Results 61-80 of 1,683 for speaker:Derek McDowell

Seanad: Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Bill 2006: Committee Stage (9 Nov 2006)

Derek McDowell: I accept the amendment.

Seanad: Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Bill 2006: Committee Stage (9 Nov 2006)

Derek McDowell: These are purely drafting amendments intended to improve the text.

Seanad: Address by the European Union Ambassador to the United States (8 Nov 2006)

Derek McDowell: I join others in welcoming the ambassador, Mr. Bruton, to the House. It is an advantage of this House that it can occasionally take time for these kinds of reflective discussions and I thank Mr. Bruton for taking time out to facilitate us. I was struck by his comments about the current account deficit in the US and the scenario that might flow from it. He knows as well as I do that the...

Seanad: Patents (Amendment) Bill 1999: Second Stage (26 Oct 2006)

Derek McDowell: It is the first refuge of an Opposition spokesperson on a Bill such as this one to complain about the delay in its introduction. However, even by the standards of this and the other House, the delay of seven or eights years in progressing the Bill to this stage requires some explanation. I invite the Minister of State to share his thoughts on that subject when he replies. I checked the...

Seanad: Patents (Amendment) Bill 1999: Second Stage (26 Oct 2006)

Derek McDowell: Exactly. He is generous with his money and more philanthropic than most. I am not criticising him personally but the interest of Governments and those who have a say in designing the way in which we do these things is not to make Mr. Gates incredibly rich. Our interest is in ensuring his company's products are produced and disseminated as widely and inexpensively as possible because they...

Seanad: Pre-Nuptial Agreements: Motion (18 Oct 2006)

Derek McDowell: That Mills & Boon function is for the artists and authors in our society. Legislators have to deal with reality. My Department's aim is to deal with this expeditiously, to establish this group, to have a highly-qualified chairman, to set a reasonable timeframe for a report and to allow the Minister and the Department to bring that report to the Oireachtas for consideration in short order....

Seanad: Pre-Nuptial Agreements: Motion (18 Oct 2006)

Derek McDowell: That is true. And in the case of second marriages there may be children who are outside the marriage. This is recognised in the Constitution. Their parents may want, when entering a marriage, to keep their assets available for their children and there may be good reasons for that. In some cases I can imagine it would lead to disharmony in a family if the main asset, for example a farm,...

Seanad: National Development Finance Agency Annual Report 2005: Statements (3 Oct 2006)

Derek McDowell: The simple fact is that most people do not know what the National Development Finance Agency is. Without wishing to cast aspersions on colleagues, it is a reasonable bet to say that most Members of this House do not know what the NDFA does. In that context, it is difficult to remember that it was the bright new idea for the last general election, announced with much enthusiasm and panache...

Seanad: Road Traffic and Transport Bill 2006: Second Stage (3 Oct 2006)

Derek McDowell: I support those who argue for consolidation of the Road Traffic Acts. I tried this morning to understand the amendment we are making today to correct the alleged defect in the Bill we passed earlier this year. It is mind-boggling. We are inserting a section 1 to amend section 13 of the 1994 Act which was in turn inserted by the earlier Act of this year and must be read in conjunction with...

Seanad: Road Traffic and Transport Bill 2006: Second Stage (3 Oct 2006)

Derek McDowell: I am sure they are in many cases and more experienced than them. It is only right and sensible to extend the provision in this way. I am not sure how it will work but I assume stations will have a rota of nurses to perform this duty. Nobody has mentioned the provisions for road haulage and the road passenger operators. Is there a lacuna? Have these drivers been operating illegally or...

Seanad: Road Traffic and Transport Bill 2006: Second Stage (3 Oct 2006)

Derek McDowell: That was in the Act passed last October, so there is a one-year gap.

Seanad: Road Traffic and Transport Bill 2006: Second Stage (3 Oct 2006)

Derek McDowell: It was not clear to me in reading the Bill before us that it is retrospective.

Seanad: Road Traffic and Transport Bill 2006: Second Stage (3 Oct 2006)

Derek McDowell: Has anybody been prosecuted to their disadvantage in the meantime?

Seanad: Road Traffic and Transport Bill 2006: Second Stage (3 Oct 2006)

Derek McDowell: I just wanted to clarify whether this was a lacuna or whether anybody got caught in it since October 2005. I welcome the Bill in broad terms. We will neither oppose it nor seek further amendments on Committee Stage.

Seanad: Road Traffic and Transport Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages (3 Oct 2006)

Derek McDowell: Is there a provision for driver disqualification for an individual who does not provide a sample under the mandatory alcohol testing regime?

Seanad: Road Traffic and Transport Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages (3 Oct 2006)

Derek McDowell: Is that under the 1961 Act?

Seanad: Road Traffic and Transport Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages (3 Oct 2006)

Derek McDowell: The section of the 1994 Act is not appropriately amended. I understood that it only provided for a fine and imprisonment. However, I will take the Minister's assurance that the 1994 Act provides for automatic disqualification.

Seanad: Road Traffic and Transport Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages (3 Oct 2006)

Derek McDowell: It is to be hoped we have got it right this time.

Seanad: Criminal Justice Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (4 Jul 2006)

Derek McDowell: No, I am exhausted at this point.

Seanad: Criminal Justice Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (4 Jul 2006)

Derek McDowell: Amendments No. 8 and 9 are amendments to section 30 of the Bill, which deals with the new section 3 of the Firearms Act 1925 and provides for the formal effect of firearms certificates. Amendment No. 8 proposes the insertion where the permission of the person has been obtained in subsection 6(b) where a limited certificate for a shotgun is being sought. In this respect, I can confirm to...