Results 17,241-17,260 of 18,737 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 Nov 2019)

Michael McDowell: Is it in order to single out a minority of birds for this kind of treatment?

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 Nov 2019)

Michael McDowell: Meanwhile, what about casinos?

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 Nov 2019)

Michael McDowell: In two years' time?

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (3 Dec 2019)

Michael McDowell: There are demonstrations from time to time outside of this House. Today, a number of people were here protesting about changes made by the Department of Justice and Equality to the circumstances and way in which bingo is operated in various centres in the country. All of that is dealt under the Gaming and Lotteries Act, as amended. The simple fact is that there is a far more serious issue...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (3 Dec 2019)

Michael McDowell: I hope they take a look at the way they have recently changed the register in Dublin, anyway. They do the whole street in alphabetical order of the people and not house by house.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (3 Dec 2019)

Michael McDowell: It is unusable at the moment.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (3 Dec 2019)

Michael McDowell: At least categorise people by house.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2019: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2019)

Michael McDowell: Will the Minister of State clarify whether an Irish citizen who has been resident abroad and is posted back to Ireland by his or her employer is entitled to this relief?

Seanad: Finance Bill 2019: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2019)

Michael McDowell: A good and long-standing family friend of mine, Mr. Garret FitzGerald, was once alleged to have asked, "That is all right in practice but does it work out in theory?" It is not true that he was the first to have said it. If one googles the phrase, one will find out it was said about 30 years before Mr. FitzGerald was alleged to have said it. It reminds me, however, of one proposition. I...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2019: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2019)

Michael McDowell: I know but I am just referring to the view that people who stay outside the country might not return because of an absence of patriotism. It does not really matter to me very much what the internal thought processes of those people are; it is about the practical effect on the Exchequer in the long run. That is the crucial question. When I say that, I am not being cynical at all. For...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2019: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2019)

Michael McDowell: We are talking about residency. I ask Senator Higgins to take on board the point that Mr. Charlie McCreevy, when Minister for Finance, cut the rate of capital gains tax from 40% to 20%. By doing so, even at that stage, when tax rates were not as high as they were after the economic crisis, he quintupled the yield from the tax. One could say, if one wanted to be theoretical or ideological...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2019: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2019)

Michael McDowell: It is not true to-----

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (4 Dec 2019)

Michael McDowell: I welcome the Cathaoirleach back. I would be intrigued to see the changes that have taken place since the photograph to which he referred was taken; we all need to be depressed from time to time. I echo what Senator Gavan said about the remuneration of staff in the Oireachtas. We should be mindful of the issues he has raised. I welcome to the Gallery fifth class pupils from St. Pius X...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (4 Dec 2019)

Michael McDowell: It is the People's Republic of China.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (4 Dec 2019)

Michael McDowell: It is not red anymore.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (4 Dec 2019)

Michael McDowell: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Civil Law (Costs in Probate Matters) Bill 2017: Committee Stage (4 Dec 2019)

Michael McDowell: I move amendment No. 1: In page 4, between lines 9 and 10, to insert the following: "(2) A court's jurisdiction shall for the purposes of subsection (1) include jurisdiction to make an order in respect of costs that does not follow the event for special cause to be mentioned in its order.". I will give the House some background to this amendment. In anticipation of Committee Stage, my...

Seanad: Civil Law (Costs in Probate Matters) Bill 2017: Committee Stage (4 Dec 2019)

Michael McDowell: Why not, if General Franco can be exhumed?

Seanad: Civil Law (Costs in Probate Matters) Bill 2017: Committee Stage (4 Dec 2019)

Michael McDowell: I thank the Minister for his contribution. I agree with him in respect of costs. Costs have grown very substantially and considerable disquiet has been expressed, both on a disciplinary basis and by the courts themselves, with regard to the costs practitioners sometimes charge estates. I accept that proposition. As the Minister will fully understand, this is not a lawyer's Bill. It is an...

Seanad: Civil Law (Costs in Probate Matters) Bill 2017: Order for Report Stage (4 Dec 2019)

Michael McDowell: I propose that we deal with it now.