Results 1,621-1,640 of 1,683 for speaker:Derek McDowell

Seanad: National Development Finance Agency Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (17 Dec 2002)

Derek McDowell: Why cannot it be done by the central unit of the Minister's Department?

Seanad: National Development Finance Agency Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (17 Dec 2002)

Derek McDowell: Why can the unit not provide it?

Seanad: Appropriation Bill, 2002 [Certified Money Bill]: Second and Subsequent Stages. (12 Dec 2002)

Derek McDowell: While I am reluctant to get involved in an argument with Senator Mansergh, I suppose I should. The bottom line is that the Government has not been so much responsible for financial mismanagement as cynical financial manipulation of public expenditure. What we got during the previous five years was an unreasonable constraint on spending because of the 4% target to which others referred. We...

Seanad: Appropriation Bill, 2002 [Certified Money Bill]: Second and Subsequent Stages. (12 Dec 2002)

Derek McDowell: We always aspire to being a little more raucous.

Seanad: Order of Business. (5 Dec 2002)

Derek McDowell: Speech.

Seanad: Budget Statement: Motion. (4 Dec 2002)

Derek McDowell: Every budget is a game of two halves; there is the Estimates process and the announcements made on budget day. Rarely has it been as true as today that the second half is the least significant, but that is clearly so. The real decisions with regard to the 2003 budget were made and announced in the Estimates a few weeks ago. Today has done nothing to alleviate the pain announced on that day....

Seanad: Book of Estimates, 2003: Statements. (21 Nov 2002)

Derek McDowell: It is a pleasure to have an opportunity to contribute to this debate and an even greater pleasure because of the presence of the Minister of State, Deputy Callely, a former constituency colleague of mine whom I am pleased to see perched on the high stool. It gives me an opportunity to refine what I was going to say and to include a few constituency jibes at the end.

Seanad: Book of Estimates, 2003: Statements. (21 Nov 2002)

Derek McDowell: That is rich coming from Fianna Fáil.

Seanad: Order of Business. (20 Nov 2002)

Derek McDowell: I endorse the sentiments expressed by the leader of the Fine Gael group. We look forward to the debate on the first-time house buyer's grant this evening. I agree also that it is probably the most eye catching and headline catching of a number of very serious cuts. One issue to which we should direct our attention, on which I ask the Leader to organise a debate, is the effect of freezing...

Seanad: European Communities (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (20 Nov 2002)

Derek McDowell: I endorse the general approach taken in the European Communities (Amendment) Bill, 2002, which reflects the approach to treaty changes over the last ten years or so, since the Single European Act. It is right that we should reserve issues that arise under the second and third pillars for debate within the Oireachtas as far as possible, while translating Community issues straight into Irish...

Seanad: European Communities (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (20 Nov 2002)

Derek McDowell: We are only happy when we are undercutting everybody else. When they start to undercut us we will have a problem.

Seanad: European Communities (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (20 Nov 2002)

Derek McDowell: Will they be affected by the decisions made in the Estimates process?

Seanad: European Communities (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (20 Nov 2002)

Derek McDowell: Will the Minister for State find out for us?

Seanad: European Communities (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (20 Nov 2002)

Derek McDowell: It is noticeable that accession states are opening resident embassies all over Dublin. The Slovenian Embassy has opened on Dawson Street, but we still have very few residential embassies in the countries concerned bar the two or three biggest ones. It would be detrimental to our economic as well as political interests if the process of opening embassies were to slow down as a result of...

Seanad: European Communities (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (20 Nov 2002)

Derek McDowell: I understood the amendments were alternatives.

Seanad: European Communities (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (20 Nov 2002)

Derek McDowell: As the Government and ourselves are ad idem as to the purpose of the amendment, I am happy to withdraw mine.

Seanad: European Communities (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (20 Nov 2002)

Derek McDowell: I move amendment No. 1: In page 6, before section 2, to insert the following new section: "2. The European Union (Scrutiny) Act, 2002, is amended in subsection (1) of section 1 by the insertion in paragraph (d) of the definition of 'measure' after 'Article 29.4.6o of 'or 8o'." This a technical amendment to clarify that issues and measures arising from ratification of the Nice treaty would...

Seanad: European Communities (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (20 Nov 2002)

Derek McDowell: I seek clarification on one issue. Perhaps there has been a Government announcement, but I am not clear as to the transitional arrangements that will be made arising from the decisions taken at the General Affairs and External Relations Council? For example, what are the specific arrangements in relation to the European Parliament? Will the provisions of the Nice treaty come into play at the...

Seanad: European Communities (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (20 Nov 2002)

Derek McDowell: A decision was taken whereby new member states would participate fully in the next elections in 2004. I presume this will be on the basis of the Nice treaty and that, therefore, there will be a reduction in the representation of Ireland to 12 seats? Has this been agreed?

Seanad: European Communities (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (20 Nov 2002)

Derek McDowell: I understand there is to be a redistribution. I am simply asking when it will come into play.