Results 14,801-14,820 of 18,734 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Morris Tribunal: Motion. (21 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: I will not do it. I do not subscribe to the venal political habit of saying the Garda is a wonderful force, nobody should criticise it and reminding everybody about the thin blue line. I do not engage in such activity. I have had to take a fair amount of heat and flak regarding my proposals to reform the Garda. I have had to face criticism at every hand's turn for what I am doing but I am...

Morris Tribunal: Statements. (17 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: I thank all the Deputies who contributed to the debate, which I have found interesting and stimulating. In particular, I thank those Deputies who took a reflective approach to today's proceedings and in that regard I instance Deputies McGinley, Timmins and O'Donnell who took a non-partisan, objective approach. When I came into office as Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, the...

Morris Tribunal: Statements. (17 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: Those who put forward the proposition that there should be an independent police authority should ask themselves of whom it should be independent. I come into the House and answer questions on behalf of the Garda Síochána and account for my stewardship as a Minister. If there were an independent police authority of the kind suggested, how would I be in a position to answer for its...

Morris Tribunal: Statements. (17 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: The answer is that it would not be possible. I have heard on many occasions the point——

Morris Tribunal: Statements. (17 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: First, Opposition Deputies used a tactic of trying to prevent me from replying, now they are trying to shout me down.

Morris Tribunal: Statements. (17 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: Will they hear me out? The relationship between a national police force, which is also our intelligence and security force——

Morris Tribunal: Statements. (17 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: ——and the Parliament and the Minister is a matter of constitutional importance. Those Deputies — they are in a minority — who believe there should be an independent police authority ignore completely the consequence of establishing such a body, the greatest of which would be that there would be virtually no parliamentary accountability. A Minister could and would easily stand up and...

Morris Tribunal: Statements. (17 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: As I emphasised from the beginning, the whole point of our system is that, since the foundation of State, successive Ministers for Justice have represented the Garda Síochána in the House and taken political accountability for the national police force. Kevin O'Higgins did it, James Geoghegan did it, Gerry Boland did it and it is the right way to do it, not the wrong way.

Morris Tribunal: Statements. (17 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: I do not shy away from my responsibility in this matter for one minute. Sometimes I wonder if many people have studied the Bill I have put before the House. I have restated in great detail the relationship that will exist between the Garda Commissioner, the force, the Minister, the committees of this House and local government when this Bill becomes law. I have restated it in a new charter of...

Morris Tribunal: Statements. (17 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: ——to information that was necessary for Dáil accountability and proper discharge of the Attorney General's function was not acceptable to me.

Morris Tribunal: Statements. (17 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: When I came into this House as Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, I told the House I would bring forward this legislation and I intend to do it. I want to make the point made by Senator Maurice Hayes, in whose judgment I have great faith. He has agreed to supervise the implementation process of the preparation to make this Bill effective.

Morris Tribunal: Statements. (17 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: The fact that he took the job and told me there were some aspects of the Bill with which he disagreed reflects two things: his independence of mind and my confidence in him. He is no cat's paw of mine.

Morris Tribunal: Statements. (17 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: He has stated in these Houses that now is the time to get on with the process of reform, six months later is six months too late.

Morris Tribunal: Statements. (17 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: The amendments I will introduce on Report Stage will address all the issues raised in the Morris report, every single one of them.

Morris Tribunal: Statements. (17 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy should wait and see. I will deal with the whistleblowers' charter as I said to Deputies at the committee.

Morris Tribunal: Statements. (17 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: I have brought into the equation provisions on accountability to Oireachtas committees.

Morris Tribunal: Statements. (17 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: Could the Deputy please listen?

Morris Tribunal: Statements. (17 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: Deputy Jim O'Keeffe asked me if I would consider the question of a security committee and I have said I will. I intend to act on his suggestions. I also intend to change the Bill on the internal audit unit and to establish a professional standards unit within the Garda Síochána. I will make it possible to second into the Garda Síochána people from police forces other than the Police...

Morris Tribunal: Statements. (17 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: Lest there be any misunderstanding, I also intend to implement all of the areas of reform Mr. Justice Morris mentioned in his first report and on which Deputy Commissioner Fitzgerald has provided working papers on reform. Most of them do not require statutory reform but regulatory reform. I have realised, and I ask every Member of the House to realise, that the revolution in culture in the...

Morris Tribunal: Statements. (17 Jun 2005)

Michael McDowell: All of those things must happen. It has taken three years to get to where the Bill is now. I was appointed in June 2002. I went through a public consultation process and I brought the Bill through the Seanad because this House was busy with other things. I brought it through one of the longest debates on its principles on Second Stage that this House has ever seen. I brought it through hours...