Results 17,281-17,300 of 18,737 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Report Stage (Resumed) (10 Dec 2019)

Michael McDowell: I second the amendment.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Report Stage (Resumed) (10 Dec 2019)

Michael McDowell: I echo what Senator Bacik has said. I know the Minister may be suspicious of this but this is an effort to be constructive and to have the legislation make sense. If we had said, prior to the Chairman's ruling a few moments ago, that this was something that had to be considered in conjunction with amendment Nos. 51 and 52, the Minister would have noted that there is a subtle difference....

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Report Stage (Resumed) (10 Dec 2019)

Michael McDowell: We are distinguishing between them.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Report Stage (Resumed) (10 Dec 2019)

Michael McDowell: I move amendment No. 14: In page 9, to delete lines 1 to 9 and substitute the following: “References to recommending names: provision for their construction 3.In this Act, a reference to recommending the name of a person to the Minister is a reference to the making, under this Act, of a recommendation to the Minister that the person be appointed to a judicial office specified in...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Report Stage (Resumed) (10 Dec 2019)

Michael McDowell: The effect of the amendment is to amend section 3 by deleting the second paragraph (b) from the section. Paragraph (b)------

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Report Stage (Resumed) (10 Dec 2019)

Michael McDowell: I fully understand what the Minister is driving at, but it was never grouped with other amendments. Amendment No. 14 is to amend section 3 by deleting paragraph (b) from the section of the Bill as it currently stands. Paragraph (b) states: "In this Act - (b) a reference to recommending the name of a person to the Government under section 44is a reference to the making, under that section, of...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Report Stage (Resumed) (10 Dec 2019)

Michael McDowell: I am conscious that the Minister proposes in a later amendment to reinstate the original text of section 44. I am well aware of that but I am dealing with it as it stands now, and as it stands now is repugnant. Even if the Minister does have a majority in this House for the reinstatement of section 44 to correspond roughly to the format it was in before he brought it before Dáil...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Report Stage (Resumed) (10 Dec 2019)

Michael McDowell: Yes.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Report Stage (Resumed) (10 Dec 2019)

Michael McDowell: I do have permission.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Report Stage (Resumed) (10 Dec 2019)

Michael McDowell: I move amendment No. 15: In page 9, line 11, after “shall,” to insert “not exceed €300,000 in any calendar year and shall” The purpose of the amendment is to amend the relevant section providing for the costs of the commission in order to put a cap of €300,000 in any calendar year on the expenditure of the commission. I do not want to anticipate...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Future Funding of Public Service Broadcasting: Discussion (10 Dec 2019)

Michael McDowell: On the point discussed by Deputy Cullinane, Ms Forbes stated seven persons are on contract and that RTÉ is in negotiation with them about pay reductions. She was not clear as to whether any of them has yet committed to a reduction. Have there been any commitments, aside from statements from them to the effect that they will go with the flow?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Future Funding of Public Service Broadcasting: Discussion (10 Dec 2019)

Michael McDowell: Ms Forbes stated there had been one settlement. What percentage reduction was achieved on that occasion?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Future Funding of Public Service Broadcasting: Discussion (10 Dec 2019)

Michael McDowell: How long remains on the contracts that have been provided for?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Future Funding of Public Service Broadcasting: Discussion (10 Dec 2019)

Michael McDowell: Ms Forbes referred to renegotiation on renewal. How far away from happening is that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Future Funding of Public Service Broadcasting: Discussion (10 Dec 2019)

Michael McDowell: To what percentage will RTÉ agree as a reduction for those people when the renegotiation stage is reached? What is the target? Is it 10%, 20% or 30%?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Future Funding of Public Service Broadcasting: Discussion (10 Dec 2019)

Michael McDowell: I accept it could be wrong information but it has been suggested to me that the 30% figure, which is a global figure, included one particular person who left the organisation from whom credit was taken while the others were given the benefit of that. Is that correct?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Future Funding of Public Service Broadcasting: Discussion (10 Dec 2019)

Michael McDowell: If a mega-earner leaves at the top, then the percentage reduction is distorted by that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Future Funding of Public Service Broadcasting: Discussion (10 Dec 2019)

Michael McDowell: It is just these percentages.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Future Funding of Public Service Broadcasting: Discussion (10 Dec 2019)

Michael McDowell: These percentages are easy to talk about. However, at some stage, even in global terms, we should have the actual amount of cash that this programme of renegotiation etc, will actually realise. Can that be done?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Future Funding of Public Service Broadcasting: Discussion (10 Dec 2019)

Michael McDowell: One settlement has been negotiated. Seven of the top ten people in question are contracted. Does that mean the other three are employees?