Results 12,181-12,200 of 18,736 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Order of Business (1 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: In regard to the Moriarty report, the Deputy will be aware there was discussion between the Whips on the format of the debate on that subject in this House. No final agreement has been reached. In regard to risk equalisation, the Deputy will be aware that legislation on health insurance is promised and the consideration of the Cabinet will be directed to the Barrington report when it is...

Order of Business (1 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: It will be fully debated in this House and everybody will have the opportunity to put forward their ideas. The bail issue will be dealt with in that context.

Order of Business (1 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: With regard to the Moriarty tribunal report, the Deputy seems to imply he cannot put down questions other than during the debate. Of course, he is mistaken. The House provides that the Deputy can put down questions at any point.

Order of Business (1 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: With regard to Deputy Brennan's Bill, he will bring the text of a better Bill to the Government in the next three weeks. In those circumstances it would be wrong to leave two Bills lying on the Order Paper. The Government has considered the issue of the committee and I have been fully consulted regarding the committee to be established.

Order of Business (1 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: There will be full dialogue with all party leaders in this House and in Northern Ireland. The SDLP, Sinn Féin and the unionist parties in Northern Ireland will all be consulted. With regard to the ethics legislation, I must correct the record of the House. Deputy Rabbitte has a capacity for misquoting people. The phrase the media picked up was, "we survived that". That was what was said.

Order of Business (1 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I did not say "we got away with it". While I am correcting the record I must say to Deputy Kenny that I did not say inequality was good for anything either.

Order of Business (1 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: However, the Deputy will be pleased to know the Bill will be published this session.

Order of Business (1 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: Eat your heart out.

Order of Business (1 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: When a tribunal report is being discussed in the House it is not usual for Members to question each other on it. The House has considered many tribunal reports in the last year or two and there has never been a question and answer session, as far as I can recollect.

Order of Business (1 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: It is not possible, at this stage, to indicate when the legislation referred to by Deputy Sargent will be brought before the House. I must stress that safety at sea does not depend on the passing of that legislation. Trawler safety must be acted upon regardless of legislation or international conventions.

Order of Business (1 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: I can give the Deputy an answer. The ethics legislation will be published this year. There is a mechanism for saving the people from foolish expenditure.

Order of Business (1 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: It is called the electoral process. It is the process whereby the electorate were saved from having €200 million spent on a taxi hardship fund and hundreds of millions of euro spent on compensating Telecom shareholders during the last five years.

Order of Business (1 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: The Bill is on Report Stage and should come before the House as soon as possible.

Order of Business (1 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: It is the Government's intention to get through the legislative programme as efficiently as possible. The Deputy might reflect on the following fact.

Order of Business (1 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: In one week this summer, on Tuesday we spent 55 minutes on the Order of Business, on Wednesday we spent an hour and ten minutes and on Thursday we spent an hour and 45 minutes.

Order of Business (1 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: The people are sick and sorry at the waste of time every week while we talk about doing our business instead of doing it.

Order of Business (1 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: The Fines Bill was circulated yesterday. It provides for the payment of fines by instalments. Other legislation is being considered for the recovery of fines by way of imposition on wages and other payments due to people. The second Bill is being worked on in my Department.

Order of Business (1 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: However, in the meantime——

Order of Business (1 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: In the meantime, I wish to make two points. First, it is necessary there should be some sanction for those who do not pay fines imposed on them by the courts.

Order of Business (1 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: Second, the new legislation will make it possible for those who do not have this sum of money available to them immediately to pay it by means of instalments.