Results 17,801-17,820 of 18,738 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Rehabilitative Opportunities within the Prison System: Discussion (29 Mar 2022)

Michael McDowell: When I was Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, I attended a meeting of governors that was held in the training unit at Midlands Prison. I suggested we should aim towards drug testing to really assist in rehabilitation. I am glad that generation of governors is not representative of today's generation, but there was a somewhat glazed look in their eyes when I proposed the routine...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Rehabilitative Opportunities within the Prison System: Discussion (29 Mar 2022)

Michael McDowell: It is very difficult to argue that a prisoner is being rehabilitated if he or she is being fed on a drug habit throughout his or her term of imprisonment.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 Apr 2022)

Michael McDowell: To begin with, I associate myself with the warm words of welcome from a number of my colleagues to Senator Tom Clonan on his election. I assure him that what has been said is true and this is a collegiate place. As far as I am concerned, I have never seen a lack of friendship among anybody in this House against anybody else, no matter how deeply divided people have been on matters. It is a...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 Apr 2022)

Michael McDowell: -----and that the Ukrainian people deserve every support in fighting for their freedom, independence and their country's integrity.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 Apr 2022)

Michael McDowell: I was struck by the fact Senator Norris revealed the terrible truth about Sir John Maxwell. Sir John Maxwell has something in common with my background and he tried to get my grandfather, Eoin MacNeill, executed for calling off the 1916 Rising. I now realise Senator Norris has been concealing this from me for a long time. Poor Eoin MacNeill, for his trouble, was the subject of a slightly...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 May 2022)

Michael McDowell: I fully appreciate what you have just said, Chair, about this House not being in command of what happens at committees, let alone joint committees, but I do want to make the point that joint committees cannot be a no-man's land and standards must be upheld by both Houses in joint committees, one way or the other. What I want to raise today is the possibility that the Leader would organise a...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (11 May 2022)

Michael McDowell: I welcome Senator Malcolm Byrne's remarks about Seanad reform. I want to remind the House that the Minister with responsibility for Seanad reform informed us that he was going to bring forward proposals. I think that was a year ago.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (11 May 2022)

Michael McDowell: He made firm commitments that there would be Seanad reform.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (11 May 2022)

Michael McDowell: Hold on. Senator Buttimer will have his opportunity. The Minister of State told me that there was a proposal to establish among the Government parties a group that would come forward with proposals which I would be shown last October. That group has not been established let alone come forward with any proposals. I have come to the conclusion that this is an elaborate smoke screen for...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (11 May 2022)

Michael McDowell: Some time we are entitled to hear the truth as to what the Government's plans actually are. The other issue on which I intended to speak before Senator Malcolm Byrne tempted me down that particular rabbit hole-----

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (11 May 2022)

Michael McDowell: I should have said that 1 million people would elect six Senators but that there are 4 million people who are not university graduates who would have no say at all on that. Let us remember that. The point I want the acting Leader to take on board is the need to discuss the outcome of the Northern elections. Some 63 of the 90 people elected are comfortable with the Northern Ireland protocol...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (11 May 2022)

Michael McDowell: It is not agreed. I want to make a point and I will not divide the house on it but I believe that election posters are hugely important and create a consciousness.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (11 May 2022)

Michael McDowell: I believe that if we do not have election posters, RTÉ and the radio stations will ration out the time among the existing parties. As the Deputy Leader said, it is okay for the existing incumbents but is bad news for anyone entering politics.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (11 May 2022)

Michael McDowell: Having said that, I will reluctantly agree.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (31 May 2022)

Michael McDowell: I have minor questions on section 5 on which I will ask the Minister to expand. Section 5(b) proposes the deletion of "to further develop a quarry" and section 5(g) proposes to delete the words "in respect of a quarry". Am I right in thinking these two deletions will extend the application of section 37L to non-quarrying situations? Is this the name of the game? Is this the plan? Is it...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (31 May 2022)

Michael McDowell: I do not think that all development is bad or that all developers are bad. I think people who find themselves in a position where they are looking for substitute consent, for whatever reason, are not in a situation which any rational person would like to be in to start with, bearing in mind what I consider to be the overblown decision of the Commission on Ireland. For example, people might...

Seanad: Consumer Credit (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (1 Jun 2022)

Michael McDowell: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. Many years ago, I worked as a barrister advising the providers of personal credit so this is an issue, as are collection charges and the like, that I have some experience of. I agree completely with what has just been said about us now heading into a financial crisis where many people may be driven to borrowing money just to keep going. I will...

Seanad: Consumer Credit (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (1 Jun 2022)

Michael McDowell: I was not saying that.

Seanad: Consumer Credit (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (1 Jun 2022)

Michael McDowell: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: General Scheme of the Gambling Regulation Bill: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Mar 2022)

Michael McDowell: I welcome the witnesses and thank them for their contributions and submissions. On the dangers of gambling, gambling addiction and the damage it does, does anyone have a problem with the general thrust of the Bill, which seems to regard gambling as something that can be controlled but, in general, should not be discouraged? In that context, I will raise a number of points. First, in...