Results 1-16 of 16 for defence forces strength speaker:Michael McDowell

Seanad: Garda Reserve: Statements (31 May 2023)

Michael McDowell: ...However, this is a period in which volunteerism in Ireland generally has collapsed. It is not just a matter of retained firemen not being properly dealt with in rural areas. It is far broader than that. The Reserve Defence Force is now critically endangered. The number of people who actually turn up for training every year is a tiny fraction of what its strength should be. An...

Seanad: Ireland's Military Neutrality: Motion [Private Members] (23 Nov 2022)

Michael McDowell: ...neutrality is an important one and we cannot hide behind weakness in protecting our neutrality and upholding the authority of the State any longer. The Minister has come forward with proposals to strengthen the funding of the Defence Forces over the next five years and that is all very well. The simple fact is we should acknowledge that the Air Corps is wholly under strength in its...

Seanad: Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces: Statements (4 Oct 2022)

Michael McDowell: ...projecting to stand still in respect of the expenditure we are earmarking under the budget. Let us not fool ourselves. In a period of 6% to 8% inflation, to provide for a 6% increase in the budget for the Defence Forces will not make progress towards the targets the Minister has set. I support those targets. I also support him in saying that level of ambition 3 is where we should be...

Seanad: Civil Law (Costs in Probate Matters) Bill 2017: Committee Stage (4 Dec 2019)

Michael McDowell: ...testamentary proceedings which lend themselves to such steps. It is beyond doubt that small Estates can be entirely dissipated by legal proceedings brought by disappointed parties whose intention may be to force the Executor into some form of settlement or vindictively to waste the assets in legal proceedings which, even if capable of being seen as properly brought at the onset, can no...

Criminal Justice Bill 2007: Second Stage (22 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: ...clear some criminal gangs believed they could act with impunity. The Government agreed a major package of anti-crime measures in mid-December. These included a further increase of 1,000 in the strength of the Garda Síochána to bring the total to 15,000; sanction for 300 additional civilian administrative support posts for the Garda Síochána; the recruitment of the seven senior...

Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998: Motion. (14 Jun 2006)

Michael McDowell: ...against the State (Amendment) Act 1998 (No. 39 of 1998), shall continue in operation for the period of 12 months beginning on 30 June 2006. This motion seeks approval for the continuance in force of those sections of the Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998 which would otherwise cease to be in operation on 30 June. The 1998 Act was enacted in the aftermath of the Omagh bombing...

Written Answers — Crime Levels: Crime Levels (27 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy refers to the survey into public attitudes on crime and law enforcement which was conducted by TNS mrbi on behalf of my Department. Looking at long- term crime trends, the level of headline crime in 2005 was lower than that in 2003 by 1.6% and that in 2002 by 4.4%. Furthermore, in 1995, when we had a population of almost 3.6 million, there were 29 crimes per 1,000 of the...

Written Answers — Garda Training: Garda Training (27 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: ...at any particular time is an operational matter for the Commissioner. I have made it clear in the past that the traditional unarmed character of the Garda Síochána has always been one of its key strengths in maintaining its public reputation as an approachable force which polices by consent and not by fear. That is a tradition which any reasonable member of the public would want to see...

Crime Prevention. (27 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: ...effect on the level of use. To date, Operation Anvil has resulted in more than 2,300 arrests for serious crimes, including murder and serious assault. The operation is being extended and strengthened. Following my request to the Garda Commissioner, it has been extended nationwide this year. This has already resulted in a number of arrests, the seizure of a substantial quantity of drugs and...

Garda Reserve. (27 Apr 2006)

Michael McDowell: ...future resourcing requirements of the Garda, the Garda Commissioner proposed the recruitment of up to 4,000 reserve members, as provided for in the Garda Síochána Act 2005, and an increase in the force's strength from 14,000 to 15,000. In response, and in the context of identifying policing priorities for inclusion in the Garda policing plan for 2006, I set the objective of the...

Garda Reserve Force. (9 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: ...be determined by the Garda Commissioner. The Garda Commissioner, in a comprehensive submission to me on the Garda reserve, has proposed that the powers of reserve members will be confined to the enforcement of certain aspects of the following Acts: under the Road Traffic Acts — demanding driving licences and insurance details, enforcing the wearing of seat belts etc; under the Public...

Garda Deployment. (9 Mar 2006)

Michael McDowell: ...commensurate with the risk associated with the profile and standing of a President of the United States of America. These arrangements included the deployment of Garda personnel supported by the Defence Forces acting as an aid to the civil power. It is not the practice and it would be contrary to the public interest to detail the specific security arrangements in place at Shannon,...

Public Order Offences: Statements (Resumed). (28 Feb 2006)

Michael McDowell: ...point by reminding him that the Garda is being expanded by more than 1,000 members per annum. That has been the case for the last year and will continue to be the case for the next two years. The force will reach a total strength, of gardaí in training and fully qualified gardaí, of 14,000 by December this year. All 14,000 members will be fully attested and trained by late 2007 or early...

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

Michael McDowell: ...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 the Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights in sending a delegation recently to Britain to see how community policing is working there, as part of the preparation of the report that has been produced on that issue. It...

Written Answers — Garda Training: Garda Training (22 Mar 2005)

Michael McDowell: ...cost of this new building is €12.6 million. This is part of an overall €20 million plan to provide the necessary facilities at the college arising from the Government decision to increase the strength of the force to 14,000. The new block will facilitate college management personnel in appropriate office accommodation and, by so doing, free up space elsewhere in the college for student...

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

Michael McDowell: ...that if the Garda Síochána, in the words of its first Commissioner, Michael Staines, is to govern effectively with the consent of the people based on the people's respect, it must be seen to be a force which is drawn from the people and representative of the people as a whole. There cannot be an underclass in society who feel it is beneath the recruitment criteria for the Garda...