Results 4,901-4,920 of 18,761 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Leaders' Questions (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am not sulking.

Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am grateful to the Deputy for asking me a question which was envisaged by the procedure under the rules of this House, unlike the last two questions.

Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: Like the Deputy, I read the Sunday Tribune story's suggestion that serving and former members of the Garda Síochána had abused their positions to favour one insurance company by giving it access to information held within the force's official records. When I read that story I was gravely concerned and in a moment I will tell the House the actions I took on foot of it. First, however, I...

Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: If it is not a forgery, then it is a matter of the utmost gravity. If it is a forgery, then that is another matter of the utmost gravity, but different inquiries will follow on foot of it. I share the Deputy's view that it would be entirely wrong for any member of the Garda Síochána to make any private company engaged in the insurance sector a party to information held by the Garda...

Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I share the Deputy's concern regarding the article that suggested that members of the legal profession were being inveigled into short-changing their clients, whether the item referred to in the article was genuine or a forgery. The Law Society is investigating this suggestion but I believe the vast majority of solicitors are upstanding professionals who would not short-change a client or...

Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: There has been a dramatic transformation in this country's compensation culture and, as a result, insurance premiums have fallen by up to 60% in a few years. If Deputy Kenny wants to hear of an achievement, this is one that Deputy Ó Caoláin has had the decency to acknowledge. There has been a dramatic improvement in this context.

Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: Regarding the compensation culture, it is important that claims be investigated quickly and settled early. It is also important that we avoid a system of dealing with personal injuries and road traffic compensation that involves protracted, paper-driven, court driven solutions when there are perfectly common sense, out-of-court arrangements to deal with such issues. I do not wish to appear...

Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I will address Deputy Joe Higgins's point if he lets me speak.

Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy made allegations inside the House about persons outside the House.

Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I was about to say to Deputy Ó Caoláin, before Deputy Higgins interrupted, that I share his view that people should be clear when dealing with a person investigating an insurance company claim that they are dealing with a representative of an insurance company, not a person implying or insinuating that he or she is a person in authority dealing with the same issue. There is nothing wrong,...

Order of Business (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: It is proposed to take No. 15, motion re proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the terms of the access to the Convention on the International Hydrographic Organisation, back from committee; No. 25, Criminal Justice Bill 2007 — Report Stage; and No. 26, Pharmacy Bill 2007 [Seanad] — Order for Report and Report and Final Stages. It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders,...

Order of Business (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: In case there is any misapprehension, I was willing to sit all day last Friday but people apparently objected to Friday sittings. I do not mind that.

Order of Business (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I was willing.

Order of Business (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I do not know.

Order of Business (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am only telling the truth. I was willing to sit all day on Friday.

Order of Business (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I had no objection to sitting all day last Friday.

Order of Business (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am just making the point that I was willing.

Order of Business (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: We will take the recommitted amendments today and Report Stage tomorrow. There is plenty of time to debate the substance of the Bill in that context.

Order of Business (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: Will the Deputies allow me to finish? Does everybody on the other side of the House think that they can shout whenever they want?

Order of Business (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: Fair enough.