Results 15,441-15,460 of 18,761 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Seanad: Anti-Social Behaviour: Motion. (11 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: Anti-social behaviour orders are not of their nature, and cannot be, the only answer to the problem. More community policing is essential and that is a point on which there appears to be agreement across the House.

Seanad: Anti-Social Behaviour: Motion. (11 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: I believe the Senator will be slightly disappointed to hear that the record of the party of which he is a member is sadly deficient in regard to policing. In the years 1994 to 1996 there was a decline in the number of police in Ireland.

Seanad: Anti-Social Behaviour: Motion. (11 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: The numbers went down to 10,804 at the end of 1996.

Seanad: Anti-Social Behaviour: Motion. (11 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: The annual policing budget in 1997 was just short of €600 million, it is now €1.1 billion. I want Senators to absorb those facts.

Seanad: Anti-Social Behaviour: Motion. (11 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: In terms of numbers——

Seanad: Anti-Social Behaviour: Motion. (11 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: The force has grown from roughly 10,800 in 1997 to 12,150 today.

Seanad: Anti-Social Behaviour: Motion. (11 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: The force will reach 14,000, with people in training and those fully qualified, as early as the end of 2006. I am delivering on the Government's commitment to expand the Garda Síochána. Unlike other parties I am not presiding over a period when the number of gardaí went down——

Seanad: Anti-Social Behaviour: Motion. (11 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: ——year after year while they were in office.

Seanad: Anti-Social Behaviour: Motion. (11 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: I also remind Members of this House that the Opposition parties did not make any commitment in 1997 or in 2002 to increase the number of police. On the contrary——

Seanad: Anti-Social Behaviour: Motion. (11 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: ——the former Deputy Shatter wrote a cynical letter suggesting it could not be done and would not be done. What is more, the Labour Party was entirely silent on the issue. In fairness to Fine Gael in 2002, it took a constructive position and stated it would put in place a commission to look at the question of increasing the strength of the Garda Síochána.

Seanad: Anti-Social Behaviour: Motion. (11 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: The strength of the Garda Síochána is now at an all-time high and will be——

Seanad: Anti-Social Behaviour: Motion. (11 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: ——over 14,000.

Seanad: Anti-Social Behaviour: Motion. (11 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: It is the case that the headline crime rate has fallen from 29 per 1,000——

Seanad: Anti-Social Behaviour: Motion. (11 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: Can I just——

Seanad: Anti-Social Behaviour: Motion. (11 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: In 1995——

Seanad: Anti-Social Behaviour: Motion. (11 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: When the Senator's party was in office, the headline crime rate was 29 per 1,000 of the population.

Seanad: Anti-Social Behaviour: Motion. (11 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: Last year it was 25 per 1,000 of population.

Seanad: Anti-Social Behaviour: Motion. (11 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: Headline crime has gone down emphatically since then.

Seanad: Anti-Social Behaviour: Motion. (11 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am very grateful for the Chair's valiant attempts to uphold the dignity of this House.

Seanad: Anti-Social Behaviour: Motion. (11 May 2005)

Michael McDowell: The fact is, and this House knows it well, that anti-social behaviour must be dealt with on a number of fronts. It must be dealt with in terms of disadvantage and the education system — keeping those children who are most at risk in education by all possible means. It must also be dealt with through community policing, as has been said. I was glad my Department was in a position to assist...