Results 1,341-1,360 of 18,726 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Seanad: Business of Seanad: Motion (21 Jan 2020)

Michael McDowell: I understand that the business to which we are speaking this afternoon is a motion to adjourn the House. It occurs to me that rather than prolong the matter too much, we have a number of months to go as Senators. In that context, if any of those present are patient, I can keep going.I want to start by thanking the Cathaoirleach and the Leas-Chathaoirleach for the wonderful service given to...

Seanad: Business of Seanad: Motion (21 Jan 2020)

Michael McDowell: On a serious note, I noted in today's edition of The Irish Timesa namesake of mine, Bishop John McDowell of Clogher, a Church of Ireland bishop in Northern Ireland whose diocese straddles the Border, emphasising the importance of civility. It seems to me that apart from simple friendship, of which there is an abundance in this House, there has always been civility. Recently when some people...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Dec 2019)

Michael McDowell: A Leas-Chathaoirligh, I wish to be associated with the expressions of goodwill and thanks to you, the Clerk and his staff, the Members of the House and particularly the Leader and his staff for making the House function so well in the last year. I also wish to be associated with the tribute paid by Senator Bacik to the late Cormac Ó Braonáin. As somebody who married into that...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Dec 2019)

Michael McDowell: Some time ago our colleague, Senator Ned O'Sullivan, complained about seagull activity and ran into heavy derision in the media for his stance against seagulls and his complaint about their outrageous behaviour.Recently, Senator Feighan said he was the subject of a similar attack. It occurred to me there must be some culpability on the part of Government for all of this. Happily, crossing...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Dec 2019)

Michael McDowell: Hear, hear. We do not want to have to buy tractors elsewhere. They come to Dublin now.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Dec 2019)

Michael McDowell: He is a great man for putting on his waders and sorting things out.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Dec 2019)

Michael McDowell: The decade ends next year, by the way.

Seanad: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2019: Second and Subsequent Stages (18 Dec 2019)

Michael McDowell: I support this Bill, the concept of community rating and whatever is necessary to strengthen community rating. The Leader mentioned on the Order of Business that car insurance premiums were coming down. I have a different experience. I had €150 extra loaded onto mine for no reason. When I checked it out with my broker, the broker said he would ring up the insurance company, and it...

Seanad: Regulated Professions (Health and Social Care) (Amendment) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (18 Dec 2019)

Michael McDowell: I support the amendment. I welcome the pharmaceutical assistants to the House today. I welcome also the Minister's decision to accept the amendment. Finally, I commend my colleague at the Bar, Ms Anita Finucane, on her excellent drafting.

Seanad: Criminal Records (Exchange of Information) Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2019)

Michael McDowell: The Minister's approach is reasonable in the circumstances.

Seanad: Civil Law (Costs in Probate Matters) Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2019)

Michael McDowell: I totally agree with the Minister's amendment. It strikes a fair balance between the pre-existing presumption in favour of a share out from the estate on the one hand and a totally exclusionary rule on the other. Giving the Judiciary the right to make a ruling which does not follow the event in the case, on equitable grounds, as long as it is stated in their order, is totally reasonable. I...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (11 Dec 2019)

Michael McDowell: I propose an amendment to the Order of Business, as proposed by the Leader, that the debate on the Judicial Appointments Commission Bill should not conclude today and that the matter should not be decided by a single question, as proposed by the Leader.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (11 Dec 2019)

Michael McDowell: Yes, the debate should adjourn, if it has not concluded.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (11 Dec 2019)

Michael McDowell: On the proposal to use the guillotine in this House, it is notable that it appears to come in the wake of events last night where, unfortunately, due to the absence of Government Senators, certain amendments that the Minister wished to oppose were made and amendments that he wished to make were not made. It is more serious than that. This Bill is not desired to be passed by the great...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (11 Dec 2019)

Michael McDowell: I have.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (11 Dec 2019)

Michael McDowell: I have.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (11 Dec 2019)

Michael McDowell: I want to make it clear that, as far as I am concerned, the one thing that unites the people who will vote to guillotine this Bill today is they are the same people who went to the Irish people and asked them to abolish this Chamber. The one thing about all the Members of the Oireachtas of those parties who voted for that legislation is the great majority of them knew it was a terrible...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (11 Dec 2019)

Michael McDowell: -----and only the Irish people stopped them from doing the wrong thing.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (11 Dec 2019)

Michael McDowell: It is a great irony that the forces in this House who, against their own conscience, voted to abolish this House are now saying today they want to guillotine a Bill which they in conscience do not believe in.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (11 Dec 2019)

Michael McDowell: I never said he forced them.