Results 561-580 of 18,724 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by Mr. Bertie Ahern, Former Taoiseach (23 May 2023)

Michael McDowell: In some institutions on an occasion like this, two motions are proposed. One is motion of thanks to the speaker for his address and the second is that the paper should be printed and circulated. I theoretically propose both of those motions. The account you have given is one that I have not heard in detail before. I am very glad that you have had the opportunity to put on the record the...

Seanad: Civil Defence Bill 2023: Second Stage (18 May 2023)

Michael McDowell: Welcome the students from St. Pius X Boys’ National School as well. I share what Senator O'Reilly said about the great work done by the Civil Defence. I also share his sense of pride in the record of the Civil Defence over the years as a vital part of our social fabric, but I am alarmed by one thing. In 2015, the Department of Defence published a White Paper on Defence, which stated...

Seanad: Regulation of Lobbying (Amendment) Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (17 May 2023)

Michael McDowell: I propose the Minister of State explain to us the effect of amendment No. 7. Who is going to get lump sums and payments, and why, and in what circumstance?

Seanad: Regulation of Lobbying (Amendment) Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (17 May 2023)

Michael McDowell: I want confirmation of the reason the Title of the Bill is being amended, because this set of provisions is not quite germane to lobbying. When I looked at the Order Paper, I was trying to work out how it all fit together. It is a different carriage in the legislative train. It is nothing to do with the registration of lobbyists.

Seanad: Regulation of Lobbying (Amendment) Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (17 May 2023)

Michael McDowell: I did a bit of it in my own time.

Seanad: Regulation of Lobbying (Amendment) Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (17 May 2023)

Michael McDowell: I move amendment No. 3: In page 5, between lines 23 and 24, to insert the following: “Insertion of section 10A into Principal Act 7.The Principal Act is amended by the insertion of the following section after section 10: “Transparency relating to the finances of lobbying bodies 10A.(1) Where a person, whether a natural person, a body corporate or an unincorporated body...

Seanad: Regulation of Lobbying (Amendment) Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (17 May 2023)

Michael McDowell: The purpose of this amendment is to deal with a situation I have found perplexing on occasion. We are lobbied by groups, which are largely funded by the Exchequer, to make changes in Acts or do various things.I will provide an example. When it came to the Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018, an alcohol awareness group largely funded by the Exchequer lobbied us extensively in respect of that...

Seanad: Regulation of Lobbying (Amendment) Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (17 May 2023)

Michael McDowell: I thank the Minister of State for her positive remarks about the background motivation to the amendment. A number of things occur to me. Senator Boylan referred to the Irish Academy of Engineering and she thinks it is pro-fossil fuel. I have a slightly different view. I think it sometimes tries to persuade people to be realistic, that we could have a crisis on our hands if we do not have...

Seanad: Regulation of Lobbying (Amendment) Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (17 May 2023)

Michael McDowell: I understand where the Senator is coming from. She has been single-minded in pursuit of decarbonisation and in her opposition to the continued use of fossil fuels. To go back to the remarks on the previous amendment, I found the Irish Academy of Engineering analysis quite helpful to my understanding of the matter. I do not think that body was trying to mislead me in any way. Members of...

Seanad: Disregard of Certain Criminal Records of Gay Men: Motion (17 May 2023)

Michael McDowell: Like Senator O'Reilly, I was involved in a lengthy meeting of the Committee on Parliamentary Privileges and Oversight and, therefore, missed the earlier part of the debate, much to my regret. I note what Senator Norris said and wish him well. I join other Members in saluting everything he has done in the past to end the injustice against gay men of more than a century, going back to the...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (17 May 2023)

Michael McDowell: On a point of order, when primary schools visit this House, the Cathaoirleach normally gives them their homework off for the day. Would he give these people a first-class honours in their exams?

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (17 May 2023)

Michael McDowell: I am interested in the answer the Minister of State has given to this amendment. During the past week I had the honour to be invited to the Law Society of Ireland to speak at a seminar organised by its students’ legal publication, theHibernian Law Journal. This was to commemorate 20 years of solicitors being appointed to the higher courts. In the course of that very interesting...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (17 May 2023)

Michael McDowell: I move amendment No. 12a: In page 13, lines 1 and 2, to delete “are suitable for appointment” and substitute “should be appointed”.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (17 May 2023)

Michael McDowell: In order for the House to understand the impetus behind these three amendments, it is necessary to look at section 13 in its entirety. Section 13(1) states: The Minister shall from time to time as required, request the Public Appointments Service to undertake a selection process for the purpose of identifying and recommending to the Minister persons whom it is satisfied are suitable for...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (17 May 2023)

Michael McDowell: I hope they have had a good visit to Leinster House. It was emphasised previously in this debate that the Public Appointments Service will be some kind of independent body which will contribute to the independence of the commission. As we can see, all of this is simply a process for weeding out the people who are unsuitable. That is all the Bill actually does. In section 13(1) and (2), it...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (17 May 2023)

Michael McDowell: Yes.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (17 May 2023)

Michael McDowell: No, for the very reason I will outline. The huge pretence in this legislation, which I believe is politically dishonest, is that we are going to have politically neutral appointments made in the future. What we are doing here is vesting in the Minister the right to produce four people, chosen by him or her, to be on the commission to mark the judicial members, so to speak. Let me address...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (10 May 2023)

Michael McDowell: I welcome the students from St. Fintan's school as well. I hope they have an enjoyable day. There are several matters I want to deal with regarding the Order of Business. I wish to remind the Leader, before I start, that I have in recent times obtained generalised agreement to the proposition that the Garda Reserve would be the subject of a ministerial discussion and debate in this House...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (10 May 2023)

Michael McDowell: We do not often see the Minister, Deputy Harris, here.

Seanad: Courts Bill 2023: Second Stage (10 May 2023)

Michael McDowell: I welcome the Minister of State to the House, and I echo the sentiments expressed by Senator Ward. I have a number of things to say to the Minister of State. There is a scandal going on now in the central office of the High Court. One cannot go in there and get a summons issued unless one makes an appointment in advance. The system used to be that one went to a counter, and presented the...