Results 2,341-2,360 of 18,727 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (5 Mar 2019)

Michael McDowell: Given that this phrase is already in the current legislation and has not, so far, caused much of a problem, I do not think it does cause much of a problem. Governments are free to choose a judge for a particular office at present and not to go near the commission in the first place but this legislation is a good deal more prescriptive. It states that the Government has to first consider the...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (5 Mar 2019)

Michael McDowell: The section that is proposed to be amended would read:In advising the President in relation to the appointment of a person to a judicial office the Government shall consider for appointment those persons whose names have been recommended to the Minister or, in the case of section 44 the Government in accordance with the provisions of this Act. Even without the word "firstly", the legislation...

Seanad: Gambling Legislation: Motion (27 Feb 2019)

Michael McDowell: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Gambling Legislation: Motion (27 Feb 2019)

Michael McDowell: I strongly support this motion in the name of the Independent Group of Senators. I want to acknowledge some basic truths. When I was Minister for Justice and Equality the Gaming and Lotteries Act 1956 came under pressure because poker clubs started being established in Dublin. Some were funded and owned by very rich and powerful people. It was clear to me that they were illegal, as...

Seanad: Gambling Legislation: Motion (27 Feb 2019)

Michael McDowell: That is illegal as well.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (26 Feb 2019)

Michael McDowell: I move amendment No 91c:In page 31, between lines 18 and 19, to insert the following: “45. Nothing in this Chapter or Chapter 4 shall operate to prevent the Government, where it considers that it is necessary or expedient to do so by reason of urgency or for other sufficient reason, to advise the President to appoint a person to fill a vacancy in a judicial office to which section 44...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (26 Feb 2019)

Michael McDowell: I think it is amendment No. 91d.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (26 Feb 2019)

Michael McDowell: I am sorry. I thought it was amendment No. 91d.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (26 Feb 2019)

Michael McDowell: I thank Senator Norris.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (26 Feb 2019)

Michael McDowell: Yes, I am sorry that progress in my absence was not as rapid as I thought.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (26 Feb 2019)

Michael McDowell: This amendment and the next amendment relate to timeframes. This amendment sets out that:Nothing in this Chapter [which is chapter 3] or Chapter 4 shall operate to prevent the Government, where it considers that it is necessary or expedient to do so by reason of urgency or for other sufficient reason, to advise the President to appoint a person to fill a vacancy in a judicial office to which...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (26 Feb 2019)

Michael McDowell: I agree with Senator Norris that I am dealing with section 44 as it currently exists, whereby there is no committee to advise the Government on the appointment of the Chief Justice, the President of the Court of Appeal or the President of the High Court. It is the commission that has to do all of that work.I do not want to be disorderly, but there is no timeframe provided for the commission...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (26 Feb 2019)

Michael McDowell: Obviously, it would be wrong to ask the Minister to predict what Sinn Féin will do. Senator Warfield is present, but he may be keeping his cards close to his chest on this issue. If it is the case that Sinn Féin disapproves of the small committee operating under section 44 and sticks to the position that it should be the commission in its entirety, it is quite possible that this...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (26 Feb 2019)

Michael McDowell: It has been suggested to me there is legislation pending for the appointment of further judges to the Court of Appeal. It has also been suggested to me, disturbingly, that such legislation has effectively been linked with the moving forward of the Judicial Appointments Commission Bill. That may not be the case, but I would be very disappointed if one Bill were to be taken hostage by the...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (26 Feb 2019)

Michael McDowell: I very much hope the Minister's view is representative of the view of the Government in its entirety on the issue.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (26 Feb 2019)

Michael McDowell: On the taking of which amendments together are we agreeing?

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (26 Feb 2019)

Michael McDowell: No, they deal with different subjects. I am not agreeable to that proposal.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (26 Feb 2019)

Michael McDowell: Yes.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (26 Feb 2019)

Michael McDowell: I should explain the reason they should be discussed separately. This amendment and the previous one are probably more cognate than this amendment and the succeeding one, as this amendment and the previous one deal with time limits and the like and vacancies being left open, whereas the next amendment is quite different.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (26 Feb 2019)

Michael McDowell: I move amendment No. 91d:In page 31, between lines 20 and 21, to insert the following: “45. (1) The Government may prescribe a time period within which the Commission may make its recommendation in respect of any particular vacancy or apprehended vacancy and the Minister shall inform the Commission of any such time period when requesting the Commission to make any recommendation in...