Results 5,301-5,320 of 18,728 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Order of Business (22 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: I would prefer a little more candour from the Opposition as to where it stands on the principle of this Bill.

Order of Business (22 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am sure I will get it in a few weeks, because in three weeks time we will have the Report and Final Stages of the Bill in this House and then we will be in a position to see whether the Labour Party supports it.

Order of Business (22 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: Second, Committee and Report Stages will be spread over three weeks in this House.

Order of Business (22 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: That will give Members ample time to discuss all their views on the matter.

Order of Business (22 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: All of this posturing means very little to the people.

Order of Business (22 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: The ethics Bill will be published this session. As the Deputy will appreciate, Senator Morrissey introduced a home defence Bill in the Seanad——

Order of Business (22 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: ——and the Deputy's party introduced another one. The heads of the Bill have been approved. I hope there will be speedy progress, since they are well drafted and well crafted heads.

Order of Business (22 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy must be having a senior moment or be so busy preparing his questions that he was not listening to what was said. I was asked that question a moment ago and I said that the Bill would come in this session.

Order of Business (22 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: That depends on the co-operation of the Opposition. If we spend an hour every morning on this kind of nonsense, who can say?

Order of Business (22 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: When the Deputy sees it, he will not be disappointed, and I am sure there will be all-party agreement to its early passage. We spend an hour every day on this routine. The other question was put so long ago that I cannot remember it.

Order of Business (22 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: Yes, it concerned cricket.

Order of Business (22 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: To refer to the early part of Deputy Rabbitte's innings when he raised the cricket issue, I congratulate the Irish cricket team very sincerely on its magnificent achievement in the West Indies. The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Dermot Ahern, has made special arrangements to provide consular support for the band of 1,500 Irish supporters there with the players to ensure their welfare.

Order of Business (22 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: Second, I am sure the Deputy will join me in sending our best wishes to the Irish soccer team, which this weekend will play in Croke Park for the first time. I presume the Deputy will join me in congratulating the Irish rugby team on its achievements in Rome last weekend. The under-20s deserve particular mention for their great achievement in winning the Grand Slam in Europe.

Order of Business (22 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: The legislation is passing through the House and has been ordered for Report Stage. With co-operation among the parties, it will get an early hearing.

Order of Business (22 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: Both Bills are scheduled for publication this year.

Order of Business (22 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: As regards the purchase by local authority tenants of their flats, the legislation is the social housing (miscellaneous provisions) Bill. The heads of that Bill were approved by the Government on 19 December 2006 and it is due for publication early this summer. It is currently being drafted.

Order of Business (22 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: As regards the second issue raised by the Deputy, the Dublin transport authority Bill will be published this session.

Order of Business (22 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: With the co-operation of the House, if we did not spend an hour every morning talking about legislation, we might get there.

Order of Business (22 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: As regards the property services Bill, the Taoiseach is correct. One piece of legislation cannot deal with the particular set of agendas which relates to management companies. Legislation has already been drafted in my Department on the regulation of property services, but there will also have to be at least one other piece of legislation to deal with the position of tenants vis-À-vis...

Order of Business (22 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: The issue is being worked on in the relevant Departments, which are my Department and the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.