Results 17,121-17,140 of 18,737 for speaker:Michael McDowell
- Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Report Stage (19 Nov 2019)
Michael McDowell: -----any U-turn had to be rejected in principle and by definition. We are in a very peculiar situation. The Taoiseach has said that he favours holding a general election in May 2020. If this Bill passes through this House in the next number of weeks, goes back to Dáil Éireann and is passed by it, and is signed by the President without reference to the Supreme Court, it would be...
- Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Report Stage (19 Nov 2019)
Michael McDowell: Even with kryptonite in abundant supply and the Minister wearing his underpants outside his uniform-----
- Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Report Stage (19 Nov 2019)
Michael McDowell: Even if that were to happen, the commission will not be in existence before the next general election.
- Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Report Stage (19 Nov 2019)
Michael McDowell: I strongly believe the Bill would not have been introduced in its current form were it not for a happenstance, a peculiar obsession on the part of one or two individuals who have had leverage over the Government. That being the case, a new Government will be duty-bound to ask whether the commencement of the legislation will really add anything to the quality of the Judiciary by comparison...
- Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Report Stage (19 Nov 2019)
Michael McDowell: As one of the others, I am very happy-----
- Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Report Stage (19 Nov 2019)
Michael McDowell: On a point of order, the Minister made two speeches-----
- Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Report Stage (19 Nov 2019)
Michael McDowell: I just wanted to say that I will consider his kind invitation to join him in the Dáil.
- Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Report Stage (19 Nov 2019)
Michael McDowell: Senator Craughwell is reserving his position because he is still available for the Presidency.
- Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Report Stage (19 Nov 2019)
Michael McDowell: Yes.
- Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Nov 2019)
Michael McDowell: I support what Senator Freeman said about psychiatric services. If, as she stated, an emergency appointment for a psychiatric interview is taking 13 weeks, we are not just talking about delays but also about lives. The HSE is statute-bound to provide psychiatric services, and there comes a point at which it is in breach of its statutory duty. I think this will end up in the courts in the...
- Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Nov 2019)
Michael McDowell: The building is not the headquarters at all.
- Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Nov 2019)
Michael McDowell: So did I.
- Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Nov 2019)
Michael McDowell: I was invited by the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Flanagan, to run for the Dáil.
- Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (21 Nov 2019)
Michael McDowell: I want to echo what was stated earlier about the need to take a coherent approach to transport issues, especially in the city of Dublin. The National Transport Authority is currently sponsoring the excavation of a geological survey in Ely Place, Hume Street, in the middle of the road. Some Members may have seen the stockade that has been built there to explore the subsoil structure to...
- Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (21 Nov 2019)
Michael McDowell: That is the point that I was coming to. The National Transport Authority spent an awful lot of money on planning various projects without the authority of either the Houses of the Oireachtas or a clear mandate from the public. The Department in which Deputy Ross is Minister has overall charge of transport policy. However, it seems that the National Transport Authority has developed into an...
- Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (21 Nov 2019)
Michael McDowell: I would suggest that we have a debate in the House on the National Transport Authority, who runs it, who is on it, who decides the policy issues with which it deals, who decides on its budget and who is responsible for its budget. We should have a serious debate as to whether it is in fact a semi-autonomous body or whether it is implementing Government policy approved by the Oireachtas in...
- Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (21 Nov 2019)
Michael McDowell: I will be here for stage 2.
- Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (21 Nov 2019)
Michael McDowell: There is not time for him to deal with all the points.
- Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (21 Nov 2019)
Michael McDowell: I will.
- Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (21 Nov 2019)
Michael McDowell: Will the Senator canvass for him?