Results 4,861-4,880 of 18,728 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Leaders' Questions (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: Between 1999 and 2002, I had the privilege of seeing the Minister, Deputy Cowen, and others at the Cabinet table saying the time had come to remedy the disgraceful legacy the Opposition had left in place——

Leaders' Questions (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: ——and that money must and would be found for children with disabilities.

Leaders' Questions (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: This Government has ploughed record resources into dealing with disability.

Leaders' Questions (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: If they are going to shout me down, that is fine, a Cheann Comhairle.

Leaders' Questions (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: No Government has engaged in a more dramatic transformation of the resources available for people with disabilities than this Government.

Leaders' Questions (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: When we came into office——

Leaders' Questions (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: If Deputies are going to shout at me, that is too bad.

Leaders' Questions (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am not sulking.

Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am grateful to the Deputy for asking me a question which was envisaged by the procedure under the rules of this House, unlike the last two questions.

Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: Like the Deputy, I read the Sunday Tribune story's suggestion that serving and former members of the Garda Síochána had abused their positions to favour one insurance company by giving it access to information held within the force's official records. When I read that story I was gravely concerned and in a moment I will tell the House the actions I took on foot of it. First, however, I...

Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: If it is not a forgery, then it is a matter of the utmost gravity. If it is a forgery, then that is another matter of the utmost gravity, but different inquiries will follow on foot of it. I share the Deputy's view that it would be entirely wrong for any member of the Garda Síochána to make any private company engaged in the insurance sector a party to information held by the Garda...

Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I share the Deputy's concern regarding the article that suggested that members of the legal profession were being inveigled into short-changing their clients, whether the item referred to in the article was genuine or a forgery. The Law Society is investigating this suggestion but I believe the vast majority of solicitors are upstanding professionals who would not short-change a client or...

Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: There has been a dramatic transformation in this country's compensation culture and, as a result, insurance premiums have fallen by up to 60% in a few years. If Deputy Kenny wants to hear of an achievement, this is one that Deputy Ó Caoláin has had the decency to acknowledge. There has been a dramatic improvement in this context.

Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: Regarding the compensation culture, it is important that claims be investigated quickly and settled early. It is also important that we avoid a system of dealing with personal injuries and road traffic compensation that involves protracted, paper-driven, court driven solutions when there are perfectly common sense, out-of-court arrangements to deal with such issues. I do not wish to appear...

Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I will address Deputy Joe Higgins's point if he lets me speak.

Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy made allegations inside the House about persons outside the House.

Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I was about to say to Deputy Ó Caoláin, before Deputy Higgins interrupted, that I share his view that people should be clear when dealing with a person investigating an insurance company claim that they are dealing with a representative of an insurance company, not a person implying or insinuating that he or she is a person in authority dealing with the same issue. There is nothing wrong,...

Order of Business (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: It is proposed to take No. 15, motion re proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the terms of the access to the Convention on the International Hydrographic Organisation, back from committee; No. 25, Criminal Justice Bill 2007 — Report Stage; and No. 26, Pharmacy Bill 2007 [Seanad] — Order for Report and Report and Final Stages. It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders,...

Order of Business (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: In case there is any misapprehension, I was willing to sit all day last Friday but people apparently objected to Friday sittings. I do not mind that.

Order of Business (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I was willing.