Results 981-1,000 of 1,683 for speaker:Derek McDowell

Seanad: Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (24 Feb 2004)

Derek McDowell: Yes. The provision was that there would not be compulsory retirement. A particular journalist who presents a late-night radio programme leapt on this proposal and within a matter of moments had conjured up the notion of a crack troop of octogenarian gardaí——

Seanad: Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (24 Feb 2004)

Derek McDowell: ——who would be dedicated to dealing with drug problems in the city. I am thankful that it was dealt with in the spirit of levity intended by the journalist. In any event, it is a decent proposal. We all accept that if a person can do the job, and that is an essential proviso, he or she should be entitled to continue doing it. However, why should people be required to work until they are...

Seanad: Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (24 Feb 2004)

Derek McDowell: A not insignificant issue struck me when reading the Bill. Senator O'Toole referred to it at the end of his contribution, namely, the issue of breaks in service. It is not at all clear that Members of this or the other House who are defeated at the next election will still qualify for payment of their pensions under the existing scheme. It is fairly clear from the Bill that teachers who take...

Seanad: Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (24 Feb 2004)

Derek McDowell: I will leave it at that for the moment. This is not a good Bill. I do not see the point of it. This Minister has done a number of good things and a number of others with which I would quibble on the issue of pensions. This is by no means the most important thing he has done. There will be time to revisit this and time to amend it before it becomes law. However, I do not understand why he is...

Seanad: Order of Business. (19 Feb 2004)

Derek McDowell: On a point of order, how can it be that a lecture on colonialism from Senator O'Toole is in order whereas a matter of obvious pertinence to this House from Senator Brian Hayes is not?

Seanad: Order of Business. (19 Feb 2004)

Derek McDowell: The Cathaoirleach has allowed Senator O'Toole to give us the benefit of his worthy thoughts with salutary order for the past several minutes——

Seanad: Order of Business. (19 Feb 2004)

Derek McDowell: ——whereas comments on the ordering of the business of this House seem to be clearly out of order. I do not understand that.

Seanad: Order of Business. (19 Feb 2004)

Derek McDowell: The Cathaoirleach should take this up with Senator Brian Hayes——

Seanad: Revenue Commissioners: Motion. (18 Feb 2004)

Derek McDowell: I move: That Seanad Éireann notes: 1. the very small number of criminal convictions secured by the Revenue Commissioners in relation to tax offences; 2. the apparent reluctance on the part of the Revenue Commissioners to have revenue related offences prosecuted in the courts; 3. the failure in particular to seek or secure convictions for offences arising out of the 1993 tax amnesty;...

Seanad: European Presidency: Statements. (29 Jan 2004)

Derek McDowell: I join other Senators in welcoming the Taoiseach to the House. It is good of him to take time out from his busy schedule to attend the House and share his thoughts on these important issues. Like others, I appreciate the importance of the next six months particularly in the context of enlargement. It is remarkable that only ten years ago many of the accession states to the Union did not...

Seanad: FÁS Community Employment Schemes: Motion. (28 Jan 2004)

Derek McDowell: I had intended to make a constructive contribution by addressing the issues outlined in the motion before the House. As the Minister of State has invited me to do something entirely different, however, I will do so. It is a bit rich of the Minister of State to accuse the Labour Party of engaging in a political stunt before the Dáil debate last December. He knows well that the debate at that...

Seanad: FÁS Community Employment Schemes: Motion. (28 Jan 2004)

Derek McDowell: Not only did the Minister of State make such a statement, but he exhorted his colleagues on the backbenches to overturn the policy, which he is responsible for defending and implementing, at a Fianna Fáil parliamentary party meeting. He came in here today to claim that we are engaged in a political stunt. The Minister's actions represented the most remarkable political stunt I have seen in...

Seanad: FÁS Community Employment Schemes: Motion. (28 Jan 2004)

Derek McDowell: One way or the other, the essential point is that communities that depend on these services deserve certainty into the future. This is also true of individuals who have gained dignity through participation in the labour market by means of community employment schemes.

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Dec 2003)

Derek McDowell: I endorse the remarks of Senator Brian Hayes regarding the Dublin mindset. At a quick glance around the House I see he and I are the only representatives of the capital city.

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Dec 2003)

Derek McDowell: I have never been totally clear about Senator Norris's provenance but I take it from his protestations that he is also from our great city. The Dublin mindset is generally represented by people who come from other parts of the country and take our jobs. (Interruptions).

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Dec 2003)

Derek McDowell: I will move on to areas where I might find a greater level of agreement. I do not intend the comment entirely seriously, but it is true that our public service represents the entire country.

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Dec 2003)

Derek McDowell: People from every county participate in it. To say that it represents a Dublin mindset is simply not fair. I have raised the issue of our Kyoto Protocol responsibilities on previous occasions. It is unclear whether the Russian Federation intends to ratify the protocol. Indications are that it does not. However, it is clear that the Government is not serious about the Irish obligations under...

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Dec 2003)

Derek McDowell: The Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism has been telling us for some months that a decision is imminent. The developments to which I have alluded bring an urgency to the issue. We need a statement from the Minister and he should take the opportunity to make one in this House in the near future. We have discussed this issue on several occasions in recent weeks and the time is now opportune to...

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Dec 2003)

Derek McDowell: There will be no money for decentralisation.

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Dec 2003)

Derek McDowell: The decentralisation proposals are indicative of muddled thinking.