Results 2,121-2,140 of 18,726 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 May 2019)

Michael McDowell: The purpose of the amendment is to introduce the concept of experience to the requirement for requisite skills and attributes. The amendments would do this throughout section 50.

Seanad: Statement by the Taoiseach (18 Apr 2019)

Michael McDowell: I, too, welcome the Taoiseach and thank him for his thoughtful address. I join Senator Ardagh in complimenting him, his Government and the main Opposition party on the cross-party approach to Brexit, which has been a cornerstone of our recent success in maintaining the solidarity of our allies in the European Union, who have shown us great support. The Taoiseach mentioned that today is the...

Seanad: Statement by the Taoiseach (18 Apr 2019)

Michael McDowell: He was asserting a truth which in those days and the decades afterwards became increasingly occluded by the power of the majority in Ireland as the two parts of this island became more and more polarised along religious lines. Things have changed in the meantime and we now live in a very different Republic. Recent referendums have shown that this is an open Republic. It is one that is open...

Seanad: Statement by the Taoiseach (18 Apr 2019)

Michael McDowell: In addition, we must decide where the balance between local and national powers should be struck. I will give one example that I know is politically sensitive, that is, the local property tax. Somebody in Dublin who lives in a very small house with a limited income and has much higher mortgage obligations than somebody living outside of Dublin in a much larger house but with a greater...

Seanad: Statement by the Taoiseach (18 Apr 2019)

Michael McDowell: -----they are being asked to share a burden which is unfair upon them. People of modest means are being asked to pay a disproportionate contribution to the cost of local government in Ireland generally. That is something that will have to be addressed. I know the Taoiseach maintains contact with the British Prime Minister despite all of the negative commentary in English media about this...

Seanad: Statement by the Taoiseach (18 Apr 2019)

Michael McDowell: -----Downing Street and that the temperature between the two countries is brought back to the warm relationship that existed when I was Tánaiste to the then Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern. Finally, I echo completely what Senator Ardagh said about the responsibility of those who have left Northern Ireland without a government for the last number of years. This is a scandal which must be...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (17 Apr 2019)

Michael McDowell: I echo what the leader of the Fianna Fáil group has stated about the proposal in respect of No. 3. I propose that No. 1 be deleted from the Order of Business.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (17 Apr 2019)

Michael McDowell: I am proposing that the Order of Business be amended by the deletion of No. 1. I do so because the opportunity is being taken by the Government today to avail of the visit of the Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Ms Nancy Pelosi, to pull a stunt. I object strongly to what is happening. Others in the House will propose amendments to the Order of Business to deal with that issue....

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (17 Apr 2019)

Michael McDowell: If the Government is of a mind to make a contribution, it would be appropriate to make some contribution of money to the restoration fund and it should be done in that spirit. Buildings are buildings and it was not the equivalent of the 9/11 tragedy. There is no need for cross-European mourning. The editorial today in The Irish Timesmakes a very good point. There is a need for us all to...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (17 Apr 2019)

Michael McDowell: Hear, hear.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (17 Apr 2019)

Michael McDowell: He should do his real job.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (17 Apr 2019)

Michael McDowell: Senator Buttimer voted to abolish the Seanad.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (17 Apr 2019)

Michael McDowell: No.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Apr 2019)

Michael McDowell: I move amendment No. 95a:In page 32, lines 7 to 11, to delete all words from and including “was—” in line 7 down to and including line 11 and substitute the following:“was recommended by the Commission to the Minister in accordance with the provisions of this Act.”. This is a proposal to amend section 48 by the removal of all the words from the word "was"...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Apr 2019)

Michael McDowell: It would, because the Minister has not amended it. It would have gone to Report Stage with an unamended section 44 and with this House still unaware of the fine print of the Minister's proposal.The Minister is shaking his head. If I am getting something wrong------

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Apr 2019)

Michael McDowell: The Minister is a very welcome guest. We enjoy the long periods he spends in the House. He always gets a good welcome.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Apr 2019)

Michael McDowell: I was saying that-----

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Apr 2019)

Michael McDowell: In any event, I note that it is reported in today's edition of The Irish Timesthat, without an expensive commission, any of the bells and whistles entailed in this legislation, setting up a new body or having a lay majority, the Government has already put in place a perfectly sensible non-statutory arrangement whereby it consults with senior members of the Judiciary about the filling of the...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Apr 2019)

Michael McDowell: It is purely a stylistic way of formulating an amendment. If one just deletes a line which involves paragraph (a), one must then deal with the fact that "(b)" appears in the middle of nowhere. The formulation I used is purely to avoid that.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Apr 2019)

Michael McDowell: It would take a year to implement it.