Results 3,561-3,580 of 18,727 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Implementation of National Mitigation Plan: Discussion (24 Apr 2018)

Michael McDowell: I will ask Mr. Gannon about it again next year.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Implementation of National Mitigation Plan: Discussion (24 Apr 2018)

Michael McDowell: I am sorry if I pushed Mr. Confrey on that. I am really talking to them through him. It is all very well for them to bring a memorandum to Cabinet but I hope Mr. Confrey has a good memorandum on the issue as well.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Implementation of National Mitigation Plan: Discussion (24 Apr 2018)

Michael McDowell: Is Bord na Móna in that public sector?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Influence of Social Media on Elections and Referenda: Discussion (17 Apr 2018)

Michael McDowell: Can the witnesses reassure me that if, taking a topical example, somebody in Northern Ireland wanted to influence the pro-life, pro-choice issue here, there is no control or sanction in electoral or data protection law that can stop someone putting €1 million worth of selective advertising into that? The Democratic Unionist Party, DUP, did it in respect of Brexit but that is not a...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Mar 2018)

Michael McDowell: I wish to comment on what Senator Horkan said about an hour and a half not being long enough to consider councillors' conditions. If it is any consolation to him, I will not be contributing to that debate.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Mar 2018)

Michael McDowell: The second issue I was going to mention was touched on by Senator Horkan, namely, the rising tide of people who have no home. Coming into Leinster House, it was interesting to hear the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government dealing with this issue as best he could in an interview on RTÉ radio. However, the fundamental problem as I see it is that we are not engaged in...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Mar 2018)

Michael McDowell: It is extraordinary to see the speed with which these kinds of buildings can be built because there are tax incentives and there is a green light for them. One then asks oneself why it takes so long to build accommodation for other classes of the community. I fully accept the point that if a student is accommodated, some other property is not required elsewhere and, therefore, it has a...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Mar 2018)

Michael McDowell: I am one of Senator Leyden's electors. I will be voting in the next election.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (28 Mar 2018)

Michael McDowell: I know that on the Order of Business today, we will be dealing with Committee Stage of the Thirty-sixth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2018. In respect of the principal story in today's edition of The Irish Timesabout time limits and events of that kind, which seem to have been the subject of some discussion regarding Government intentions in that newspaper, will the Leader be in a...

Seanad: An Bille um an Séú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht 2018: Céim an Choiste agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha - Thirty-sixth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2018: Committee and Remaining Stages (28 Mar 2018)

Michael McDowell: Speaking to the section, it has two effects. First, it has the effect of inserting the wording in the Schedule and, second, it has the effect of removing the existing wording from Article 40.3.3oof the Constitution. In the ordinary course of events in this House the time available for each speaker on a Second Stage debate is naturally limited to eight limits, which is to ration out time...

Seanad: An Bille um an Séú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht 2018: Céim an Choiste agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha - Thirty-sixth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2018: Committee and Remaining Stages (28 Mar 2018)

Michael McDowell: All the Senators may have their views about the answer to that question. My view, and I will only express my view-----

Seanad: An Bille um an Séú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht 2018: Céim an Choiste agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha - Thirty-sixth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2018: Committee and Remaining Stages (28 Mar 2018)

Michael McDowell: -----is very definitely that that was a clear indication that in Irish people's minds this was not a situation of an equal right to life. They were subjecting the right to life of the unborn to the right of the mother to travel for an abortion. This was a qualification of the idea of equality.

Seanad: An Bille um an Séú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht 2018: Céim an Choiste agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha - Thirty-sixth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2018: Committee and Remaining Stages (28 Mar 2018)

Michael McDowell: This is Committee Stage.

Seanad: An Bille um an Séú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht 2018: Céim an Choiste agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha - Thirty-sixth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2018: Committee and Remaining Stages (28 Mar 2018)

Michael McDowell: We are on Committee Stage and people are entitled to come in again and again. I am not denying anybody a right to speak.

Seanad: An Bille um an Séú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht 2018: Céim an Choiste agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha - Thirty-sixth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2018: Committee and Remaining Stages (28 Mar 2018)

Michael McDowell: I want to make a few points if I may because I think they are worth making.

Seanad: An Bille um an Séú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht 2018: Céim an Choiste agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha - Thirty-sixth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2018: Committee and Remaining Stages (28 Mar 2018)

Michael McDowell: I believe that the people, by adopting the freedom of information and the freedom to travel amendments to reverse in part the courts' decisions in respect of the original article 40.3.3°, were qualifying the idea of equality at the time. Viewed barely, that is what I believe was happening. Even when all of that was done, there was a succession of cases, some of which I was involved in...

Seanad: An Bille um an Séú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht 2018: Céim an Choiste agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha - Thirty-sixth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2018: Committee and Remaining Stages (28 Mar 2018)

Michael McDowell: By way of a footnote, I have heard a number of people say that their mother had told them that she had contemplated having an abortion and if that had happened they would not be here today. It sounds like a very good point. If we think about it, if a child's parents had decided, that child being the fourth in a family, that they were only going to have three children and had used...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Mar 2018)

Michael McDowell: I wish to raise a matter. I apologise, a but I was at a committee meeting.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Mar 2018)

Michael McDowell: I cannot perform bilocation, as the Leader understands.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Mar 2018)

Michael McDowell: I refer to the proposed metrolink in the national transport infrastructure plan. I live close to the Luas green line and have strongly supported such public transport initiatives. I am not a NIMBY person in any shape or form. However, the House may or may not be aware that it is proposed to incorporate the Luas green line with a metrorail system. While that may seem innocuous and fine, we...