McDowell’s claim under fire

MICHAEL McDowell was accused last night of failing to produce any proof to back up his claim that new laws have directly resulted in a reduction in street violence and public order.

After persistently demanding figures showing actual prosecutions under the supposed tough new legislation, Fine Gael justice spokesman John Deasy was kicked out of the chamber in Dáil Éireann yesterday.

Announcing provisional crime figures for 2003 last week, the Minister for Justice clearly linked the decrease in headline crime to the implementation of the tough new laws.

But when Mr Deasy tabled parliamentary questions seeking the proof behind this assertion, he was ruled out of order and told the figures were not available or that the minister had no remit in that area.

Nonetheless the Waterford TD, backed by Labour justice spokesman Joe Costello, became involved in a lengthy argument with the Ceann Comhairle, resulting in him being suspended from the Dáil.

“We have got to be able to gauge the effectiveness of a piece of legislation. At all costs, the Government will not answer these questions,” Mr Deasy said.

As Mr McDowell was at the Government’s meeting with the DUP in London, Junior Ministers Willie O’Dea and Brian Lenihan deputised for him.

According to the Department of Justice, the acceptance or disallowance of questions from deputies is entirely a matter for the Ceann Comhairle.

“The minister has no function in the matter. Deputy Deasy’s question was disallowed by the Ceann Comhairle and unfortunately it seems that he had not tabled a substitute question,” the department said.

Junior Minister O’Dea said the information would be available if the question was asked correctly and accused Deputy Deasy of frittering away time.