Results 4,561-4,580 of 18,761 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Order of Business (5 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: No, I do not think legislation is needed. What we need in the House is a greater appetite for scrutiny.

Order of Business (5 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I received the report this week.

Order of Business (5 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I assure the Deputy it was presented to me this week. Second, I had intended to deal with the civil law (miscellaneous provisions) Bill, which involves a crackdown on arcades and the like that were breaking the law and with casinos. However, in view of the fact there seems to be a consensus that we should take a different approach and license some forms of gambling, the report was put in...

Revised Estimates for Public Services 2007 (5 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I move the following Revised Estimates:

Competition Act Order: Motion (5 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I move: That Dáil Éireann, pursuant to the provisions of section 18(7) of the Competition Act 2002 (No. 14 of 2002), hereby confirms the Competition Act 2002 (Section 18 (5) and (6)) Order 2007 (S.I. 122 of 2007) made under section 18 (5) and (6) of that Act, copies of which were laid before Dáil Éireann on 26th March, 2007."

Schengen Information System: Motion (5 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I move: That Dáil Éireann approves the exercise by the State of the option or discretion provided by Article 1.11 of the Treaty of Amsterdam to take part in the adoption of the following proposed measure: a proposal for a Council Decision on the establishment, operation and use of the second generation Schengen information system (SIS II), a copy of which proposed measure was laid before...

Criminal Justice Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed). (5 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: The goal posts have moved in the course of the morning and as I have time to consider these matters and consult with my colleagues in Government I would prefer to do that. There has been no dramatic development overnight.

Criminal Justice Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed). (5 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: Draftsmen are entitled to Easter holidays too and I have been working them fairly hard as the House appreciates. I will, however, do my best to furnish Deputies with the drift of the amendments I propose to bring forward in advance of Report Stage.

Criminal Justice Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed). (5 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I contemplated reconfiguring this paragraph in the Seanad to insert numerals and letters on the subsections because some are almost unusable.

Criminal Justice Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed). (5 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I would like to re-state that paragraph in a readable form which should not be beyond the wit of man to achieve.

Criminal Justice Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed). (5 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I move amendment No. 105: In page 31, lines 14 and 15, to delete "other than a child or young person" and substitute "other than a person under the age of 18 years".

Criminal Justice Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed). (5 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I move amendment No. 110: In page 32, lines 15 and 16, to delete "other than a child or young person" and substitute "other than a person under the age of 18 years".

Criminal Justice Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed). (5 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I move amendment No. 113: In page 33, line 24, to delete "other than a child or young person" and substitute "other than a person under the age of 18 years".

Criminal Justice Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed). (5 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I move amendment No. 114: In page 34, line 5, to delete "other than a child or young person" and substitute "other than a person under the age of 18 years".

Criminal Justice Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed). (5 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: As I said yesterday I appreciate the Deputies' point. There is jurisprudence, particularly in Canada, to the effect that it is possible to have proportionate mandatory sentences which, having regard to the value of the drugs, would be absolute and fixed. The downside of this as Deputy Howlin says, in a point with which I sympathise, is that it might be interpreted as saying this is a...

Criminal Justice Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed). (5 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: Yes, exactly. That is the issue. Assuming my advice is correct the question is whether it is an advance to bring it into law or if it will have an unpredicted counter-effect of making offences which are now serious less so. I want to reflect on that and to have an opportunity to consult with my colleagues in Government before making any change in the legislation on that point.

Order of Business (5 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: It is proposed to take No. 16, revised Estimates for public services 2007, Votes 1 to 41, back from committee; No. 17, motion re Competition Act 2002 (section 18(5) and (6)) Order 2007, back from committee; No. 18, motion re proposed approval by Dáil Éireann for a Council decision on the establishment, operation and use of the second generation Schengen information system, back from...

Order of Business (5 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I understood this matter was debated at length and thoroughly investigated at a meeting of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights under the chairmanship of Deputy Ardagh. I wish to correct the impression given by Deputy Ó Caoláin. What I said was that if it was considered, after it had been debated at committee, that there was a further need for a...

Order of Business (5 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I have listened carefully to the debate on the matters raised. I have been, as I indicated I would be, reasonable at all points. I would be willing to devote the first day of the resumed session to Report Stage of the Bill on one condition, namely, that we get the business done that day and Members do not engage in the usual antics in respect of guillotines and mock posturing on that subject.

Order of Business (5 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: The Bill will then go to the Seanad.