Results 18,081-18,100 of 18,738 for speaker:Michael McDowell
- Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Mar 2023)
Michael McDowell: There was an amendment in my name. Has it been ruled out of order?
- Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Mar 2023)
Michael McDowell: Curious. Can I just say what it was about?
- Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Mar 2023)
Michael McDowell: The point I am making is very simply this-----
- Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Mar 2023)
Michael McDowell: We are amending the Judicial Council Act. There is a clear typo in that Act, which the amendment I tabled was designed to deal with. At present, subsection 50(4) of the Judicial Council Act 2019 states: "A complaint may be made under subsection (1) on behalf of ... a member of the [Bar] Council ... by a duly authorised officer of the General Council of the Bar". That was just a mistake; it...
- Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Mar 2023)
Michael McDowell: -----and therefore become law once proceedings in this House were completed. Now there is a clear opportunity to take out the mistaken words and substitute the correct ones. There is every reason, given we are amending the Judicial Council Act, to correct a clear mistake of that kind. That is as far as I will put it.
- Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Mar 2023)
Michael McDowell: By the way, there is a method to do it, even if it is outside the scope of the Bill and I have to defer to the ruling of the Acting Chair. That correction to the Judicial Council Act can be dealt with under the rules of this House. If there is a will to do it, it can be done.
- Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Mar 2023)
Michael McDowell: I will say a few things about the Schedule. I will not detain the House long. The Schedule deals with the constitution of the commission and sundry provisions relating to its procedures and staff. I will take the opportunity to reiterate that the Constitution adopted in 1937 accorded to the Government of Ireland, a democratically elected body, the right to choose from eligible people who...
- Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Mar 2023)
Michael McDowell: The Title is not agreed.
- Seanad: Environmental Protection Agency (Emergency Electricity Generation) (Amendment) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (9 Mar 2023)
Michael McDowell: It is important to bear in mind that keeping the lights on is an important immediate policy aim and obligation of government. Whatever one might say about long-term strategy, and I intend to say a few words about that too, keeping the lights on on an emergency basis is an imperative for government. We have to be practical in how we achieve that aim. On the long-term strategy, Senator...
- Seanad: Environmental Protection Agency (Emergency Electricity Generation) (Amendment) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (9 Mar 2023)
Michael McDowell: I did not say that.
- Seanad: Environmental Protection Agency (Emergency Electricity Generation) (Amendment) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (9 Mar 2023)
Michael McDowell: Yes, everyone is paraphrasing me incorrectly, as the record will show.
- Seanad: Environmental Protection Agency (Emergency Electricity Generation) (Amendment) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (9 Mar 2023)
Michael McDowell: Briefly, I never said it did not matter what we did in Ireland. Needless to say, those who wanted to hear me say that have heard me say it, but I did not say it.
- Seanad: Environmental Protection Agency (Emergency Electricity Generation) (Amendment) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (9 Mar 2023)
Michael McDowell: What I said - I want the Minister of State to be clear on this - was that what we did in Ireland was, in the context of other developments internationally, including in terms of methane, not going to prevent the melting of glaciers in an emergency situation. I believe that the Attorney General has given the Government good advice on this occasion and that the phraseology of the proposed new...
- Seanad: Environmental Protection Agency (Emergency Electricity Generation) (Amendment) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (9 Mar 2023)
Michael McDowell: I am finished now.
- Seanad: Environmental Protection Agency (Emergency Electricity Generation) (Amendment) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (9 Mar 2023)
Michael McDowell: I am not taking offence. I just wanted to correct the record.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: General Affairs Council: Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs (8 Mar 2023)
Michael McDowell: I welcome the Minister of State and join in the congratulations to him on his appointment. I wish him well in discharging his functions in relation to EU affairs. I share what Deputy Haughey said about the Minister of State’s good performance on television from Westmeath. It was noted internationally. I wish to raise two points. The Minister of State dealt with them to some...
- Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (23 Mar 2023)
Michael McDowell: There are two matters I want to deal with today, the first of which is in relation to what Senator Burke was said about the alcohol legislation that was debated at great length in this House. Most of it was nonsense, to be honest. We have not yet put the unit price of alcohol in place and there will not be one unless there is an Assembly in Northern Ireland that will do the same on the...
- Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (23 Mar 2023)
Michael McDowell: I think Senator Gavan will be allowed leave.
- Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022: Report Stage (28 Mar 2023)
Michael McDowell: No, it is not agreed. The amendments listed are agreed but the rest are not.
- Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022: Report Stage (28 Mar 2023)
Michael McDowell: I am agreeable to the grouping of amendments Nos. 1, 3, 14, 15, 20 to 24, inclusive, 31 and 34.