Results 17,141-17,160 of 18,734 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (7 Dec 2004)

Michael McDowell: This is a fairly straightforward section to delete paragraphs (b), (c) and (d) in section 16 and substitute the following paragraphs: (b) the Minister for Finance; (c) the Equality Authority; (d) the Human Rights Commission, (e) the Standards in Public Office Commission and (f) the Ombudsman Commission. It is to expand the number of people who should be consulted in the context of the process...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (7 Dec 2004)

Michael McDowell: The Minister, Deputy Cowen, is an ethician of huge standing, as the Senator is aware. The idea is that the Department of Finance has——

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (7 Dec 2004)

Michael McDowell: It is, yes, and it has a policy making role in regard to codes of ethics throughout the public service.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (7 Dec 2004)

Michael McDowell: No. Senator Brian Hayes is correct. The Department of Finance is the line Department, to use the phrase it always uses about the rest of us, for ethics and all of that area. It is in that capacity that the Minister is being added.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (7 Dec 2004)

Michael McDowell: The omission of the material contained in subsection (30), which is a ministerial amendment, was done inadvertently. Although people may think it was deliberate, it was an inadvertence pointed out to me by ICTU, which came to the Department. When it was pointed out to us we realised it has simply slipped off the word processor. That is the explanation. There is nothing more sinister to it. In...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (7 Dec 2004)

Michael McDowell: The omitted material that fell off the edge of the word processor covers that and would authorise the Minister to authorise membership of such an association.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (7 Dec 2004)

Michael McDowell: I will not get involved in this argument. A saucer of milk will have to be produced. I welcome Senator Leyden's comments. I have indicated to the representative associations that my officials will meet them between now and Report Stage.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (7 Dec 2004)

Michael McDowell: We have discussed the idea of the geographical presence of gardaí. However, giving cash grants to live in RAPID and deprived areas is not a way to achieve that end.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (7 Dec 2004)

Michael McDowell: I mean rental supplements. It would be desirable to have members of the Garda Síochána resident in every neighbourhood, if that were possible. However, it is not that easy. Gardaí are free to choose where they want to live. It is not that easy for somebody in the Phoenix Park or St. Stephen's Green to think up some scheme to encourage them to live where they do not want to live. If we were...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (7 Dec 2004)

Michael McDowell: I do not think the answer is to provide a subsidy for them to live where they do not want to live.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (7 Dec 2004)

Michael McDowell: It wants to have it both ways.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (7 Dec 2004)

Michael McDowell: I thank Senator Leyden for his remarks regarding the recruitment of members of the Garda. I assure the Senator and Senator Cummins that I was conscious from the outset that if I did not deliver 2,000 additional gardaí before promoting the idea of a volunteer reserve, people would put two and two together and would not get 22. They would know exactly what was happening.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (7 Dec 2004)

Michael McDowell: I am by no means dismissive of the reservations of the representative associations. I accept that some people might consider it strange that a person who has received less than 24 months' training could exercise exactly the same powers as a garda. I also have a clear picture regarding the points made about resources, overtime earnings and so forth. I am not ignoring these points, nor do I...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (7 Dec 2004)

Michael McDowell: No. Senator Cummins tabled amendments which are broadly hostile to the concept. However, we have developed a system of training members of the Garda Síochána which is unique in these islands. It is a two-year process and involves spending time in stations——

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (7 Dec 2004)

Michael McDowell: It is a good system and I am not detracting from it in any way. It might be the appropriate length of time for somebody who will make his or her career out of the force and serve full time. Other police forces allow for far less time. However, it would be nonsense to suggest a reservist should have identical training to a full-time career policeman.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (7 Dec 2004)

Michael McDowell: A reservist and a member of the Garda Síochána both belong to a disciplined force. Volunteer reservists cannot rise through the ranks. They can only be appointed to the rank of a garda. Much of the training at Templemore is designed to create a member who, in principle, could one day be the Garda Commissioner. It may not be necessary in the case of a volunteer reservist. There would an...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (7 Dec 2004)

Michael McDowell: I cannot accept this amendment in its present form. A solid case for the re-establishment of a Dublin metropolitan police force would have to be made before I could accept such a radical departure. An Assistant Commissioner with responsibility for the Dublin area exists. Dublin gardaí have distinctive badge numbers on their epaulettes. Would such a proposed force be separate with its own...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (7 Dec 2004)

Michael McDowell: The problem is that the amendment mandates a future as opposed to the current Government to carry this out in 12 months. The Senator may be optimistic about the fall of the Government.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (7 Dec 2004)

Michael McDowell: Is Fingal a part of the Dublin metropolitan area?

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (7 Dec 2004)

Michael McDowell: I remember speaking to Senator Norris on one occasion about the widely held view that the Progressive Democrats Party had tried to take God out of the Constitution. It was not true, of course, as the text we proposed contained at least three mentions of God. That is history. Senator Norris said he admired the Progressive Democrats Party because having alienated 90% of the country by proposing...