Results 18,621-18,640 of 18,738 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 Sep 2024)

Michael McDowell: -----but the time has come for this House to stand up for itself-----

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 Sep 2024)

Michael McDowell: Hear, hear.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 Sep 2024)

Michael McDowell: -----and the Constitution and to say “No” to all of this. I will end with this threat. The House depends on co-operation to run. The Leader has forfeited co-operation today. She will have votes on everything and no co-operation if she goes ahead with this.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 Sep 2024)

Michael McDowell: I ask the Leader to reconsider the barbarous abuse of parliamentary procedure in which she is engaging. It is all very well to discuss other issues today, and they are important-----

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 Sep 2024)

Michael McDowell: -----but this House is being treated disgracefully.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 Sep 2024)

Michael McDowell: Hear, hear.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 Sep 2024)

Michael McDowell: There have never been fewer members of the Defence Forces in the history of independent Ireland than today.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 Sep 2024)

Michael McDowell: You and I are on the same wavelength but-----

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 Sep 2024)

Michael McDowell: No.

Seanad: Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (25 Sep 2024)

Michael McDowell: Please speak to Dublin City Council about the traffic. It is unbelievable.

Seanad: Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (25 Sep 2024)

Michael McDowell: I do.

Seanad: Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (25 Sep 2024)

Michael McDowell: These amendments are designed to preserve the existing law in Ireland. It is a law that is being deliberately breached day in, day out by powerful casino operators in this city. Under the Gaming and Lotteries Act 1956, one cannot run an amusement hall unless a local authority has decided that either in the whole of or in part of its area there should be a regime in place that permits the...

Seanad: Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (25 Sep 2024)

Michael McDowell: First, I welcome the discussion on the amendments I have put forward. I also welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Browne, to the Chamber this evening. I further welcome what Senator Paul Gavan has said in particular as well as what other members have said in respect of the principle of this legislation and the amendments I have tabled. The Gaming and Lotteries Act 1956 provided that a...

Seanad: Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (25 Sep 2024)

Michael McDowell: It has not. I would put a lot of money on that it has not. Therefore, under Part III of the Gaming and Lotteries Act 1956, whatever happens in any part of Wexford, despite the abolition of the urban district councils and the like, is unlawful. What can a local authority do? The only people who can act in this matter are members of An Garda Síochána. They can prosecute. They...

Seanad: Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (25 Sep 2024)

Michael McDowell: I feel passionate about this.

Seanad: Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (25 Sep 2024)

Michael McDowell: The reason I feel passionate is I have been given answers as to why these amendments should not be accepted, which are that local authorities proved incapable of operating a system. Local authorities were never given the function of operating the Gaming and Lotteries Act 1956. They were never given that function. It was members of the Garda who were to police the Act. They were given-----

Seanad: Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (25 Sep 2024)

Michael McDowell: I accept that I strayed. Local authorities were never given the function under the Gaming and Lotteries Act of policing this. They could not send down some lad from the council head office to say there is something wrong here. The only people who were given a function to police this were the police. To lay blame at the feet of local authorities is wrong. The only function local...

Seanad: Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (25 Sep 2024)

Michael McDowell: I want to mention the NUI graduates-----

Seanad: Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (25 Sep 2024)

Michael McDowell: The amendment deals with in-person gambling. That is different from what the Minister of State is now talking about, which is online gambling. This amendment is solely concerned with in-person gambling. He should get into his car, take a little drive around Dublin and look at how many of these places there are. They are mushrooming around the city. I fully accept that the Flutters of...

Seanad: Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (25 Sep 2024)

Michael McDowell: I move amendment No. 2: In page 14, between lines 5 and 6, to insert the following: “(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (2), the repeal of Part III of the Act of 1956 shall not take effect until Part 4 is brought into operation.”