Results 381-400 of 18,738 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2023: Discussion (20 Feb 2024)

Michael McDowell: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2023: Discussion (20 Feb 2024)

Michael McDowell: I will make one point. It occurs to me that there is a slightly sinister aspect to this - that the Government wants military judges and the military director of public prosecutions not to be members of RACO or whatever and, at the same time, it is proposed to amend the Defence Acts to make it an offence to make critical remarks about Government policy. Perhaps the Government thinks that if...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2023: Discussion (20 Feb 2024)

Michael McDowell: I will withdraw the term "sinister" and replace it with "unusual".

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: General Scheme of the Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) (Amendment) Bill: Discussion (13 Feb 2024)

Michael McDowell: I want to re-echo what has been said here about the value of this session. It is very important that the Oireachtas has the opportunity to have sessions of this kind. I want to make a few points. It seems, as has been pointed out by some of the contributors, that the sourcing of data material is not adequately dealt with in this legislation. Is a public service card available? Are...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: General Scheme of the Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) (Amendment) Bill: Discussion (13 Feb 2024)

Michael McDowell: I just threw out my ideas into the conversation.

Seanad: Death of Former Taoiseach: Expressions of Sympathy (7 Feb 2024)

Michael McDowell: On my behalf and on behalf of my colleagues in the Seanad Independent Group, I want to be associated with all the tributes that have been paid to John Bruton in the national media and most especially in this House. What I want to say about John Bruton can be reduced to one sentence: He was a genuine, authentic, honest and brave character. As Senator Joe O’Reilly just said, you knew...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (31 Jan 2024)

Michael McDowell: I want to say in respect of the appearance here today by the Minister of State, Deputy O’Donnell, that he stayed in his seat as a courtesy to the House. It was not the case that he was sent in to deal with a matter on which he had no expertise. Senator Clonan was rightly outraged that the Government effectively tried to get him to pull the debate and did not even arrange to send...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (31 Jan 2024)

Michael McDowell: -----who, according to opinion polls, say they would vote “No” if they were asked the question. It destabilises the debate, rather than reinforcing it. I aspire to a united Ireland. I consider myself an Irish republican, like most Members of this House, I presume. However, to simply announce that we are now within touching distance of a united Ireland flies in the face of...

Seanad: Family Carers: Motion [Private Members] (31 Jan 2024)

Michael McDowell: I welcome the Minister of State and thank her for her presence. I associate myself with the remarks about her commitment and determination to do her job, which is universally admired. Senator Clonan made a point that what we are dealing with is the rights of disabled people and the rights of citizens who are disabled to receive care and support from the State. Regarding the proposed...

Seanad: Family Carers: Motion [Private Members] (31 Jan 2024)

Michael McDowell: For people whose state of affairs has no family dimension, this amendment promises absolutely nothing, yet it is being put into the fundamental rights section of the Constitution. I just wonder what it is doing there. Are we are saying that we are creating rights? If we were going to create rights, we would do what Senator Clonan is suggesting, which is ratify the protocol to the...

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (24 Jan 2024)

Michael McDowell: It is not agreed. I just want to point out that this is the third guillotine from this enlightened Government in three days.

Seanad: An Bille um an Naoú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (An Teaghlach), 2023: Céim an Choiste agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha - Thirty-ninth Amendment of the Constitution (The Family) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 Jan 2024)

Michael McDowell: Are you suggesting that amendments Nos. 3 to 9, inclusive, should be debated together, Acting Chair?

Seanad: An Bille um an Naoú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (An Teaghlach), 2023: Céim an Choiste agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha - Thirty-ninth Amendment of the Constitution (The Family) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 Jan 2024)

Michael McDowell: That is fine. I just want to be clear about that.

Seanad: An Bille um an Naoú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (An Teaghlach), 2023: Céim an Choiste agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha - Thirty-ninth Amendment of the Constitution (The Family) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 Jan 2024)

Michael McDowell: These amendments, as the Acting Chair has pointed out, all relate to the same basic matter, which is what precisely is to be inserted into the Constitution, consistent with the overall scheme of the proposed amendment. Yesterday, we had a somewhat fraught discussion in which some people said that their own arrangements were under attack by anybody who opposed the making of this amendment....

Seanad: An Bille um an Naoú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (An Teaghlach), 2023: Céim an Choiste agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha - Thirty-ninth Amendment of the Constitution (The Family) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 Jan 2024)

Michael McDowell: If you can avoid being involved in family law and make a few shillings as a barrister, you are well off. I admire family lawyers hugely. Family lawyers will tell you, for instance, that farmers - and I have seen it - with 300 acres have been told that they must set aside 150 acres for their spouse and children for the proper provision of the children. The property of the family and shares...

Seanad: An Bille um an Naoú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (An Teaghlach), 2023: Céim an Choiste agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha - Thirty-ninth Amendment of the Constitution (The Family) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 Jan 2024)

Michael McDowell: As O'Meara did.

Seanad: An Bille um an Naoú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (An Teaghlach), 2023: Céim an Choiste agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha - Thirty-ninth Amendment of the Constitution (The Family) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 Jan 2024)

Michael McDowell: Exactly. That was the intention.

Seanad: An Bille um an Daicheadú Leasú ar an mBunreacht (Cúram), 2023: Céim an Choiste (Atógáil) agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha - Fortieth Amendment of the Constitution (Care) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (23 Jan 2024)

Michael McDowell: Sa teaghlach.

Seanad: An Bille um an Daicheadú Leasú ar an mBunreacht (Cúram), 2023: Céim an Choiste (Atógáil) agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha - Fortieth Amendment of the Constitution (Care) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (23 Jan 2024)

Michael McDowell: I do not want to waste too much time. However, first, I have to totally endorse what Senator Mullen has said about the guillotining of the Bill. It is disgraceful that it is being shoehorned through in the manner that it is. What was the hurry? I will tell the House what the hurry was. Some eejit in Government Buildings said there would be a better chance of getting this through if we...