Results 16,101-16,120 of 18,736 for speaker:Michael McDowell
- Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Jan 2019)
Michael McDowell: On the last occasion before the Christmas break, we were discussing a proposal on my part and on the part of Senators Boyhan, Craughwell and Norris for the amendment of section 39 by the addition of three additional subsections, one of which was to provide that nothing in the Act should require any member of the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal or the High Court to apply to the commission...
- Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Jan 2019)
Michael McDowell: In reference to that, I want to say that to so misconstrue and misrepresent Article 26 of the Constitution, so as to say that effectively a "new ruse" had been dreamed up to allow them to consider the validity of the terms of this legislation before the President signs it into law and to say that this was somehow designed to assist a conspiracy of judges and other opponents to effect the way...
- Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Jan 2019)
Michael McDowell: It affects them, albeit indirectly and distantly. Article 26 has functions, one of which is to deal with situations where something the President is considering signing into law appears constitutionally appears suspect. Another function is in circumstances where the President comes to the view that it should not become law until it is tested because it is unlikely that an action will be...
- Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Jan 2019)
Michael McDowell: That would hardly be an edifying or proper position in which to put a judge, as the only person who could really protest about the new method of requiring all judges to submit themselves to external adjudication and exclusion by a process which is utterly non-transparent, from being shortlisted or made available to the Government as a would-be appointee. That judge would have to litigate....
- Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Jan 2019)
Michael McDowell: No, quite the reverse.
- Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Jan 2019)
Michael McDowell: I am grateful to the Chair. I do not believe it was an admission that he had physically beaten them.
- Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Jan 2019)
Michael McDowell: Yes.
- Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Jan 2019)
Michael McDowell: If he had read it. I think he does take a close interest. The other point-----
- Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Jan 2019)
Michael McDowell: I am grateful to the Acting Chairman for that but I also make this point. This is a Government Bill. Under the Constitution the Government meets and acts as a collective authority. The Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Flanagan, is here representing the Government and part of his collective authority, his Cabinet colleague, has said those things-----
- Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Jan 2019)
Michael McDowell: What?
- Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Jan 2019)
Michael McDowell: On the other hand I do not read much of what is attributed to the Minister's colleague, but this jumped off the page at me, and I thought the Minister should be aware of it. Now he is aware of it. He also told the Sunday Independentthat The Irish Times had been "ranting and raving in a kind of almost fervent zealotry" about his proposals. He said, "They're very keen to stop it and they...
- Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Jan 2019)
Michael McDowell: I am glad to hear the Government has done it today.
- Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Jan 2019)
Michael McDowell: Excluding today.
- Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Jan 2019)
Michael McDowell: I had not heard of it. There are more in the pipeline. I am glad to hear that.
- Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Jan 2019)
Michael McDowell: It makes it very clear to me. The statement that this is about cronyism and perpetuating political patronage and favours, and that is what I am doing here, really needs to be underlined when the Minister's own Cabinet colleagues have made 36 appointments. Either those are good appointments - I think they are good appointments - or they are not. Either they are exercises in political...
- Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Jan 2019)
Michael McDowell: Let it be there. It is scandalous that members of the Government from the very top to the lowest member of Government, whoever that might be - I have a candidate in mind, I have to say - refuse to condemn this kind of language in respect of decisions they are making. I really resent it. It is perfectly-----
- Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Jan 2019)
Michael McDowell: It is about time that some discipline was imposed in the Government. Instead of telling us how to do our business in this job, might I suggest the Government meets and acts as a collective authority. Either it is engaging in patronage and favour-giving or it is not. If any member of the Government thinks that the old system is inherently an exercise in patronage or favour-giving he should...
- Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Jan 2019)
Michael McDowell: I do not want to get personal and I do not want to go there.
- Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Jan 2019)
Michael McDowell: The Minister is not here, but I have been told by his paid employees that he pays close attention to everything that is said in this House. From the media exposure over the Christmas break it seems he is quite happy to fire off volleys at those who oppose his legislation but like Mrs. Mulligan's dog, he is a devil to give it but cannot take it. I want to draw the Minister's attention to-----
- Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Jan 2019)
Michael McDowell: Without being disorderly, I wish to bring the Minister forward to why this amendment is so important. It is because of what is later provided for in sections 48 and 49 of the Bill with which we are dealing. Section 48 innocuously states:(1) Notice of an appointment to judicial office shall be published in Iris Oifigiúil and the notice shall, if it be the case, include a statement that...