Results 3,641-3,660 of 18,727 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Seanad: Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018: Second Stage (Resumed) (30 Jan 2018)

Michael McDowell: -----and this is what the Bill is all about. In view of the fact that the Tánaiste has indicated in writing to Senator Higgins, Senator Black and others that the Government will come back to this before the summer and in Government time, and the clear opportunity for us to amend the Bill to say that it is to be the law in Ireland but that its operation may be suspended as long as the...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (12 Dec 2017)

Michael McDowell: I want to endorse what Senator Horkan said. We are not talking about the ultra rich when we are talking about people who are paying the marginal rate rather than the standard rate. I agree with Senator Devine that there should probably be minimum effective tax rates for everybody in this country. I would probably go further and say that there should be minimum effective tax rates for every...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (12 Dec 2017)

Michael McDowell: It occurs to me that there is a very strong case to be made for examining the issue of minimum effective tax rates across the taxation system. I know small efforts were made to achieve this in the area of income tax in the past. It is wrong, however, that a person with a secretarial post pays a much greater proportion of her or his salary in tax than some of the wealthiest and most...

Seanad: Public Service Pay and Pensions Bill 2017: Second Stage (12 Dec 2017)

Michael McDowell: I welcome the unwinding of the financial emergency measures in the public interest, FEMPI, reductions and adjustments as it makes sense at this stage. Of course, there is another angle at which we have to look, namely, those areas where there is two-tier remuneration, with a view to ensuring it is equalised or got rid of as soon as possible, unless there is a very strong case that the prior...

Seanad: Garda Overtime Budget: Statements (29 Nov 2017)

Michael McDowell: I welcome the Minister to the House. Like Senator Clifford-Lee, I believe questions are to be asked. I appreciate that the Minister is putting a good gloss on what happened and that it has been a tough week for him. There is no doubt that Assistant Commissioner Leahy's statement went out and the reaction from the public was one of dismay. There was a reaction among many gardaí, who...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Nov 2017)

Michael McDowell: I wish to be associated with the words Senator Boyhan spoke on behalf of our group in respect of Senator Landy. As one of the radicals in this House I say there should be more of us. On the way to the House this morning I was listening to my car radio and wondering about current political events when an ad break took place. I do not know how many other Members heard the particular...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Nov 2017)

Michael McDowell: This is blatant political propaganda.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Nov 2017)

Michael McDowell: For many years there has been a set of conventions on departmental advertising, that they are not used for political purposes, that they do not glorify individual Ministers and that they are factual and non-propagandistic. The advertisement breached every one of those principles. It should be withdrawn from RTÉ. It is a breach of the Government's duty not to spend taxpayers' money on...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Nov 2017)

Michael McDowell: The Leader did not call them "Government of Ireland initiatives". The bad news is never referred to as a "Government of Ireland initiative".

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Nov 2017)

Michael McDowell: The Government of Ireland brand was on none of them.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Nov 2017)

Michael McDowell: I am not. I will tell the Leader this much.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Nov 2017)

Michael McDowell: They are rebranding by the communications unit.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Nov 2017)

Michael McDowell: I never did that.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Nov 2017)

Michael McDowell: It is a rebranding exercise.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Nov 2017)

Michael McDowell: I am not putting the €5 million into that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Post Office Network: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Nov 2017)

Michael McDowell: There are a few questions that I would like to put arising out of the presentations. I found them very helpful on all fronts. I think the idea that the post office should be a local State office is a good one. It should also be a portal for online services, even with the State. The idea that it could be used for medical consultations and other suggestions is really inventive thinking. ...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Post Office Network: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Nov 2017)

Michael McDowell: It referred to An Post hunting for commercial work, for instance, as a local agency.

Seanad: Judicial Council Bill 2017: Second Stage (22 Nov 2017)

Michael McDowell: I warmly welcome the Minister, Deputy Flanagan, to the House and do so in particular because he is carrying the Bill under his arm. As Senator Wilson said, others have stood in the Minister's place and failed to deliver on this matter. I occupied his position for five years. Prior to my being Minister for Justice it was the desire of the Judiciary to have a judicial council established by...

Seanad: Defence Forces (Veterans Lapel Badge) Bill 2017: Second Stage (22 Nov 2017)

Michael McDowell: I welcome Senator Craughwell's Bill and I welcome the Minister of State.I join others in congratulating him on the measures he is introducing in regard to the Jadotville survivors in terms of honour their service to the United Nations and to this country, which is belatedly but properly being recognised. Other speakers have drawn attention to particular aspects of this Bill. One...

Seanad: Councillors' Conditions: Statements (Resumed) (22 Nov 2017)

Michael McDowell: As the Leader, Senator Buttimer, provoked me into responding I will say that Dublin City Council now has a budget of almost €1 billion.