Results 221-240 of 1,683 for speaker:Derek McDowell

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (12 Mar 2003)

Derek McDowell: I cannot really refuse that. However, although it may sound somewhat complicated, somebody being given or refused information will assume, unless informed otherwise, that this is all the information available. What I really need to know is whether there is, potentially, another section of information the existence of which will not be disclosed.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (12 Mar 2003)

Derek McDowell: Could the Chair slow down a little?

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (12 Mar 2003)

Derek McDowell: I am aware of that. I ask the Chair to do me the service of slowing down so that I can keep up. Nonetheless, I commend the Acting Chairman for his enthusiasm and expediency.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (12 Mar 2003)

Derek McDowell: I am fully aware of that.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (12 Mar 2003)

Derek McDowell: I will do my best to keep up with the Chair.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (12 Mar 2003)

Derek McDowell: It is kind of the Acting Chairman to put it that way.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (12 Mar 2003)

Derek McDowell: I wish to speak on section 9.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (12 Mar 2003)

Derek McDowell: No, we have not.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (12 Mar 2003)

Derek McDowell: The Acting Chairman is kind. However, I am not hugely exercised by section 9 in any event. I merely wish to ask the Minister of State whether there is any check or if any guidelines are offered in relation to the persons to be notified in circumstances where a withdrawal action takes place. Is that covered by guidelines or is it entirely within the discretion of the person making the decision?

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (12 Mar 2003)

Derek McDowell: I will seek to articulate Senator O'Meara's opposition to the section. The difficulty relates exclusively to the fact that it is now open to the Department of Finance, as the responsible Department, to issue the section 15 manual purely by electronic means. While I am in favour of Government, in so far as is possible, moving to electronic means, we have to be realistic in recognising that, at...

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (12 Mar 2003)

Derek McDowell: In that case, we can shorten the debate considerably. If it is intended to continue to publish the information manual concerned in hard copy for the next few years, I am happy to withdraw opposition to this particular section. It may well be reasonable in ten years to rely on electronic means only, but for now that is somewhat ambitious.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (12 Mar 2003)

Derek McDowell: I will speak specifically to the amendment, although obviously it sits in the heart of a section which, together with the following section, forms the core of the Bill. These two sections really are the core of the Bill presented by Government and they go a long way to drawing down the veil of secrecy over the way in which Government operates. They make it almost impossible to find out what...

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (12 Mar 2003)

Derek McDowell: I was looking to distinguish between the two. The way paragraph (aa) is drafted refers to communication between two members of the Government relating to a matter under consideration or proposed to be submitted to Government. If I apply now for correspondence between Ministers in respect of a decision made by a Government six months ago, that exemption will not save those records from...

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (12 Mar 2003)

Derek McDowell: I do not see how they do.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (12 Mar 2003)

Derek McDowell: I move amendment No. 7: In page 9, line 32, to delete "10 years" and substitute "6 years".

Seanad: Convention on the Future of Europe: Statements. (12 Mar 2003)

Derek McDowell: I too welcome Deputy Bruton to the Seanad. His presentation was interesting and forthright. I want first to address the issue of the common foreign and security policy. Deputy Bruton's presentation today, and the article on this issue in today's edition of The Irish Times, were extremely forthright. If they represented the mainstream of Christian Democratic thinking, or indeed Social...

Seanad: Convention on the Future of Europe: Statements. (12 Mar 2003)

Derek McDowell: Is the Deputy doing this with the agreement of the Government?

Seanad: Convention on the Future of Europe: Statements. (12 Mar 2003)

Derek McDowell: When the Deputy signs off in the Committee on Justice and Home Affairs, does he do so on his own behalf, the behalf of the Government or the country?

Seanad: Order of Business. (13 Mar 2003)

Derek McDowell: I join other Senators in commending the common sense of the Leader in postponing Report Stage of the Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill until next week. Her common sense shines out in the face of the determination of others to push the Bill through with unseemly haste. Given that she has taken such an approach, may I suggest she give consideration to using the procedure under Standing...

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (20 Mar 2003)

Derek McDowell: I move amendment No. 1: In page 5, to delete lines 5 and 6. This amendment is effectively to amend the Title of the Bill. Senators will recall from Committee Stage that we tabled this amendment because we felt the Bill was misnamed. It is not a freedom of information Bill because it is intended to restrict the availability of information. It consists of no fewer than several dozen amendments...