Results 14,741-14,760 of 18,734 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (21 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy is aware that I published last July the Criminal Justice Bill 2004, which is on Second Stage in the House. As I have indicated previously, I am considering the introduction of a number of amendments to the Bill, including provision for criminal offences relating to organised crime. I am examining the issue in the context of giving effect in Irish law to the European Union Joint...

Written Answers — Tribunals of Inquiry: Tribunals of Inquiry (21 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: The Law Reform Commission recently published its final report on public inquiries, including tribunals of inquiry. The report contains almost 60 recommendations about tribunals of inquiry and a draft tribunals of inquiry Bill. The report is being examined in the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform as a matter of urgency. I intend to bring proposals to the Government in the near...

Morris Tribunal: Motion. (21 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: Thank God I did not come up with that suggestion.

Morris Tribunal: Motion. (21 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: "—conscious of the widespread and justified public disquiet at the findings of the first and second reports of the tribunal of inquiry into complaints concerning some gardaí of the Donegal division; —appreciative of the work of Mr. Justice Morris and of the significance of his recommendations...

Morris Tribunal: Motion. (21 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: Listening to some of the material, I felt the Garda had never received a more comprehensive thrashing from politicians than in the past 40 minutes.

Morris Tribunal: Motion. (21 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: I have addressed the Dean Lyons issue, to which Deputy Rabbitte referred. I have appointed Mr. Shane Murphy, Senior Counsel, to report on that matter.

Morris Tribunal: Motion. (21 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: I expect to receive his report in due course. I also want to respond to many of the points which were made about matters like the recording of statements made by persons in custody. As Deputy Costello has probably forgotten, it was made clear at a recent meeting of the Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights that 96% of statements are now recorded. I hope we can...

Morris Tribunal: Motion. (21 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: I find it rich that the Labour Party has suggested in its motion that I should not proceed with the Garda Síochána Bill, which was the subject of a process of consultation after its heads were published. The Bill has been changed significantly on foot of an extensive Second Stage debate in this House, lengthy consideration on all Stages in the Seanad and a Committee Stage debate of record...

Morris Tribunal: Motion. (21 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: ——and tell me that what I am doing is the appropriate way forward.

Morris Tribunal: Motion. (21 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: That is clearly what the Labour Party Deputies said.

Morris Tribunal: Motion. (21 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: If the Labour Party wishes to establish a commission like the Patten Commission, when does it propose that it will report? The Labour Party Members should think about such matters.

Morris Tribunal: Motion. (21 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: I cannot and will not abdicate my obligation to bring about reform——

Morris Tribunal: Motion. (21 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: ——now, rather than at some future stage. I will not postpone that reform. I remind the House that the 1982-87 Government, which doubled the national debt during its five years in office, was elected with a mandate to establish a Garda authority.

Morris Tribunal: Motion. (21 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: It abandoned that idea because the then Minister, Deputy Noonan, believed it was an erroneous proposal. The Labour Party acquiesced in that abandonment. We need to set the record straight — the Labour Party did nothing at that time. It was elected after it promised to put in place a Garda authority, but it did nothing for five years. It had plenty of time to do many other things.

Morris Tribunal: Motion. (21 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: It walked away from the proposal to establish an independent police authority.

Morris Tribunal: Motion. (21 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: There is no point in shouting me down.

Morris Tribunal: Motion. (21 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: I did not shout the Deputy down.

Morris Tribunal: Motion. (21 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: The proposal to establish a Garda authority was carefully considered and abandoned by the Fine Gael and Labour Party Government of 1982-87.

Morris Tribunal: Motion. (21 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: I do not know why it has been resurrected now because the flaws which were clear in it then are clear in it now.

Morris Tribunal: Motion. (21 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: It is not the way forward. The idea that——