Results 5,561-5,580 of 18,749 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Prisons Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (8 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am grateful to the Deputy for tabling these amendments. As for appointments, I am glad the Deputy has acknowledged that I have not engaged in cronyism. I wish to make clear that the office of Inspector of Prisons is an important public role and the person who takes it is expected to be independent in the discharge of his or her functions. I do not believe any successor of mine would...

Prisons Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (8 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: It is not prohibited.

Prisons Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (8 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: I do not want to get into too much detail on how the inspector is to carry out his or her functions. The Bill as devised states that the inspector is obliged to carry out regular inspections of prisons. Under section 31(2), the inspector is authorised to investigate any matter arising out of the management or operation of a prison and to submit to the Minister a report on such...

Prisons Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (8 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: I move amendmentNo. 32: In page 24, line 22, after "the" where it secondly occurs to insert "Irish".

Prisons Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (8 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: I appreciate the Deputy wants to make it clear through a message from this House that the inspector's demands are to be complied with, but I could have a HR problem with the people involved if I go down the road of criminalising people. I might find that lawyers would be involved——

Prisons Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (8 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: ——in a way which would be difficult.

Order of Business (8 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: It is proposed to take No. 14, motion re proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of a proposal that section 17A of the Diseases of Animals Act 1966 shall continue in force for the period ending on 8 March 2008, back from committee; No. 20, Prisons Bill 2006 [Seanad] — Report Stage (resumed) and Final Stage; and No. 4 — Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2007 — Order for Second Stage and Second...

Order of Business (8 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: I appreciate the points Deputies Stagg and Ó Snodaigh make but we must remember that, subject to the next proposal, the Dáil will not be sitting on the day in question.

Order of Business (8 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: Three events take place in the Dáil on that day.

Order of Business (8 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: The normal procedure is for no more than two committees to function while the House is not sitting but this will allow the Deputies who are not attending plenary sessions of the Dáil to attend all the committee meetings in question.

Order of Business (8 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: As the House is aware, it has been the case for many year's that the State takes advantage of the fact that the St. Patrick's Day festival is celebrated across the globe in order to project the good aspects of Ireland, avail of goodwill towards this country——

Order of Business (8 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: ——and represent Irish interests at events organised abroad.

Order of Business (8 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: There is an undoubted and major dividend to the economy, the State and the Irish community overseas as a result of the Government taking the St. Patrick's Day festival seriously. The Deputies opposite will appreciate that although St. Patrick's Day falls on a Saturday this year, most Ministers will be obliged to attend a number of events in the days beforehand at the locations to which they...

Order of Business (8 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am surprised that Deputy Gormley opposes the international celebration of the wearing of the green.

Order of Business (8 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: Deputy Gormley referred earlier to the moneys spent between elections. I understand he could not afford to pay the relevant fees in order to have Al Gore address his party's conference. I understand Mr. Gore charges $140,000.

Order of Business (8 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: It is a pity the Green Party could not pay to have Mr. Gore appear.

Order of Business (8 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: As far as the Government is concerned, there is a great deal of legislation with which the House must deal.

Order of Business (8 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: I carried out some research——

Order of Business (8 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: ——and discovered that in one week last July the House spent between three and four hours debating the Order of Business on various days. That was a considerable amount of time to spend——

Order of Business (8 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: The Government has an appetite for getting on with its work