Results 14,781-14,800 of 18,761 for speaker:Michael McDowell

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——

Morris Tribunal: Motion. (21 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: Yes, but nothing has been done since then.

Morris Tribunal: Motion. (21 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: The Labour Party has been in office since then, but it has not attempted to establish a Garda authority again. The Labour Party was in office with Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil in the 1990s, as Deputy Rabbitte will recall, but it did not attempt to resurrect this discredited idea before now. The establishment of an independent police authority would damage seriously the right of the Dáil to...

Morris Tribunal: Motion. (21 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: ——for the manner in which the Garda Síochána conducts its business.

Morris Tribunal: Motion. (21 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: That is what I am remedying now.

Morris Tribunal: Motion. (21 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: Yes.

Morris Tribunal: Motion. (21 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: What chance would I have of getting a report if an independent authority was in place?

Morris Tribunal: Motion. (21 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am now prescribing it in law. I am not waiting for Deputy Rabbitte or his commission to tell me to do that.

Morris Tribunal: Motion. (21 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: I have not waited for years.

Morris Tribunal: Motion. (21 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: I initiated this process of reform as soon as I was appointed as Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. I published consultation papers and engaged in consultation with the representative associations. I sent the heads of the Bill to the Irish Human Rights Commission, whose criticisms I later took on board. The process that has led us to where we are today is not as it was described...

Morris Tribunal: Motion. (21 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: ——when I remind the House that the first set of events with which the Morris tribunal dealt took place between 1992 and 1995.

Morris Tribunal: Motion. (21 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: If there was a failure——

Morris Tribunal: Motion. (21 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy keeps shouting me down. If a systems failure permitted certain events to happen, that failure was present throughout that period. Political accountability, which I hold for the period in which I hold office——

Morris Tribunal: Motion. (21 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: ——also attaches to those who held office between 1992 and 1995. It is a simple matter.