative duties but will be put directly into frontline, operational, high-visibility policing such as Operation Anvil. The Commissioner is committed to that policy. Additional information not given on the floor of the House. The Garda Síochána is now better resourced than at any time in its history. The Garda...