Results 141-160 of 18,474 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Seanad: An Bille um an Daicheadú Leasú ar an mBunreacht (Cúram), 2023: Céim an Choiste (Atógáil) agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha - Fortieth Amendment of the Constitution (Care) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (23 Jan 2024)

Michael McDowell: I am saying that anybody who says that the Constitution did not want women to work or to have occupations or to be able to earn their livelihoods is wrong.It never said anything of the sort. People quote selectively from this document but it has to be read as a whole. It was not the case that Ireland said women should not work. Having said that, I take Senator Higgins's point that there...

Seanad: An Bille um an Daicheadú Leasú ar an mBunreacht (Cúram), 2023: Céim an Choiste (Atógáil) agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha - Fortieth Amendment of the Constitution (Care) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (23 Jan 2024)

Michael McDowell: -----because they were not denominationally Catholic. They were non-denominational crèches for children.

Seanad: An Bille um an Daicheadú Leasú ar an mBunreacht (Cúram), 2023: Céim an Choiste (Atógáil) agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha - Fortieth Amendment of the Constitution (Care) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (23 Jan 2024)

Michael McDowell: The point I am making is that Ireland was a very different place.

Seanad: An Bille um an Daicheadú Leasú ar an mBunreacht (Cúram), 2023: Céim an Choiste (Atógáil) agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha - Fortieth Amendment of the Constitution (Care) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (23 Jan 2024)

Michael McDowell: I am just saying that those who actually did something in the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s to assist women to work outside the home while giving them assistance in the care of their infant children ran into cold winds based on the most ridiculous of grounds that they were not Catholic crèches but non-denominational and interdenominational crèches. That is all I want to say but I want to...

Seanad: An Bille um an Daicheadú Leasú ar an mBunreacht (Cúram), 2023: Céim an Choiste (Atógáil) agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha - Fortieth Amendment of the Constitution (Care) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (23 Jan 2024)

Michael McDowell: Sorry about that.

Seanad: An Bille um an Daicheadú Leasú ar an mBunreacht (Cúram), 2023: Céim an Choiste (Atógáil) agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha - Fortieth Amendment of the Constitution (Care) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (23 Jan 2024)

Michael McDowell: Senator Clonan can talk about his own amendment. I am making that point.

Seanad: Human Rights in China: Motion (23 Jan 2024)

Michael McDowell: I thank the Tánaiste for having come here and I wish him well in the Dáil. I also thank my Fianna Fáil colleagues for tabling this important motion for discussion this evening. It is remarkably courageous of you, a Chathaoirligh, to stay in the Chair following the recent torpedo you received from the Chinese Embassy in Dublin for congratulating the people of Taiwan on their...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Jan 2024)

Michael McDowell: I would like to be identified with the sentiments the Cathaoirleach has expressed about the departure from this Chamber of Senator David Norris and to echo the sentiments expressed by the President and Taoiseach of Ireland and the colleagues who have spoken already on this matter.Senator Norris was elected for the first time in 1987. Believe it or not, I was elected to Dáil Éireann...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Jan 2024)

Michael McDowell: He is willing to join in laughing at himself. As has been said here today, he has championed the underprivileged. I can attest to that. He has represented the educationally underprivileged graduates of Trinity College a long time. Those of us who represent the graduates of NUI are glad that he has been here to see justice done for that group. He has, in addition, done so much for other...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Jan 2024)

Michael McDowell: Not agreed.

Seanad: An Bille um an Naoú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (An Teaghlach), 2023: An Dara Céim - Thirty-ninth Amendment of the Constitution (The Family) Bill 2023: Second Stage (22 Jan 2024)

Michael McDowell: One might not have understood from the Minister of State, Senator Hackett's contribution, that this debate this afternoon and this section of it, is to deal with the definition of the family. It is not to deal with archaic language about women in the home or anything of that kind.

Seanad: An Bille um an Naoú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (An Teaghlach), 2023: An Dara Céim - Thirty-ninth Amendment of the Constitution (The Family) Bill 2023: Second Stage (22 Jan 2024)

Michael McDowell: It is not the same thing. Let us be clear about this. No insult is offered to anybody for querying the wisdom of what is being proposed here. The first thing we should remember about the Constitution is that "an teaghlach" is the Irish word used in the Constitution to cover the family. One will not find anywhere in the Constitution any reference to the proposition that a woman's place is...

Seanad: An Bille um an Naoú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (An Teaghlach), 2023: An Dara Céim - Thirty-ninth Amendment of the Constitution (The Family) Bill 2023: Second Stage (22 Jan 2024)

Michael McDowell: Why does the Minister value marriage?

Seanad: An Bille um an Naoú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (An Teaghlach), 2023: An Dara Céim - Thirty-ninth Amendment of the Constitution (The Family) Bill 2023: Second Stage (22 Jan 2024)

Michael McDowell: Is it a secret?

Seanad: An Bille um an Naoú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (An Teaghlach), 2023: An Dara Céim - Thirty-ninth Amendment of the Constitution (The Family) Bill 2023: Second Stage (22 Jan 2024)

Michael McDowell: It is because there is a commitment to the other party.

Seanad: An Bille um an Naoú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (An Teaghlach), 2023: An Dara Céim - Thirty-ninth Amendment of the Constitution (The Family) Bill 2023: Second Stage (22 Jan 2024)

Michael McDowell: I am glad to hear the Minister say it.

Seanad: An Bille um an Naoú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (An Teaghlach), 2023: An Dara Céim - Thirty-ninth Amendment of the Constitution (The Family) Bill 2023: Second Stage (22 Jan 2024)

Michael McDowell: They respect the Constitution as it is

Seanad: An Bille um an Daicheadú Leasú ar an mBunreacht (Cúram), 2023: An Dara Céim - Fortieth Amendment of the Constitution (Care) Bill 2023: Second Stage (22 Jan 2024)

Michael McDowell: I want to say a couple of words about the debate which has just passed because the Minister took it upon himself to look for a "Yes, Yes" vote. He is clearly twinning these two proposals. He is entitled to do so; I do not object to that. However, I want to say one thing. Reflecting on what was said in the House in the past hour, I do not understand that the State puts any particular extra...

Seanad: An Bille um an Daicheadú Leasú ar an mBunreacht (Cúram), 2023: An Dara Céim - Fortieth Amendment of the Constitution (Care) Bill 2023: Second Stage (22 Jan 2024)

Michael McDowell: It is a broader agenda which has been driven by a tiny minority in Ireland and a small and broken minority within the Government.

Seanad: An Bille um an Daicheadú Leasú ar an mBunreacht (Cúram), 2023: An Dara Céim - Fortieth Amendment of the Constitution (Care) Bill 2023: Second Stage (22 Jan 2024)

Michael McDowell: Why do we have maternity leave then?