Results 41-60 of 1,683 for speaker:Derek McDowell

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.

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

Derek McDowell: Will they be allocated among the existing constituencies or is it intended that a decision will be taken on a common form of election?

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

Derek McDowell: I am happy to be associated with the expression of thanks to the Minister. I said earlier that we had one major lesson to learn from the most recent referendum campaign and the experience of last year – the people and their support cannot be taken for granted. That is right. It also shows that there is room for idealism. I have always believed, as I have said a number of times in this House...

Seanad: Housing Grants: Motion. (20 Nov 2002)

Derek McDowell: I move: That Seanad Éireann condemns the decision of this Government to abolish the first-time buyer's grant, in the light of the crisis in housing affordability and the continuing increase in housing waiting lists, and supports the call by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions to restore the grant forthwith. The elimination of the grant is first and foremost a devastating blow to the...

Seanad: Housing Grants: Motion. (20 Nov 2002)

Derek McDowell: Not next year?

Seanad: Housing Grants: Motion. (20 Nov 2002)

Derek McDowell: That is reassuring.

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: 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: Order of Business. (5 Dec 2002)

Derek McDowell: Speech.

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...