Results 16,721-16,740 of 18,761 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Second Stage. (10 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: Were not we lucky?

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Second Stage. (10 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: I tried to cover that point in section 33. Perhaps it needs to be strengthened.

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Second Stage. (10 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: Grangegorman.

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Second Stage. (10 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am pleased to have the opportunity to open this debate on the Garda Síochána Bill 2004. As I stated previously, it contains the most important legislative proposals on policing ever to come before the Houses of the Oireachtas. The Bill is comprehensive in that it will replace, with only a couple of exceptions, all of the Garda Síochána...

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Second Stage. (10 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: While the establishment of policing committees has been broadly welcomed there was much debate about the provisions in the Bill as initiated on Committee Stage in the Seanad. This transcended political lines and party ideologies. The key points raised were primacy at local level of elected representatives and town councillors who had a mandate, the involvement of Members of the Seanad and the...

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Second Stage. (10 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: I made a change on Committee Stage in the Seanad to allow a declarant to omit the reference to the deity from the declaration if he or she wishes to do so. Provision is made in the Bill for the appointment of properly trained volunteer members to the Garda Síochána in the future. This provision attracted much comment during the debates in the Seanad. As I stated last week, this is entirely...

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Second Stage. (10 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy must be joking.

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Second Stage. (10 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: The crime rate per head of the population is down since 1995.

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Second Stage. (10 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: It is down since 1995.

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Second Stage. (10 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: I do not boast; I just give gardaí credit for their achievements.

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Second Stage. (10 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: I am not claiming any credit.

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Second Stage. (10 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: The number of gardaí fell when the Deputy's party was in office.

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Second Stage. (10 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: They will have to do the prescribed training to get their powers.

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Second Stage. (10 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: Does the Deputy want reservists to do two years training?

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Second Stage. (10 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: It has been thought out.

Written Answers — Rights of the Child: Rights of the Child (9 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: Under section 6A of the Guardianship of Infants Act 1964, as inserted by section 12 of the Status of Children Act 1987 an unmarried father may apply to the court to be appointed a guardian of his child. Alternatively, where there is agreement between the parents, they can make a statutory declaration under section 2(4) of the Guardianship of Infants Act, as inserted by section 4 of the...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (9 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: Clontarf Garda station is responsible for policing the Marino area and the current strength there, all ranks, is 67, an increase of 10 gardaí since 1998. The policing strategies for the area are predicated on the policy of reducing and preventing incidents of public order offending, the prevention of crimes of violence against persons and property and the maintenance of an environment where...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (9 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: The equal opportunities child care programme provides grant assistance towards the staffing costs of community and not for profit based child care services which have a clear focus on disadvantage. The group in question was awarded a staffing grant of €136,824, over three years in August 2000. In addition, it was awarded staffing continuation funding totalling €76,667, up to 31 August...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (9 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: An agreed pilot scheme was implemented in the cities of Cork, Limerick and Waterford between 20 March 2000 and 28 October 2002 in respect of those stations where the three relief system operates — shift system covering 24 hours. Consultation took place between Garda management and the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors and the Garda Representative Association during the pilot...

Written Answers — Refugee Accommodation: Refugee Accommodation (9 Feb 2005)

Michael McDowell: On 25 January 2005, I introduced new arrangements for the speedier processing of asylum applications by nationals of five states, Nigeria, Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia and South Africa. The new arrangements also provide for the speedier processing of deportation orders for those applicants who are found not to be in need of refugee protection and have no other protection or humanitarian needs....