Results 21-40 of 1,683 for speaker:Derek McDowell

Seanad: European Union (Scrutiny) Bill, 2001 changed from European Union Bill, 2001: Committee and Remaining Stages. (16 Oct 2002)

Derek McDowell: This is something about which I have been concerned. I would prefer a straightforward objective test rather than this subjective test. In other words, if something is confidential the requirement under the process should not necessarily apply, but obviously we will leave the test as to whether a matter is confidential exclusively to the opinion of the Minister. It does not have to be a...

Seanad: European Union (Scrutiny) Bill, 2001 changed from European Union Bill, 2001: Committee and Remaining Stages. (16 Oct 2002)

Derek McDowell: We should not cod ourselves. While I accept the Minister of State's good faith in the issue, there are Departments of State – the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform is the most obvious one – which regard almost ipso facto everything they do as confidential. Some colleagues in that Department have to be pushed and shoved into briefing anyone as to the nature of what they do....

Seanad: European Union (Scrutiny) Bill, 2001 changed from European Union Bill, 2001: Committee and Remaining Stages. (16 Oct 2002)

Derek McDowell: I appreciate the thanks that have been proffered to the Labour Party on this Bill. Let me reciprocate by thanking other colleagues for their support. The legislation does not in itself bring about accountability or transparency but it gives us the mechanism whereby it can happen. It requires a commitment from the Government and by every Member of both Houses of the Oireachtas to ensure it...

Seanad: Order of Business. (17 Oct 2002)

Derek McDowell: I have a brief response to Senator O'Toole's proposal. Does it not open the appalling vista that what happened in Yugoslavia could happen here? Something could be defeated simply by urging a certain number of people not to turn up and assuming the support of many other people who might have turned up in different circumstances. There is an argument there. I have two issues on the Order of...

Seanad: Order of Business. (17 Oct 2002)

Derek McDowell: It disturbs me as much as it does the Senator.

Seanad: Order of Business. (17 Oct 2002)

Derek McDowell: On a point of order, for the sake of clarity, as I understand it, the term "Leader of the Opposition" is one that is common to a foreign parliament. It is not common in these Houses. While Senator Hayes is the leader of the Fine Gael Party in the House, I do not think Leader of the Opposition is an appropriate title.

Seanad: Order of Business. (17 Oct 2002)

Derek McDowell: On a point of order, I did not want to interrupt the Leader but she said something I did not understand.

Seanad: Order of Business. (17 Oct 2002)

Derek McDowell: Out of courtesy I did not want to interrupt her.

Seanad: Order of Business. (17 Oct 2002)

Derek McDowell: She said she has sought a debate on the Flood report.

Seanad: Order of Business. (17 Oct 2002)

Derek McDowell: Does that mean time will be allocated for such a debate?

Seanad: Parliamentary Committees: Motions. (17 Oct 2002)

Derek McDowell: May I contribute now?

Seanad: Parliamentary Committees: Motions. (17 Oct 2002)

Derek McDowell: I echo what others have said but would like to take it a little further. It seems the order handed down to us does not, effectively, recognise the position and the role of Senators on the committees. It is right that the number of Deputies on legislative committees should be fixed; to reflect the balance in the other House, that must be the case. Senators attend merely to make an input, to...

Seanad: Parliamentary Committees: Motions. (17 Oct 2002)

Derek McDowell: Will the Leader not go back and say to the Government Whip the Seanad would like an input—

Seanad: Parliamentary Committees: Motions. (17 Oct 2002)

Derek McDowell: In effect, that means that if we agree to a system, we are stuck with it. I am not looking to be obstructive, but if possible, it would be better for us to delay until we next meet, until after we have had a meeting of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges in the meantime and tried to secure agreement from the Government Chief Whip to change the representation of the Seanad on the joint...

Seanad: Crime Levels: Statements. (24 Oct 2002)

Derek McDowell: It is customary for a Minister to attempt to reply to most of the points raised. Although I kept careful note of the points to which I would like to reply, I would need an hour to do so. Senator Jim Walsh made a number of interesting points, one of which, which was echoed by other Senators, including Senators Mansergh and Terry, related to the interaction of the police force with local...

Seanad: Adjournment Matter. - Passports for Investment Scheme. (24 Oct 2002)

Derek McDowell: Before dealing with the case which is the subject matter of the Adjournment debate, I would like to bring to the attention of the Members of the House that the report of the review group on investment based naturalisation in Ireland was brought by me before Government in July 2002. I arranged for its publication on 4 August 2002 and a number of copies were placed in the Oireachtas Library at...

Seanad: Community Employment Schemes: Motion. (13 Nov 2002)

Derek McDowell: A Chathaoirligh, you must forgive me for departing from the motion to address the most interesting remarks made by Senator White at the conclusion of her speech. Whatever she or the Taoiseach in some of his ramblings might believe, the neo-fascist and ultra-right nationalists with which the Fianna Fáil Party shares a group in the European Parliament will be very surprised to learn they are...

Seanad: Community Employment Schemes: Motion. (13 Nov 2002)

Derek McDowell: Senator Brian Hayes stated that the purpose of the motion is to seek clarity. Sadly, the debate has not even come close to delivering clarity. One can do almost anything with statistics. We need some clarity on where we currently stand. We now have roughly 25,000 people on community employment schemes. The Minister of State will say – correctly – that the reduction in the schemes was at...

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...