Results 17,381-17,400 of 18,737 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Dec 2019)

Michael McDowell: He is a great man for putting on his waders and sorting things out.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Dec 2019)

Michael McDowell: The decade ends next year, by the way.

Seanad: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2019: Second and Subsequent Stages (18 Dec 2019)

Michael McDowell: I support this Bill, the concept of community rating and whatever is necessary to strengthen community rating. The Leader mentioned on the Order of Business that car insurance premiums were coming down. I have a different experience. I had €150 extra loaded onto mine for no reason. When I checked it out with my broker, the broker said he would ring up the insurance company, and it...

Seanad: Regulated Professions (Health and Social Care) (Amendment) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (18 Dec 2019)

Michael McDowell: I support the amendment. I welcome the pharmaceutical assistants to the House today. I welcome also the Minister's decision to accept the amendment. Finally, I commend my colleague at the Bar, Ms Anita Finucane, on her excellent drafting.

Seanad: Business of Seanad: Motion (21 Jan 2020)

Michael McDowell: I understand that the business to which we are speaking this afternoon is a motion to adjourn the House. It occurs to me that rather than prolong the matter too much, we have a number of months to go as Senators. In that context, if any of those present are patient, I can keep going.I want to start by thanking the Cathaoirleach and the Leas-Chathaoirleach for the wonderful service given to...

Seanad: Business of Seanad: Motion (21 Jan 2020)

Michael McDowell: On a serious note, I noted in today's edition of The Irish Timesa namesake of mine, Bishop John McDowell of Clogher, a Church of Ireland bishop in Northern Ireland whose diocese straddles the Border, emphasising the importance of civility. It seems to me that apart from simple friendship, of which there is an abundance in this House, there has always been civility. Recently when some people...

Seanad: An Bille Sláinte (Caomhnú agus Cosaint agus Bearta Éigeandála eile ar mhaithe le Leas an Phobail), 2020: An Dara Céim - Health (Preservation and Protection and other Emergency Measures in the Public Interest) Bill 2020: Second Stage (20 Mar 2020)

Michael McDowell: I want to echo what Senator Boyhan has just said. The Minister's contribution here today has been very powerful indeed. If the media are interested in the proceedings of this House, the broadcast media in particular, the portion of the Minister's unscripted remarks about the seriousness of the obligation to comply with the guidance the Government is giving and the potential consequences of...

Seanad: Election of Cathaoirleach (29 Jun 2020)

Michael McDowell: Ar dtús, déanaim comhghairdeas leis an gCathaoirleach agus cuirim mo dhea-mhéin chuige as ucht a bheith tofa mar Chathaoirleach an Tí seo. This is an historic occasion for him and for this House. I do not believe I am breaking any confidences in revealing that he has sought support widely among Members in his determination to become its Cathaoirleach. It is important to...

Seanad: Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998 and Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009: Motions (29 Jun 2020)

Michael McDowell: I join other Members in welcoming the Minister, Deputy McEntee, and congratulating her on a very challenging but, I believe, very rewarding appointment.It is much deserved. She did our country proud when she was spokesperson for the Irish State on Brexit. I was glad to acknowledge that in the previous Seanad and I reiterate my best hopes for her tenure as Minister for Justice. I am one of...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (9 Jul 2020)

Michael McDowell: I thank the authorities in Leinster House for enabling us to meet in this place. On the question of education, I strongly support the requests made not only today but on a previous occasion for a serious set of debates on education. Both Ministers with responsibility for education, Deputies Foley and Harris, should be asked in here, not to announce final decisions, because there are...

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (23 Jul 2020)

Michael McDowell: I echo the words of welcome and congratulation to the Minister of State. This has been an uplifting, positive and welcome debate. This Chamber is normally occupied by other people and sometimes is much more adversarial. I believe that the questions of education and the establishment of this new Department should elicit a positive response. The first words I spoke in the House today were...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (24 Jul 2020)

Michael McDowell: I wish to proposed an amendment to the Order of Business that No. 5 be taken before No. 1. I wish to draw the House's attention to the following health matter and I ask the Leader to ask the Minister for Health to make himself available to deal with this issue, as he has other business in this House today. I refer to the need for the HSE and the Department of Health to put in place a...

Seanad: Seanad Bill 2020: First Stage (24 Jul 2020)

Michael McDowell: I move: That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to reform Seanad Éireann within the terms of the Constitution and for that purpose to expand the franchise at Seanad elections; to provide for the establishment of the Seanad Electoral Commission; to provide for the repeal of the Seanad Electoral (Panel Members) Act 1947 and the Seanad Electoral (University Members) Act...

Seanad: Seanad Bill 2020: First Stage (24 Jul 2020)

Michael McDowell: Next Tuesday.

Seanad: Companies (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Second Stage (24 Jul 2020)

Michael McDowell: I echo the sentiments of welcome and congratulation to the Minister of State, Deputy Troy, and the good wishes that have been expressed for the carrying-out of his ministerial functions. I welcome this legislation. It is very important that the system of company law and indeed co-operative societies should function properly during this period. Any relaxation of relevant rules or procedures...

Seanad: Companies (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Covid-19) Bill: Committee and Remaining Stages (24 Jul 2020)

Michael McDowell: I move amendment No. 1: In page 5, between lines 22 and 23, to insert the following: "(3) This Act shall expire at the end of the interim period and on such expiry shall be deemed to have been repealed subject to the provisions of section 27 of the Interpretation Act 2005. (4) During the interim period the Act of 2014 shall have effect as though it is amended in accordance with Part 2....

Seanad: Companies (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Covid-19) Bill: Committee and Remaining Stages (24 Jul 2020)

Michael McDowell: I move amendment No. 2: In page 5, after line 26, to insert the following: " "interim period" has the same meaning as is provided in section 3 and section 29 respectively.".

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (29 Jul 2020)

Michael McDowell: I echo the comments by Senators Dooley, Buttimer and Craughwell in regard to Aer Lingus. It is hugely important that we do not end up reading in the newspapers that it is all over suddenly for the company as a result of a decision made somewhere else. In case people feel that state aid rules are an issue, I would point out that Ryanair has already got £600 million from the UK...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 Jul 2020)

Michael McDowell: Yesterday, I mentioned a request made to the Deputy Leader to have the Minister with responsibility for culture come here to address the subject of the removal of statues from outside the Shelbourne Hotel. I was slightly disturbed to see the ambivalent remarks made by the Lord Mayor of Dublin, who is in the same party as the Minister, about the statues. There is no slavery at all suggested...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (10 Sep 2020)

Michael McDowell: First I want to observe that having stated that the business of this sitting of the Seanad was solely concerned with the Government's Bill, the Cathaoirleach himself then breached it by making remarks about Clifden.