Results 4,041-4,060 of 18,728 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Seanad: Presidential Voting Rights: Motion (30 Nov 2016)

Michael McDowell: The time has come for Fine Gael to make up its mind on Seanad reform and reform of presidential voting rights. This requires leadership from the top of the party, which must decide in this House whether it supports the programme for Government on the issue of Seanad reform. It also requires unambiguous and unambivalent courage and for someone to say the party either supports or does not...

Seanad: Presidential Voting Rights: Motion (30 Nov 2016)

Michael McDowell: The time has come for the Government to be honest with us in this Chamber. It must face up to these issues, stop speaking out of both corners of its mouth and stop talking about establishing groups and having consultations and further contemplations. The Fine Gael Party asked to be in government; it did not fall into government by accident. It assumed the responsibility of government and...

Seanad: Presidential Voting Rights: Motion (30 Nov 2016)

Michael McDowell: How long has the Government been sitting on this issue?

Seanad: Presidential Voting Rights: Motion (30 Nov 2016)

Michael McDowell: Senator Buttimer did not object.

Seanad: Presidential Voting Rights: Motion (30 Nov 2016)

Michael McDowell: We would not be here otherwise.

Seanad: Presidential Voting Rights: Motion (30 Nov 2016)

Michael McDowell: According to the Constitution, the President must be elected by a direct vote of the people.

Seanad: Presidential Voting Rights: Motion (30 Nov 2016)

Michael McDowell: I tried in my time.

Seanad: Presidential Voting Rights: Motion (30 Nov 2016)

Michael McDowell: He is very welcome.

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by Ms Nicola Sturgeon (29 Nov 2016)

Michael McDowell: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Priomh Mhinistear na hAlban.It is wonderful that those words are spoken in the first languages of both our countries. As an Independent Member, it gives me pleasure, on behalf of the Independent Members, and, I think, everybody here, to thank Ms Sturgeon for the thoughtful, challenging and understanding words she has spoken to us. When the Cathaoirleach was...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (29 Nov 2016)

Michael McDowell: What is to stop a landlord collusively agreeing to appoint a receiver in order to throw out the tenants and get a better price at any stage? Is there anything in the law that stops it? I do not think there is. One can run up a debt, sign a debenture and have a receiver in any day of the week. One does not have to go to court to have a receiver appointed. There is some force in the...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (29 Nov 2016)

Michael McDowell: While passions are growing strong on this debate we should remember a few things. First, it is the case that some tenants are being gouged by excessive rent increases. The people who are riding the crest of a wave of a shortage are exploiting other people to provide them with housing. I look forward to hearing what the Government will do about the matter. I listened with interest to what...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Public Service Broadcasting: Discussion (Resumed). (22 Nov 2016)

Michael McDowell: Mr. Larry Bass mentioned the question of VAT on subscriptions to, I presume, Sky and things like that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Public Service Broadcasting: Discussion (Resumed). (22 Nov 2016)

Michael McDowell: What is the rate at the moment?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Public Service Broadcasting: Discussion (Resumed). (22 Nov 2016)

Michael McDowell: Is Mr. Bass suggesting a higher rate or something like that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Public Service Broadcasting: Discussion (Resumed). (22 Nov 2016)

Michael McDowell: I thought it probably was the 23% rate and I wondered if we could go much higher than that. On the general broadcasting charge issue to which Deputy Eamon Ryan was just referring, the figures Professor Rafter brought here today suggest the lost revenue is approximately €30 million on a 13% to 15% evasion rate. If that is brought down by two thirds to British levels, there is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Public Service Broadcasting: Discussion (Resumed). (22 Nov 2016)

Michael McDowell: Could we have a half a minute in private session before doing that, as I have one issue to raise?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Public Service Broadcasting: Discussion (Resumed). (22 Nov 2016)

Michael McDowell: I am conscious that it is late in the evening. I welcome everybody and thank them for participating in this formal meeting. As hinted earlier it might be necessary at some point for us to have a more informal discussion about some of the issues that are being raised. It may come as a bit of a shock to Mr. Esslemont to hear this but before he came into the room a previous speaker had...

Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (9 Nov 2016)

Michael McDowell: I listened with interest to what the Minister had to say about this. She informed the House that such burning as will be done in March and such hedge-cutting as will take place in August will be done subject to very strict conditions, but where are the conditions? If one looks at the proposed legislation, it is clear that this House has no input into fixing what the conditions are. If...

Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (9 Nov 2016)

Michael McDowell: Although this has been described as a two-year pilot scheme, it seems to me from the way the Bill is proposed that it could be a permanent part of the law of the land as long as it gets annual renewal from the Houses of the Oireachtas. I suggest it would be a contradiction in terms to describe as a pilot scheme something that would be perpetually rolled out everywhere across Ireland for the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (25 Oct 2016)

Michael McDowell: My question relates to energy policy and production. Are we on target for a reduction of carbon emissions in that territory? What is the situation on the renewables? Who is keeping an eye on that? It seems to me that there is huge political resistance to things like wind power in certain communities. The question that is worrying me at the moment is that, considering Brexit, is Ireland...