Results 13,221-13,240 of 18,733 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Order of Business. (3 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: No.

Irish Unification: Motion (Resumed). (3 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: As I have said on many occasions, I am a republican and proud to be one. I would be surprised if many Members in the Chamber do not profess to be republican. However, I am a republican who believes in the rule of law and who stands by the Constitution, Bunreacht na hÉireann. I believe in democracy and believe that the people are entitled to hold different views to my own. I believe that...

Irish Unification: Motion (Resumed). (3 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: My goal and the stated goal of the Government is to secure lasting peace in Ireland through the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement and, ultimately, to achieve a united Ireland. I noted the publication of a recent article in The Irish Times by a member of the Cadogan group stating that it is not helpful to talk about the unity of this country. I thoroughly and profoundly disagree with...

Irish Unification: Motion (Resumed). (3 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: However, the unity that must come must do so through choice — through the principle of consent as set out in the Good Friday Agreement and as endorsed by the people of this island in two separate referendums. I note that the Private Members' motion as put down by Sinn Féin urges that we should "actively seek to persuade Unionists, through dialogue, of the advantages of unification". I...

Irish Unification: Motion (Resumed). (3 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: In building a united Ireland——

Irish Unification: Motion (Resumed). (3 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: In building a united Ireland what is needed to be done is to reconcile the orange and green traditions on this island. I find it strange that the provisional movement comes to the Dublin Government asking for its assistance in establishing a dialogue with the orange tradition in Northern Ireland. The truth is that persuasion for Irish unity is the vocation of every republican in this House...

Irish Unification: Motion (Resumed). (3 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: Bringing together the orange and green traditions on this island to create a genuine republic, not a sectarian society, requires a statesmanship of which the provisional movement have shown it is entirely incapable.

Irish Unification: Motion (Resumed). (3 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: Some good signs recently have been that Sinn Féin rejects violence and that it now understands that persuasion through peaceful and democratic means is the only way forward. However, those people who in the past authorised the use of massive violence against the Unionist community in Northern Ireland——

Irish Unification: Motion (Resumed). (3 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: ——must now labour under the disadvantage of trying to create a basic elemental trust required for dialogue out of which persuasion can come.

Irish Unification: Motion (Resumed). (3 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: I believe——

Irish Unification: Motion (Resumed). (3 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: There is an example of free speech.

Irish Unification: Motion (Resumed). (3 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: I believe a united Ireland will come about.

Irish Unification: Motion (Resumed). (3 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: The economic and political future for the people of Northern Ireland lies with interaction and involvement with the people of this State. The future prosperity of Northern Ireland is far better guaranteed by the connection of Northern Ireland economically with the Republic than with the rest of the United Kingdom, despite both being members of the EU. Increasing economic mutual dependence...

Irish Unification: Motion (Resumed). (3 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: The first action is to create among the people on this island a sense of trust.

Irish Unification: Motion (Resumed). (3 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: Trust means that one tells the truth. If one was or is a member of the IRA, one says so. If one's movement killed Detective Garda Jerry McCabe, one says so. If one's movement raided the Northern Bank, one says so. Denying matters that are known as obvious truths, undermines the credibility of those engaged in this type of mendacity. If Sinn Féin is in the business of creating an elemental...

Irish Unification: Motion (Resumed). (3 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: I welcome the fact that has come to an end but we have paid a very heavy price for it.

Order of Business. (3 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: It is proposed to take No. 9a, motion re proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the terms of the World Health Organisation framework convention on tobacco control; No. 9b, motion re the report of the independent commission of inquiry into the murder of Mr. Seamus Ludlow; and No. 1, Criminal Law (Insanity) Bill 2002 [Seanad]— Second Stage. It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing...

Order of Business. (3 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: With regard to the report on the murder of Seamus Ludlow, it was tendered to the Taoiseach a considerable time ago——

Order of Business. (3 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: ——but the reason it was not published earlier is that there were complex issues arising from it. One of them, as Deputy Rabbitte correctly surmised, related to identification of certain parties and factual information relating to those parties. Second, there was an audi alteram partem issue. The Government considered that one individual had to be given an opportunity to respond to the...

Order of Business. (3 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: I made arrangements today for a copy of the report to be sent to them immediately. I have been assured by Deputy Ardagh, who is the chairman of the committee, that he will put the family in the centre of the committee's concerns and will deal with the matter in a way that is fully cognisant of their interest in the matter. As I understand it, the Whips of the various parties agreed last night...