Results 14,681-14,700 of 18,761 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report Stage. (22 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: It depends on the members of the constabulary to whom one speaks.

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report Stage. (22 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: The Minister will have the power to give directives to the Garda Commissioner.

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report Stage. (22 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: If I did, I apologise.

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report Stage. (22 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: Sorry.

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report Stage. (22 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: I move amendmentNo. 4: In page 10, between lines 1 and 2, to insert the following: "'Committee of Public Accounts' means the committee of Dáil Éireann established under the Standing Orders of Dáil Éireann to examine and report to Dáil Éireann on the appropriation accounts and reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General;". This is a technical drafting amendment by Parliamentary...

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report Stage. (22 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: The public is watching this debate and if the Opposition is going to play games——

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report Stage. (22 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: ——and interrupt the proceedings with calls for a quorum, it will draw its own conclusions about what is happening.

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report Stage. (22 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: They are still at it.

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report Stage. (22 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: Time wasting again.

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report Stage. (22 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: We have spent 20 minutes discussing a technical amendment. In response to Deputy Jim O'Keeffe's proposal for a security committee for the Houses, under Article 15 of the Constitution it is a matter for each House of the Oireachtas to establish committees for itself. I cannot by legislation force or provide for any House to establish a committee which it is not otherwise obliged to have.

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report Stage. (22 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: I was about to say that.

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report Stage. (22 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: I share the Deputy's view that a security committee would be a good idea. On Committee Stage of this Bill I said the Oireachtas Select Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights has a wide remit in regard to European matters. I have no objection to the establishment of a specialist security committee of one or both Houses to deal with security issues as distinct from civil...

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report Stage. (22 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: Fully resourced, yes, but whether it should have powers similar to those of the Committee of Public Accounts is a different matter.

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report Stage. (22 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: That is a matter for the House.

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report Stage. (22 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: We are still wasting time on amendment No. 4.

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report Stage. (22 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: I do not know whether I will be disorderly if I reply to that. This is simply the removal of a definition from one part of a page to another, but we have now spent half an hour on it. Deputy Costello is referring to the acquisition of land at Thorntown for a replacement for Mountjoy Prison. The public is looking in on all this and knows full well what is going on in this House. It is a...

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report Stage. (22 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: This matter was discussed on Committee Stage when the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Lenihan, was dealing with it rather than I. In English, right back to 1925, every time that we have referred to the force in legislation, it has been "the Garda Síochána". That is the long-standing tradition in every statute that this House has enacted. The title of the force in English is therefore "the...

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report Stage. (22 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: I refer Deputy Ó Snodaigh to his remarks on Committee Stage where he frequently referred to An Garda Síochána, as he now wants to call it, as "the Garda Síochána". I have the transcript before me so I do not understand his point.

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report Stage. (22 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: I move amendmentNo. 6: In page 10, line 3, to delete "means regulations made" and substitute the following: "means— (a) the 1989 Regulations, as amended under section 119, for as long as they continue to be in force under that section, or (b) any regulations in force". This is a technical amendment advised by Parliamentary Counsel to make it clear that where references to the disciplinary...

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report Stage. (22 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: Sections 115 and 119 address these issues.