Results 141-160 of 1,683 for speaker:Derek McDowell

Seanad: Unclaimed Life Assurance Policies Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (12 Feb 2003)

Derek McDowell: These are the most important amendments that we have discussed so far. The Minister indicated willingness to consider the idea when he dealt with the matter in the Dáil. Simplicity is the aim behind them. If someone wants to claim a policy, there should be one point of contact – one phone number or website – where they can get information. At present, that does not apply. The Minister of...

Seanad: Unclaimed Life Assurance Policies Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (12 Feb 2003)

Derek McDowell: Within a few years.

Seanad: Unclaimed Life Assurance Policies Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (12 Feb 2003)

Derek McDowell: I accept that, in practical terms, this would take a little time to put in place but I believe the officials are over emphasising the issue of legal and constitutional difficulties. I do not see a need for substantial change in the way one currently claims under a policy – I assume that is by filling in a form and providing certain information, including a policy number. Obviously, a...

Seanad: Unclaimed Life Assurance Policies Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (12 Feb 2003)

Derek McDowell: My difficulty is that I do not understand what the legal complexities are, even in very broad outline. As I see it, if somebody who believes he or she may be entitled to benefit under a policy contacts an agency which has a database of information, that database is not available to them in total but they should be entitled to a simple "Yes" or "No". I do not see where any legal complexity arises.

Seanad: Unclaimed Life Assurance Policies Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (12 Feb 2003)

Derek McDowell: It already arises under the current procedure for claiming from an insurance company. The possibility of fraud or the difficulty to which the Minister of State alluded could already arise in circumstances where people claim under policies.

Seanad: Unclaimed Life Assurance Policies Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (12 Feb 2003)

Derek McDowell: In terms of public notice and so on, does the Minister for Finance intend to carry out a publicity campaign in relation to this? There have been some wonderful and highly skilled publicity campaigns by Ministers.

Seanad: Unclaimed Life Assurance Policies Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (12 Feb 2003)

Derek McDowell: Are we likely to see the Minister perambulating down by the canal in his constituency and that sort of thing?

Seanad: Unclaimed Life Assurance Policies Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (12 Feb 2003)

Derek McDowell: I have a question for the Minister of State about something which I genuinely do not understand. The Bill, and this section in particular, gives the power to the Minister for Community, Gaeltacht and Rural Affairs to make what are effectively financial regulations. I understand that he is the Minister responsible for the disbursement of the fund at the other end of the process and that is...

Seanad: Unclaimed Life Assurance Policies Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (12 Feb 2003)

Derek McDowell: I appreciate what the Minister of State said. The Bill generally gives the power to the Minister for Gaeltacht, Community and Rural Affairs to make the regulations in relation to policies.

Seanad: Unclaimed Life Assurance Policies Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (12 Feb 2003)

Derek McDowell: I understand that, but in several sections it also gives the power to the Minister to make regulations in relation to how life assurance policies are dealt with, which is properly a life assurance matter for the independent regulator or for the Minister for Finance. I know it requires the consent of the Minister for Finance but I am quite surprised that the Department of Finance, which is the...

Seanad: Unclaimed Life Assurance Policies Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (12 Feb 2003)

Derek McDowell: Although it is not a particularly germane matter, section 7 states: The Minister for Community, Gaeltacht and Rural Affairs, having regard to the purposes specified in subsection (3), following consultation with the regulatory authority and subject to the consent of the Minister for Finance, may make regulations providing for the application of this Act and instruments made under this Act,...

Seanad: Unclaimed Life Assurance Policies Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (12 Feb 2003)

Derek McDowell: I take that point, certainly.

Seanad: Order of Business. (18 Feb 2003)

Derek McDowell: I wish to take up the issue raised by Senator O'Toole when referring to the demonstrations in Dublin and elsewhere last Saturday. I was astonished to hear the Taoiseach on radio this morning suggest, as only he could do, that people were demonstrating in favour of current Government policy. I would not presume to speak on behalf of everybody who was at the march in Dublin on Saturday, but I...

Seanad: Capital Acquisitions Tax Consolidation Bill 2002: Report and Final Stages. (18 Feb 2003)

Derek McDowell: My apologies for being late. I want to make a few general remarks about capital acquisition tax. They may came from a somewhat more nuanced perspective than others. Two or three years ago, during a break in the Committee Stage debate on the Finance Bill, the Minister turned to me and said he did not really understand why we were having the debate because he did not believe in inheritance tax...

Seanad: Capital Acquisitions Tax Consolidation Bill 2002: Report and Final Stages. (18 Feb 2003)

Derek McDowell: And the family home.

Seanad: Capital Acquisitions Tax Consolidation Bill 2002: Report and Final Stages. (18 Feb 2003)

Derek McDowell: It is far too high.

Seanad: Finance and Related Matters: Statements. (18 Feb 2003)

Derek McDowell: It is not a country, it is a bank.

Seanad: Finance and Related Matters: Statements. (18 Feb 2003)

Derek McDowell: Senator O'Toole sought this debate because he questioned the independence of some of the economists and other authorities who regularly lecture us with regard to the economy. I could not agree more and I am not taking a cheap shot as this is an important point. Much of our discussion on these issues is informed by people who should carry a bias warning. The majority of them are academics or...

Seanad: Convention on the Future of Europe: Statements. (26 Feb 2003)

Derek McDowell: Ba mhaith liom cuidiú leis an méid atá ráite ag Baill eile a chur fáilte roimh uachtaráin mo pháirti, an t-Uasal De Rossa. Ceapaim go bhfuil an díospóireacht seo úsáideach agus go mbeidh sé mar pháirt den díospóireacht mhór náisiúnta agus b'fheidir idirnáisiúnta i rith agus tar éis an Choinbhinsiún. This afternoon's debate has been interesting so far, but in some ways a...

Seanad: Convention on the Future of Europe: Statements. (26 Feb 2003)

Derek McDowell: I was in some doubt about what happened in the last Gulf War. On balance, the bottom line is that Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait and there was a clear legitimacy in getting him out of there.