Results 181-200 of 18,474 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Policing Matters: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Nov 2023)

Michael McDowell: I welcome the witnesses. I welcome Mr. Harris's statement in response to Deputy Brophy that he will not resign. He has my full confidence and support. Some of the people who have called for his resignation in recent times have used violent disorder as a political tactic in the past. I will put it no further than that. On a general issue, the Constitution does, as the Commissioner...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Policing Matters: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Nov 2023)

Michael McDowell: The public order Act also gives any member of An Garda Síochána the right to direct people to disperse and move away, failing which they will be arrested, in cases of disorder.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Policing Matters: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Nov 2023)

Michael McDowell: In legal history, there used to be something called reading the riot act. It was a warning to a riotous group that it must disperse or it would be dealt with. That should be used more often. It should have been used outside the gates of this House. The protesters should have been told to go away. That is not happening but it should be considered in future. As I double-job as a Senator...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Policing Matters: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Nov 2023)

Michael McDowell: The Commissioner mentioned the difficulties of Garda man hours being wasted on going through manual inspections of CCTV footage. Can civilian employees be used to do this task? Detectives do not necessarily need to be involved in watching the footage, if the people who are doing it know what they are looking for.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Policing Matters: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Nov 2023)

Michael McDowell: It seems to me, going back to the comments I made about Ballybrack, that respect for An Garda Síochána, in some quarters, has evaporated. An impunity has developed incrementally on the part of people who confront gardaí. They will get away with disorder and conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace. In this context, I noticed an article in The Irish Timestoday about...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Policing Matters: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Nov 2023)

Michael McDowell: I thank the Commissioner.

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Second Stage (28 Nov 2023)

Michael McDowell: I wish to make a few points about the general tenor of the finance Bill this year. First, it seems that the Government has realised that some of the measures it has taken in respect of rented properties in the private rented sector have been counterproductive and have encouraged landlords to leave the sector. It seems that the Government has finally realised that something needs to be done...

Seanad: Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (28 Nov 2023)

Michael McDowell: I support Senator Boyhan. In a professional capacity, and I will not elaborate further, I became aware of the issue of large packets of cigarettes. I had never heard of a 30-pack of cigarettes. I thought it was joke.

Seanad: Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (28 Nov 2023)

Michael McDowell: I had never heard of it.

Seanad: Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (28 Nov 2023)

Michael McDowell: It was news to me as I do not smoke. The people selling these products do not want them. It is the manufacturers who are pushing them. There was a time when there was a ban on smaller packets. Woodbines used to be available in packets of five and ten.

Seanad: Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (28 Nov 2023)

Michael McDowell: There was a ban on selling them individually. It cannot be right that they are uncontrolled and offered for sale in larger containers, which can only encourage more smoking. It can only have this effect.

Seanad: Restoration of Oireachtas Library and Reading Room: Motion (28 Nov 2023)

Michael McDowell: I move: “That Seanad Éireann: notes: - that a majority of members of the Oireachtas have expressed their support for the full restoration of the Oireachtas Library and Reading Room on the ground floor of Leinster House, and its furnishings and full complement of staff; and calls on: - the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission to abandon its proposals to convert that space...

Seanad: Restoration of Oireachtas Library and Reading Room: Motion (28 Nov 2023)

Michael McDowell: This motion speaks for itself but I want to put the background to it on the record. The Houses of the Oireachtas Commission has not decided anything on the closure of the Members' reading room. The Committee on Standing Orders and Dáil Reform has received a submission but has not approved it. The submission would mean the existing reading room, which is the shared facility of Senators...

Seanad: Restoration of Oireachtas Library and Reading Room: Motion (28 Nov 2023)

Michael McDowell: Apart from the scandalous cost involved in it, of over €5 million, I have to say that the whole project has been clouded in mystery and almost the subject of deception. The affected members of staff of the Oireachtas, the Library staff, were told that the Members were in favour of this project. As Members in this House will know, I wrote out to all the Members of both Houses of the...

Seanad: Restoration of Oireachtas Library and Reading Room: Motion (28 Nov 2023)

Michael McDowell: The arguments against are non-existent, so I will not delay the House any further. I thank all the Members who have spoken in support of the motion for their kind words for the proposers of this motion. People say that the direction of travel is one way. One Member of the other House who spoke to me this evening said it was a fait accompliand there was no stopping it. Then I inquired and...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Nov 2023)

Michael McDowell: The first thing I want to mention today is the reading room downstairs in this building. I circulated the Members of both Dáil Éireann and Seanad Eireann, asking them to express a view as to whether the reading room should be restored to its previous state. I am glad that a very clear majority of Members of both Houses have responded favourably to my suggestion. The reason I...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Nov 2023)

Michael McDowell: No, I am coming to that. It is not the Leader’s role to do that; of course, it is not. However, a Chathaoirligh, it is her role to provide time in which we can discuss all of these matters, and that is what I am asking for.I am asking that we have a real discussion so that we can articulate very clearly what we want to do on this matter, rather than have people decide the agenda in...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Nov 2023)

Michael McDowell: People say that one campaigns in poetry and governs in prose. If this is any indication of what that party aspires to do with Ireland's international relations, God help us if it has have any say in the future.

Seanad: Vacant and Derelict Buildings: Motion [Private Members] (15 Nov 2023)

Michael McDowell: It is waiting for the fire.

Seanad: Vacant and Derelict Buildings: Motion [Private Members] (15 Nov 2023)

Michael McDowell: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. As a preliminary point, this problem has been here for a long time. I have been writing about it in various newspapers for ten years. I am glad to hear what was said by Senator Cummins about Waterford and I am glad that Senator Fitzpatrick is so upbeat about the improvements she sees there. However, the simple fact is we are not doing enough....