Results 601-620 of 18,474 for speaker:Michael McDowell
- Seanad: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (6 Jul 2022)
Michael McDowell: The Deputy Leader indicated to us that she had gone and sought instructions as to whether she could allow a lengthier debate, and that the Minister had made it clear that this legislation had to go through this House on a guillotine because it had to go-----
- Seanad: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (6 Jul 2022)
Michael McDowell: Yes.
- Seanad: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (6 Jul 2022)
Michael McDowell: Either the Government is coherent or it is not. To be clear, nobody said they spoke to the Minister directly.
- Seanad: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (6 Jul 2022)
Michael McDowell: Nobody said that but the House was informed that, on consultation - through the Leader, I think - it was emphasised that the Bill had to go through this week and that, as a result, it had to be guillotined. That is what we were told.
- Seanad: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (6 Jul 2022)
Michael McDowell: It is a matter of complete indifference to me whether the Minister is available or not. The problem is that-----
- Seanad: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (6 Jul 2022)
Michael McDowell: The Minister will not get away with weasel words here.
- Seanad: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (6 Jul 2022)
Michael McDowell: The simple fact is that this House was led to believe that the Government-----
- Seanad: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (6 Jul 2022)
Michael McDowell: That is shameful stuff. I was here this morning. We sought extra time but were denied it. It was represented to us that the Deputy Leader had, through whatever channel, sought extra time but it could not be given.
- Seanad: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (6 Jul 2022)
Michael McDowell: All I am saying is that this is important legislation. Senator Malcolm Byrne pointed out that it has been 50 years since there was last a Bill on this matter. That is all the more reason that, in dealing with an important Bill of this kind, we should not confine the Committee Stage, with so many amendments having been tabled, to four hours. By the way, what happened this morning on the...
- Seanad: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (6 Jul 2022)
Michael McDowell: If the Minister is suggesting the guillotine has been self-imposed by the Seanad-----
- Seanad: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (6 Jul 2022)
Michael McDowell: -----but we were given the opposite impression on the Order of Business today. I have to protest what has happened here.
- Seanad: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (6 Jul 2022)
Michael McDowell: I resent people coming in with milk and watery explanations as to what happened, who did speak and who did not. Senator Chambers was clear that she had sought extra time and it had been denied to her.
- Seanad: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (6 Jul 2022)
Michael McDowell: Who decided not to take the Minister up on that?
- Seanad: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (6 Jul 2022)
Michael McDowell: Somebody is.
- Seanad: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (6 Jul 2022)
Michael McDowell: I want to note what was actually said. The Deputy Leader said: "In relation to the HEA Bill, Minister Harris was asked for more time on this. We were told it had to be passed by the recess."
- Seanad: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (6 Jul 2022)
Michael McDowell: The Deputy Leader of this House said-----
- Seanad: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (6 Jul 2022)
Michael McDowell: -----that time was sought and the Minister indicated that the legislation had to be dealt with before the recess. The Minister must take responsibility for the fact the legislation is not going to be debated.
- Seanad: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (6 Jul 2022)
Michael McDowell: I support Senator Norris's amendment.
- Seanad: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (6 Jul 2022)
Michael McDowell: The Minister is correct in saying the significance of this amendment must be seen in the context of proposals to amend section 16. At the moment, section 16 says: The Board shall consist of the following members: (a) a chairperson; (b) 11 ordinary members. It goes on to say: ...the chairperson and the ordinary members of the Board shall be appointed by the Minister from among...
- Seanad: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (6 Jul 2022)
Michael McDowell: I was glad of the support I got in that debate from Senator Ó Donnghaile and others but I make the point-----