Results 1,161-1,180 of 1,683 for speaker:Derek McDowell

Seanad: Public Transport: Motion. (15 Oct 2003)

Derek McDowell: I am sorry Senator Dooley is not here because I wanted to offer him my solidarity in terms of the way the people of Clare have been treated by Fianna Fáil over the years. I am very familiar with that county because my wife comes from there. I have become rather over-familiar with places such as the Ennis Road in Limerick, Newmarket-on-Fergus and the wonderful town of Ennis. I have even had...

Seanad: Public Transport: Motion. (15 Oct 2003)

Derek McDowell: The Minister of State suggested that we on this side of the House were reading Harry Potter novels during the summer. My life is much sadder than that. I have been reading the New Institutional and Regulatory Framework for Public Transport, published by his Department in August 2002. The nature of its fantasy makes Harry Potter seem rather mild. I read The Proposal on Public Transport...

Seanad: Public Transport: Motion. (15 Oct 2003)

Derek McDowell: All of us have an interest in ensuring that projects, which most of us supported, are completed. The Government's record over six years is not encouraging. I hope we can come back here in two years' time and look at a much improved record of delivery in less time. Amendment put. Tá

Seanad: Benchmarking: Motion. (8 Oct 2003)

Derek McDowell: I thank colleagues in Fine Gael for the opportunity to discuss this important issue. It merits discussion and we are having a lively debate. However, sadly, that is where the level of agreement on these benches must end.

Seanad: Benchmarking: Motion. (8 Oct 2003)

Derek McDowell: The Labour Party does not agree with the Fine Gael motion and we will support the Government amendment. I always come over a little funny when I utter those words and I take some consolation from the fact that I know it has a similarly disconcerting effect on the Minister. I suspect that whenever we get up to endorse what he has done, he knows he must have done something wrong along the way....

Seanad: Order of Business. (7 Oct 2003)

Derek McDowell: I wish to raise the extraordinary decision of Iarnród Éireann announced today, which was clearly taken some time ago, to periodically close down the DART service at weekends for most of the next 18 months. The Leader will be familiar with this decision because she made similar announcements on at least a half dozen occasions during her tenure as Minister for Public Enterprise. It seems...

Seanad: Tribunal of Inquiry into Certain Planning Matters and Payments: Motion. (4 Jul 2003)

Derek McDowell: I join others in paying tribute to Judge Feargus Flood for his efforts over the last six years in the planning tribunal which bears his name. The tribunal broke new ground in the history of such tribunals, and Feargus Flood has, by and large, handled it adeptly and very ably. We should remember that in many cases he was dealing with witnesses who had very deep pockets and did not hesitate to...

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Bill 2002: Second Stage. (26 Jun 2003)

Derek McDowell: I join others in welcoming the Minister of State. This is a good Bill, which I welcome. I listened with interest to Senator O'Toole's jaundiced approach to it. While I understand where he is coming from, if his fears were to be realised, he would have good cause for concern. The legislation reserves certain powers to the Minister and his officials which we hope will not be used that often....

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Bill 2002: Second Stage. (26 Jun 2003)

Derek McDowell: I hope that idea has not been dropped. Deputy Cullen, when he had responsibility for the Office of Public Works, was enthusiastic about it. It would open things up and create two fine public spaces which would enhance Leinster House and the adjoining streets. I urge the Minister to revisit that idea and bring it into play. This is largely an enabling Bill. It allows us the possibility to...

Seanad: Military Neutrality: Motion. (25 Jun 2003)

Derek McDowell: It is useful that we are having the debate. It is something that we have been skirting around for many years. Fine Gael has done us some service in being perhaps more honest than they or others have been in the past in saying bluntly that they are in favour of ditching neutrality or what we have come to think of as neutrality. For the life of me, I do not really see any huge difference...

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (19 Jun 2003)

Derek McDowell: I move amendment No. 1: In page 6, subsection (1), line 10, to delete "includes –" and substitute "includes unreasonable behaviour which is so likely by reason of the fact that the behaviour constitutes or includes one or more of the following behaviour –".

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (19 Jun 2003)

Derek McDowell: I do not want to detain the House because where the Minister and I differ on this matter is really down to the drafting of the definition. As currently drafted, the test of reasonableness in all the circumstances effectively does not apply to the subsequent definitions. As the definition is currently formulated, one can be quarrelsome or boisterous in the aftermath of a match and by virtue of...

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (19 Jun 2003)

Derek McDowell: Virtually all of those, from (a) to (e) would automatically be likely to cause injury, fear or distress to people. The only two words in which one might find some leeway as to how they are defined are "quarrelsome" or "insulting" behaviour. For example, someone might be having a disagreement in a loud voice, which would not necessarily be such as would cause fear or distress to anyone else....

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (19 Jun 2003)

Derek McDowell: The law, as applied by the sensible district justices, to whom the Minister referred, already applies the test. I ask that we make it explicit that the reasonableness and in-all-circumstances tests apply to "quarrelsome" behaviour. The Minister and I actually agree on this matter, but I urge him to do something about it at a later stage in this House or elsewhere. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (19 Jun 2003)

Derek McDowell: The two amendments tabled by the Labour Party seek to make more or less the same provisions as those sought by the amendments of Senator O'Toole. They are phrased completely differently which is why I am not sure the effect of Senator O'Toole's amendments would be the one he intends. That is for the Minister and his officials to tell us.

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (19 Jun 2003)

Derek McDowell: I accept that they are related. They deal with the same issue, though they approach it from different angles. I am happy to have the amendments taken together. The Labour Party amendments seek to apply the reasonable steps mentioned in section 4(4) to all of section 4 rather than simply to section 4(1)(c). The problem arises from the definition of "drunken". While the Bill defines...

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (19 Jun 2003)

Derek McDowell: Section 6 gives the power to the licensee or a member of the Garda Síochána to request somebody to leave. Is it clear that the licensee can or cannot delegate this power? In many of the very large pubs in Dublin the licence holder might not be on the premises at a given time. I presume the intention is that a senior member of staff will be entitled to ask somebody to leave.

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (19 Jun 2003)

Derek McDowell: I accept that it makes common sense. I brought up the matter because the Minister specifically covered the point in the previous section by including the words "or permit to be served".

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (19 Jun 2003)

Derek McDowell: I assume the reference was intended to cover the question of staff.

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (19 Jun 2003)

Derek McDowell: I move amendment No.10: In page 8, subsection (3), line 35, to delete "(1) or (2)" and substitute "(2)".