Results 981-1,000 of 1,683 for speaker:Derek McDowell

Seanad: State Airports Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (14 Jul 2004)

Derek McDowell: I join my colleagues in thanking the Minister for the courtesy he has extended to the House. I also thank the Leader for the sterling leadership she has given to the Opposition over the past few days. There were times when we felt entirely redundant, when the Government seemed more than capable of providing its own opposition. The Bill is important. The Labour Party's opposition to it is...

Seanad: Medical Cards: Motion (13 Oct 2004)

Derek McDowell: I welcome the Tánaiste to the House and congratulate her on the courageous decision to enter the Department of Health and Children. I am sure her arrival will be of considerable relief to the Minister of State, Deputy Power. I could see he was having difficulty balancing being thrilled with the perks of power with the notion of having to go out to Lansdowne Road on this dark autumnal evening...

Seanad: Medical Cards: Motion (13 Oct 2004)

Derek McDowell: I think the Minister of State has more of a sense of humour than the Senator. However, I wish the Minister well. The specific purpose of the motion this evening was to deal with the issue of medical cards. I want to make a political point first which needs to be said. There is a notion abroad that the two parties in Government made a large number of promises before the last general election...

Seanad: Medical Cards: Motion (13 Oct 2004)

Derek McDowell: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Oct 2004)

Derek McDowell: On the final point made by Senator Norris, in recent days the Labour Party has been making the case, to which it will add further nuance, for a minimum rate of tax for people whose earnings are above a certain threshold. I do not believe such a suggestion would be divisive on a party political basis. I think we would all agree that there is merit in maintaining the integrity of the system to...

Seanad: Tax Code: Motion. (10 Nov 2004)

Derek McDowell: I support neither the motion nor the amendment, but that will surprise no one. I recently looked at a few figures issued by the Department of Finance. It calculated that it would cost approximately €650 per annum to extend medical card free GP services, perhaps not including pharmaceuticals, to everyone. If one increased our current ODA contribution to the 0.7% requirement in one go, from...

Seanad: Tax Code: Motion. (10 Nov 2004)

Derek McDowell: The boom fed our capacity to reduce income tax. It did not happen the other way around; lower income tax did not cause the boom. That is a simple matter of fact, and it is interesting to speculate why people are suggesting it was lower taxes. The argument principally comes from the stockbroking community, if I might refer to it as such, and the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform,...

Seanad: Tax Code: Motion. (10 Nov 2004)

Derek McDowell: I am only warming up. I had a great deal more to say. There are choices with regard to public services. They can be paid for largely out of direct taxes, or out of user charges, by making people pay for the services when they use them. They can be provided by the private sector which can afford it, and this is a variation of the previous option, or they cannot be provided at all. I have a...

Seanad: Tax Code: Motion. (10 Nov 2004)

Derek McDowell: It is important to acknowledge that redistribution is part of the reason we tax. Certain people do not benefit from a booming economy, such as old age pensioners, those who are sick and lone parents who find it difficult to connect with the labour market. These people's boats will not be raised by the tide. If we accept they are not going to get into the labour market, the only way to assist...

Seanad: Tax Code: Motion. (10 Nov 2004)

Derek McDowell: It is all nonsense. They all have their bonuses, stock options, etc. They find ways of doing it.

Seanad: Tax Code: Motion. (10 Nov 2004)

Derek McDowell: Will the Minister give way briefly because I am interested in ascertaining his view? Does he accept their argument that the tax rate on their employees is important in terms of determining whether they come here?

Seanad: Tax Code: Motion. (10 Nov 2004)

Derek McDowell: It always flies in his direction.

Seanad: Book of Estimates 2005: Statements. (24 Nov 2004)

Derek McDowell: I believe that Senator Mansergh mentioned in his contribution the renewed debate of recent weeks about the ideological colouring of the Government or, more specifically, the Taoiseach. He is right, since there is no doubt that there has been something of a change in the mood music surrounding the Government in the past three or four weeks. The Taoiseach has rediscovered his socialist roots,...

Seanad: Council of Europe Development Bank Bill 2004: Second Stage. (25 Nov 2004)

Derek McDowell: I welcome the Minister of State to the House to debate this Bill, which my party also supports. I had the pleasure of serving on the parliamentary assembly of the Council of Europe in 1994. It was a very interesting time in the development of the council. It was shortly after the collapse of the Soviet empire and after the fall of the Berlin Wall. We were casting about for a way in which the...

Seanad: Council of Europe Development Bank Bill 2004: Second Stage. (25 Nov 2004)

Derek McDowell: Go on.

Seanad: Council of Europe Development Bank Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (25 Nov 2004)

Derek McDowell: This section refers to the Schedule which sets out the terms of the agreement. I was going to ask the Minister of State to summarise the agreement for us but we will spare him that duty. How can the terms of the agreement be varied? Is it an intergovernmental agreement and is it open to amendment by the board? How can it be amended?

Seanad: Council of Europe Development Bank Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (25 Nov 2004)

Derek McDowell: I appreciate that. The articles are quite detailed and set out the terms under which the bank operates. Is it an intergovernmental agreement — I presume it was part of the treaty to establish the Council of Europe — and how can it be varied or changed?

Seanad: Council of Europe Development Bank Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (25 Nov 2004)

Derek McDowell: I understand that. However, I am of the opinion that we are not quite ad idem on this matter. I appreciate that we must subscribe to the articles of agreement.

Seanad: Council of Europe Development Bank Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (25 Nov 2004)

Derek McDowell: In a sense, yes, but I also want to know how they can be changed. I assume that, from time to time, amendments are made to the way the bank operates and that this would require amendment to the terms of the agreement appended to the Bill. In so far as that is the case, what is the process used to effect such changes?

Seanad: Council of Europe Development Bank Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (25 Nov 2004)

Derek McDowell: Would further legislation be required?