Results 14,441-14,460 of 18,761 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Drug Seizures: Drug Seizures (23 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: It has not been possible within the timeframe involved to collate the information required by the Deputy. I will contact the Deputy directly when information is to hand.

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (23 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 207 and 213 together. I have been informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the personnel strength of each Garda station in County Kildare as at 30 June 2000 and 22 June 2005 was as set out in the table hereunder: Station 30 June 2000 22 June 2005 Naas 76 79 Clane 6 6...

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (23 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the personnel strength of the Garda Síochána as at 31 December 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004 and the net increase in each of those years on the previous year, was as set out in the table hereunder. Date Strength Net increase on previous year ...

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (23 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: I propose to take Questions Nos. 209 to 211, inclusive, together. I have been informed by the Garda authorities that the number of hours each Garda station in County Kildare are open during a 24-hour period is as set out hereunder. Station Hours Naas 24 hours Celbridge Nine hours Clane Three hours Maynooth Nine hours Kill Three hours Kildare 24 hours Newbridge 24...

Written Answers — Missing Persons: Missing Persons (23 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: I have made inquiries with the Garda authorities and the information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table. The figure for 2004 is provisional and liable to change. Missing Persons Untraced 1990-2004. Year Missing Persons Untraced 1990 10 1991 11 1992 7 1993 9 1994 12 1995 17 1996 10 1997 3 1998 10 1999 15 2000 20 2001 53 2002...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (23 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: In respect of crime figures, the Deputy will be aware that on becoming Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, I arranged for the publication of headline crime statistics on a quarterly basis in order to improve the quality of information available to the public. While caution should be exercised in interpreting levels of crime between quarters, I am pleased to note that during my term...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (23 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: I have been informed by the Garda authorities that there are currently no plans to change the formation of any Garda divisions, districts or sub-districts in County Kildare.

Written Answers — Garda Strength: Garda Strength (23 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: The personnel strength of all ranks of the Garda Síochána as at 30 September 2003 was 11,916. This is the nearest date for which figures are readily available. The personnel strength of all ranks of the Garda Síochána as at 22 June 2005 was 12,186. In respect of Garda resources generally, I am very pleased that the Government has approved my proposal to increase the strength of the Garda...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (23 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: In respect of crime figures, the Deputy will be aware that on becoming Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, I arranged for the publication of headline crime statistics on a quarterly basis in order to improve the quality of information available to the public. While caution should be exercised in interpreting levels of crime between quarters, I am pleased to note that during my term...

Written Answers — Criminal Prosecutions: Criminal Prosecutions (23 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that statistics are not compiled in such a way as to give a breakdown of prosecutions taken against motorists in County Sligo for untaxed and uninsured vehicles. The number of cases in which proceedings were commenced for the last three years within the Garda division of Sligo-Leitrim for no tax and for no insurance is shown in the following table. ...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Accidents: Road Traffic Accidents (23 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: The toll of deaths and serious injuries on our roads is a cause of serious concern for me. Huge strides have been made by the Government in improving the safety on our roads by building new ones, upgrading existing ones and setting appropriate speed limits. Unfortunately, the fact remains that all too many road users do not act responsibly in their use of the roads. In these circumstances,...

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (23 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: What about the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights?

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (23 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: The Garda Commissioner must appear before committees of the House.

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (23 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: That is why I also favour a security committee.

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (23 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: As I listened to the debate on this amendment, it became ever clearer that the underlying assumption in the amendment of the existence of some independent policing authority has not been thought through by those who proposed it in this House. I have never heard a coherent argument for it, although I have heard people come up with half-thought-out views on the subject. On the Order of Business...

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (23 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: One would ask what had happened yesterday in a specific programme——

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (23 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: ——and receive the stock answer in reply that it was a matter for the RTE authority and that one should not ask the Minister about it since he does not employ or manage those people who are independent and supposed to be discharging their functions separately from the Government. Deputies should not ask the Minister why some journalist, commentator or presenter is biased or being overpaid...

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (23 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: This is my first contribution, so bad luck.

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (23 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: The one thing that is becoming ever clearer to me in the course of this debate relates to a question that I have asked myself for the last few days. How come, when it was one of the programme for Government commitments of the 1982 to 1987 Fine Gael-Labour Government to establish an independent police authority, that did not happen during those five years when very eminent members of Fine Gael...

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (23 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: Perhaps there was a reticence on the part of Fine Gael to follow up such a brilliant idea from Labour. Why, when Labour got into Government again in 1992 and had another five years — and a total of ten years in a 20-year period — was that proposal never advanced one jot by any of those who talked about it during election time?