Results 16,921-16,940 of 18,737 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Jun 2019)

Michael McDowell: I move amendment No. 99c:In page 35, to delete lines 1 to 4. This amendment seeks to delete subparagraph (e) of subsection (5): "the need for the selection procedures to comprise comprehensive procedures, including provision for interviews and other selection tests, approaches and methods in line with the requirements of the vacancy or vacancies proposed to be filled,". I do not know what...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Jun 2019)

Michael McDowell: It is a reference to aptitude tests and things like that.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Jun 2019)

Michael McDowell: I do not wish to divide the House just now on this issue. There is very little time remaining.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Jun 2019)

Michael McDowell: I will not waffle because I am talking about waffle contained in the legislation. As Senator Norris suggested, this is inflated language which means absolutely nothing. The selection procedures must comprise comprehensive procedures.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Jun 2019)

Michael McDowell: What are non-comprehensive procedures? Nobody knows what is meant by the need for selection procedures to be comprehensive. We have already disagreed on including provision for interviews, but the Minister showed some flexibility on it.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Jun 2019)

Michael McDowell: I refer also to the need for the selection procedures to include other selection tests, approaches and methods.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Jun 2019)

Michael McDowell: Now the Acting Chairman is interrupting me and silencing me.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Jun 2019)

Michael McDowell: I will report progress.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Jun 2019)

Michael McDowell: I report progress.

Seanad: Perjury and Related Offences Bill 2018: Report and Final Stages (26 Jun 2019)

Michael McDowell: I move amendment No. 8:In page 19, to delete lines 21 to 24. This was part of a suite of amendments and the earlier ones have not been moved. I wanted to draw the Minister's attention to a problem that exists in respect of witnesses being sworn in during proceedings. They are required to justify an affirmation by explaining their religious beliefs. The Law Society, as I understood-----

Seanad: Perjury and Related Offences Bill 2018: Report and Final Stages (26 Jun 2019)

Michael McDowell: I just wanted to draw to the Minister's attention the views of the Law Society that there should be an amendment to the law. That is all.

Seanad: Perjury and Related Offences Bill 2018: Report and Final Stages (26 Jun 2019)

Michael McDowell: I wish to add my words of congratulations to Senator Ó Céidigh on taking the initiative to start the process which led to the Bill passing through the House. When he came to our Independent Group with this proposal, it seemed to me that he faced a number of insurmountable odds, but he has, by his industry and persistence, brought all the parties in the House with him. He brought...

Seanad: Summer Economic Statement 2019: Statements (26 Jun 2019)

Michael McDowell: I am sharing time with Senator Boyhan. The summer economic statement is, as Senator Horkan said, challenging in some respects and reassuring in others. As the statement notes, the economy is in a remarkably better condition than it was a number of years ago after the financial crash. There are, however, some fundamental underlying problems, such as the indebtedness per head of the Irish...

Seanad: Summer Economic Statement 2019: Statements (26 Jun 2019)

Michael McDowell: No, that was Fianna Fáil.

Seanad: Summer Economic Statement 2019: Statements (26 Jun 2019)

Michael McDowell: The Leader may have forgotten that that was an election in which I lost my seat, so it was not my policy.

Seanad: Summer Economic Statement 2019: Statements (26 Jun 2019)

Michael McDowell: One never knows; the cycle goes round and round. I will hand over to Senator Boyhan.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Jul 2019)

Michael McDowell: This amendment proposes to delete lines one to four on page 35. We discussed this on the previous occasion.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Jul 2019)

Michael McDowell: I have said everything I needed to have said.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Jul 2019)

Michael McDowell: I have said everything I have to say about this amendment.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Jul 2019)

Michael McDowell: I move amendment No. 100a:In page 35, line 12, after "office" to insert the following:"(including informing applicants as to whether or not they have been selected by the Commission for recommendation to the Government)". Amendments Nos. 100 and 103 are related and I would have had no objection to their being discussed together, had they been moved. As I understand it, however, amendment...