Results 981-1,000 of 18,808 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Jun 2022)

Michael McDowell: I move amendment No. 11: In page 9, line 17, to delete “application.”,” and substitute the following: “application, (f) be accompanied by an independent review of the environmental, financial and community impact of the existing development or the decommissioning of the existing development on the lands under consideration.”.”.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Jun 2022)

Michael McDowell: There are two things of note. I have been informed by a text, which is an amazing thing, that Galway County Council, on 25 April 2022 passed a resolution on the following terms: "Galway County Council calls on the Government to direct the ESB to recommence operation of the Derrybrien wind farm and in doing so, provide whatever legislative requirements that are necessary to ensure it may not...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Jun 2022)

Michael McDowell: Senator opposes the section.

Seanad: Consumer Credit (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (1 Jun 2022)

Michael McDowell: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. Many years ago, I worked as a barrister advising the providers of personal credit so this is an issue, as are collection charges and the like, that I have some experience of. I agree completely with what has just been said about us now heading into a financial crisis where many people may be driven to borrowing money just to keep going. I will...

Seanad: Consumer Credit (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (1 Jun 2022)

Michael McDowell: I was not saying that.

Seanad: Consumer Credit (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (1 Jun 2022)

Michael McDowell: Yes.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (31 May 2022)

Michael McDowell: I have minor questions on section 5 on which I will ask the Minister to expand. Section 5(b) proposes the deletion of "to further develop a quarry" and section 5(g) proposes to delete the words "in respect of a quarry". Am I right in thinking these two deletions will extend the application of section 37L to non-quarrying situations? Is this the name of the game? Is this the plan? Is it...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (31 May 2022)

Michael McDowell: I do not think that all development is bad or that all developers are bad. I think people who find themselves in a position where they are looking for substitute consent, for whatever reason, are not in a situation which any rational person would like to be in to start with, bearing in mind what I consider to be the overblown decision of the Commission on Ireland. For example, people might...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Operation of the Coroner Service: Discussion (31 May 2022)

Michael McDowell: On what basis are coroners now remunerated?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Operation of the Coroner Service: Discussion (31 May 2022)

Michael McDowell: It is per item.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Operation of the Coroner Service: Discussion (31 May 2022)

Michael McDowell: I am not suggesting there is but it is a little bit Victorian to pay per item. Is that the right way to do it?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Operation of the Coroner Service: Discussion (31 May 2022)

Michael McDowell: I welcome our guests and thank them for their very thoughtful written presentations, which I have had the opportunity to read, and for the oral presentations. As Professor Cusack mentioned, in the year 2000 he presented a report to my predecessor as Minister for Justice, John O'Donoghue. In the flurry of law reform that I presided over, we only got to the point of publishing in April 2007 a...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (11 May 2022)

Michael McDowell: I welcome Senator Malcolm Byrne's remarks about Seanad reform. I want to remind the House that the Minister with responsibility for Seanad reform informed us that he was going to bring forward proposals. I think that was a year ago.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (11 May 2022)

Michael McDowell: He made firm commitments that there would be Seanad reform.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (11 May 2022)

Michael McDowell: Hold on. Senator Buttimer will have his opportunity. The Minister of State told me that there was a proposal to establish among the Government parties a group that would come forward with proposals which I would be shown last October. That group has not been established let alone come forward with any proposals. I have come to the conclusion that this is an elaborate smoke screen for...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (11 May 2022)

Michael McDowell: Some time we are entitled to hear the truth as to what the Government's plans actually are. The other issue on which I intended to speak before Senator Malcolm Byrne tempted me down that particular rabbit hole-----

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (11 May 2022)

Michael McDowell: I should have said that 1 million people would elect six Senators but that there are 4 million people who are not university graduates who would have no say at all on that. Let us remember that. The point I want the acting Leader to take on board is the need to discuss the outcome of the Northern elections. Some 63 of the 90 people elected are comfortable with the Northern Ireland protocol...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (11 May 2022)

Michael McDowell: It is not agreed. I want to make a point and I will not divide the house on it but I believe that election posters are hugely important and create a consciousness.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (11 May 2022)

Michael McDowell: I believe that if we do not have election posters, RTÉ and the radio stations will ration out the time among the existing parties. As the Deputy Leader said, it is okay for the existing incumbents but is bad news for anyone entering politics.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (11 May 2022)

Michael McDowell: Having said that, I will reluctantly agree.