Results 7,321-7,340 of 18,761 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Leaders' Questions (29 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: There is a UN mandate for the presence of foreign contingents in Iraq. It expires at the end of this year and the Iraqi Government has applied for it to be extended.

Leaders' Questions (29 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: I want the Deputy to know the facts before he begins speaking. I never said there was a mandate for the invasion.

Leaders' Questions (29 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Government has consistently opposed and condemned unlawful rendition of any person by the United States. We are unequivocal on that point and my colleague, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, has made his position absolutely clear in that regard. Second, as it might be asked here, he and I are on the public record as rejecting the circumstances in which people are detained in Guantanamo....

Leaders' Questions (29 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: The military flights are authorised and above board. It is our duty as a member of the United Nations to support the mandate which the United Nations Security Council has unanimously given for the presence of those troops and, by implication, for their rotation.

Leaders' Questions (29 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: We have received categorical, unambivalent and totally clear assurances——

Leaders' Questions (29 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: ——that at no time in the past has Shannon Airport ever been used for rendition.

Leaders' Questions (29 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: There is no point in shouting me down. The Deputy keeps shouting me down. He is not at one of his own meetings. He should let me finish.

Leaders' Questions (29 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Sinn Féin Deputies might listen carefully to the following. If I were to reject the solemn unequivocal word of three senior officials of the United States Administration in this regard, and disbelieve them, it would be a serious step.

Leaders' Questions (29 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy should let me finish. If relations between Ireland and America were at such a low ebb that we could not believe members of the American Administration on this issue, and that we were naive to believe them——

Leaders' Questions (29 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: ——much rethinking would have to be done. I say this to the members of the Sinn Féin Party — "You may ask this Government to regard the assurances they receive from the American Administration as false but, if you do so, do not go knocking down the door to get into the White House on St. Patrick's Day."

Order of Business (29 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: It is proposed to take No. 15, motion re leave to introduce Supplementary Estimates [Votes 1, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 26, 30, 32, 35 and 37]; No. 16, motion re referral of Supplementary Estimates [Votes 1, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 26, 30, 32, 35 and 37] to select committee; No. 25, Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2006 — Report Stage (resumed) and Final Stage; No. 26, Health (Nursing Homes) (Amendment)...

Order of Business (29 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: It is not usual for motions of this nature to be the subject of a division or a debate in this House. They are usually referred to a committee. I remind Deputy Eamon Ryan that the deputy leader of his party said, in respect of the N9 road to Waterford——

Order of Business (29 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: The Deputies are trying to shout me down.

Order of Business (29 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: She said she hopes the economy will crumble before the road can be built.

Order of Business (29 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: This is the party that has proposed the Noise Bill.

Order of Business (29 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: It is not customary to have a division. If the Members opposite want to have a division, we can waste another 20 minutes on sending the Supplementary Estimates to the committee.

Order of Business (29 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: If they want to do that, they are welcome to do so.

Order of Business (29 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: There is no promised legislation on that matter. On sentencing, the Deputy will be aware that the recently established balance in the criminal law committee is looking at that issue. As regards the rights of home occupiers to defend themselves, the Deputy will, of course, be aware that there is no U-turn. My party colleague, Senator Morrissey, moved a Bill in the Seanad——

Order of Business (29 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: No, I did not rubbish it and I want to assure the House that issue will be dealt with in a responsible and sensible manner in the criminal law (miscellaneous provisions) Bill, which it is to be published in the first quarter of next year.

Order of Business (29 Nov 2006)

Michael McDowell: Strictly speaking, legislation is not promised. That report is being considered by Government. It has been published and put into the public domain. On Friday the Government hopes to receive the report on cohabitation from the Law Reform Commission. When these two reports have been studied any legislation initiative on foot thereof will be decided on at that point by Government.