Results 3,841-3,860 of 18,761 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Seanad: Report on Dying, Death and Bereavement: Statements (4 Jul 2017)

Michael McDowell: I congratulate Senator Marie-Louise O'Donnell on this report. I attended its launch on what was an auspicious day. I welcome the Minister, I congratulate her on her appointment and I wish her well in the discharge of her functions. I have become increasingly aware of a delay in the holding of inquests. People may die after a fall at home but it is now quite frequent, in the Dublin area at...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Seanad Reform (27 Jun 2017)

Michael McDowell: When the people of Ireland voted in a referendum not to amend the Constitution to abolish Seanad Éireann, the then Taoiseach, Deputy Enda Kenny, indicated at the time that he regarded this as a wallop. After a period of time he said that he would take the path of reform. Acting on foot of the programme for Government acceptance and inclusion of the Manning report, I and other Senators...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Seanad Reform (27 Jun 2017)

Michael McDowell: I fully accept that the Minister of State, Deputy English, is speaking in good faith but, unfortunately, I do not accept that the Government is acting in good faith on this matter. The then Taoiseach sought nominations to the group in December 2016. To say that matters are ongoing in June, more than six months later, is, frankly, ridiculous. If there was any appetite for moving ahead with...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Jun 2017)

Michael McDowell: On the subject just raised by the leader of the Fianna Fáil group, that is, the question of the judicial appointments commission legislation which is pending, there are a couple of points I would lie to make. First, as Senator Ardagh said, it is a Bill which has several significant flaws. One of them is that the Act which it seeks to amend and repeal, the Courts and Court Officers Act...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Jun 2017)

Michael McDowell: I wish to be associated with the sentiments expressed about the outgoing Taoiseach. It occurs to me that, although he has served 40 years in the Oireachtas, the Fine Gael Party Members in this Chamber must be in a state of sadness at the fact his term was cut short before he had the opportunity to deliver on the issue of Seanad reform-----

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Jun 2017)

Michael McDowell: -----something he promised most solemnly to do on the last occasion he was in the House. In that context, it is important that the Leader make arrangements for the outgoing Taoiseach's successor to come to the House and equally pledge to lead the Fine Gael Party Members in their ongoing campaign to reform the House to make it more democratic.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Jun 2017)

Michael McDowell: I also wish to address-----

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Jun 2017)

Michael McDowell: Exactly.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Jun 2017)

Michael McDowell: We are.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Jun 2017)

Michael McDowell: Although we can be light-hearted about it, reform of the Seanad forms part of the programme for Government and is a commitment that must be delivered on. The Government made a solemn commitment to the people to implement the Manning report. We are waiting for it to deliver on it.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Jun 2017)

Michael McDowell: If it is the case that the change of personnel at the top of the Fine Gael Party in the other House will lead to the abandonment of that proposal, we should find out as soon as possible in order that we will be able to see how real the commitment was to implement what our former colleague in this House, Dr. Maurice Manning, had planned out for its reform. Of course, it is the case that Fine...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Jun 2017)

Michael McDowell: The people will note what has happened and there will be a day of reckoning if the Leader does not-----

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Jun 2017)

Michael McDowell: It is amusing that Senator David Norris thinks the people do not even know that this House exists. As he well knows, they voted in a referendum to keep it.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Jun 2017)

Michael McDowell: They will not be happy to hear a eulogy on this House delivered either viva voceby the Senator or from the grave.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Jun 2017)

Michael McDowell: It is a matter of safety.

Seanad Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Engagement with European Movement Ireland (1 Jun 2017)

Michael McDowell: Professor Brigid Laffan wrote an article recently in which she said that our response to Brexit should be a willingness to sacrifice what she termed our sacred cows, namely, neutrality and our attachment to our autonomy on corporation tax. In respect of neutrality, when we negotiated the Lisbon treaty we negotiated an opt-out on neutrality but when the people were asked to vote on that...

Seanad: Business of Seanad (31 May 2017)

Michael McDowell: Some of us have other commitments.

Seanad: Business of Seanad (31 May 2017)

Michael McDowell: We were not supposed to be here until 8.15 p.m. either.

Seanad: Business of Seanad (31 May 2017)

Michael McDowell: Anyone who intended speaking is here.

Seanad: Business of Seanad (31 May 2017)

Michael McDowell: In fairness, if the Minister is conducting legislation in the other House, she cannot be under massive pressure to run out of the place as soon as she can. Statements can be made at a later stage.