Results 17,741-17,760 of 18,737 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Seanad: Companies (Corporate Enforcement Authority) Bill: Committee and Remaining Stages (15 Dec 2021)

Michael McDowell: When is it proposed to take Final Stage?

Seanad: Companies (Corporate Enforcement Authority) Bill: Committee and Remaining Stages (15 Dec 2021)

Michael McDowell: Is that agreed? Agreed.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Dec 2021)

Michael McDowell: I join in and identify with the remarks made by my colleagues about the debt we owe to the staff of the Houses of the Oireachtas, the Clerk's office and the other services that keep us going. I wish to express my gratitude for the politeness, courtesy and solid support those offices have given the Members of this House. I speak on my own behalf and that of my colleagues in the Independent...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Dec 2021)

Michael McDowell: I heard what the Acting Leader about having the matter debated. I do not want, in any sense, to diminish the capacity of people to contribute on the Uighur subject. If the acting Leader is signalling that time will be made available in Government time to consider this report in the new year, I would be prepared not to put it to a vote today and divide the House. I was just looking at the...

Seanad: Appropriation Bill 2021: Second Stage (16 Dec 2021)

Michael McDowell: In the limited time available to me, which shows that this is normally seen as more or less a rubber-stamp debate, I will say a couple of things. I am reading some biographies of 18th century English politicians and the whole idea of appropriation was considerably important as the only means their parliament had over their executive, in the form of the king and his ministers. Controlling...

Seanad: Appropriation Bill 2021: Second Stage (16 Dec 2021)

Michael McDowell: Not when I am the only one who is awake.

Seanad: Appropriation Bill 2021: Second Stage (16 Dec 2021)

Michael McDowell: I am very comfortable with the Senator.

Seanad: Appropriation Bill 2021: Second Stage (16 Dec 2021)

Michael McDowell: Is that 8 km of track?

Seanad: Appropriation Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Dec 2021)

Michael McDowell: Senator Gavan mentioned the question of funding the Limerick regeneration project. This is covered by the expenditure in section 1. I simply wanted to say that the social difficulties that existed in Limerick and its suburbs in particular were very apparent to the Government of 2002 to 2007. I visited Limerick on a number of occasions as the Minister with responsibility for justice. It...

Seanad Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Update on Withdrawal Agreement, Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland and Trade and Co-operation Agreement: Minister for Foreign Affairs (24 Nov 2021)

Michael McDowell: I apologise for my late arrival, I was getting my booster jab, which I decided was important. I understand you were discussing the House of Lords letter before I arrived. It raises some very interesting questions about pharmaceuticals, medicines, licensing and the like. Are we running into any difficulties with British medicines imports in the Republic? Is it causing any difficulty at our...

Seanad Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Update on Withdrawal Agreement, Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland and Trade and Co-operation Agreement: Minister for Foreign Affairs (24 Nov 2021)

Michael McDowell: I do not want to put the Minister, Deputy Coveney, on the spot.

Seanad Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Update on Withdrawal Agreement, Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland and Trade and Co-operation Agreement: Minister for Foreign Affairs (24 Nov 2021)

Michael McDowell: It struck me as I looked at the problems in Northern Ireland. If there is a problem up there, there must be a bit of a problem down here as well.

Seanad Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Update on Withdrawal Agreement, Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland and Trade and Co-operation Agreement: Minister for Foreign Affairs (24 Nov 2021)

Michael McDowell: Before Mr. Gardner comments on that, I will ask a supplementary question on this. Is there any difficulty for Irish pharmaceutical manufacturers selling into the UK market? This should be considered at the same time if we are going to have a common branding for Northern Ireland. There is a possible risk that people might transpose their manufacture to Northern Ireland to avail of the best...

Seanad Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Update on Withdrawal Agreement, Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland and Trade and Co-operation Agreement: Minister for Foreign Affairs (24 Nov 2021)

Michael McDowell: They were treated as if they could have come from China or from anywhere.

Seanad Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Update on Withdrawal Agreement, Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland and Trade and Co-operation Agreement: Minister for Foreign Affairs (24 Nov 2021)

Michael McDowell: Reading between the lines, the House of Lords sub-committee seemed to be positive rather than negative, and optimistic rather than pessimistic, in its letter to Lord Frost. It encouraged compromise.

Seanad Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Update on Withdrawal Agreement, Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland and Trade and Co-operation Agreement: Minister for Foreign Affairs (24 Nov 2021)

Michael McDowell: On the investment certainty issue, is it a positive or a negative that these matters come up for review in four years? It seems that a priori it is not a huge advantage if you are thinking of making a big investment and the whole thing could be radically different.