Results 13,261-13,280 of 18,761 for speaker:Michael McDowell

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...

Order of Business. (3 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: It is intended to publish the Estimates on 17 November. With regard to the report of the Committee of Public Accounts, my colleague, the Minister for Finance, announced in budget 2005 that he intended to consider reforms of the budgetary and Estimates process. He extended an invitation to the House to make suggestions as to how such improvements could be made while maintaining the right and...

Order of Business. (3 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: That would be much worse.

Order of Business. (3 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: It is due this session.

Order of Business. (3 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: It is not possible to say at this stage when that Bill will be produced. It is substantial in size. It will involve major reform of the statute law and restatement, and also major policy reforms.

Order of Business. (3 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: It is being worked on in the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and I am not in a position to give a firm date for its publication.

Order of Business. (3 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: It is a priority of mine and will be published in early 2006.

Order of Business. (3 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: As regards the Private Members' Bill mentioned by Deputy O'Keeffe, I remember his then leader, former Deputy John Bruton, informing the House that it was not a priority for him.

Order of Business. (3 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: The Bill will be published in late 2006.

Order of Business. (3 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: The Electronic Communications Bill will be published in 2006 and the Pharmacy (No. 1) Bill will be published in 2006. The BIDs legislation is due next year as well and it has nothing to do with electronic voting.

Order of Business. (3 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: This Bill is not proceeding at present because an important decision which is expected from the Supreme Court may have implications, one way or the other, for the viability of the Bill.

Order of Business. (3 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: No legislation is promised.

Order of Business. (3 Nov 2005)

Michael McDowell: No.