Results 1,481-1,500 of 18,726 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Seanad: Finance Bill 2019: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2019)

Michael McDowell: I know but I am just referring to the view that people who stay outside the country might not return because of an absence of patriotism. It does not really matter to me very much what the internal thought processes of those people are; it is about the practical effect on the Exchequer in the long run. That is the crucial question. When I say that, I am not being cynical at all. For...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2019: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2019)

Michael McDowell: We are talking about residency. I ask Senator Higgins to take on board the point that Mr. Charlie McCreevy, when Minister for Finance, cut the rate of capital gains tax from 40% to 20%. By doing so, even at that stage, when tax rates were not as high as they were after the economic crisis, he quintupled the yield from the tax. One could say, if one wanted to be theoretical or ideological...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2019: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2019)

Michael McDowell: It is not true to-----

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 Nov 2019)

Michael McDowell: I also noticed the newspaper announcement to which Senator Ó Ríordáin referred. I wholly agree with the sentiments he expressed. I wonder who could be encouraging the Department of Justice and Equality to increase these limits for gambling machines in Ireland. As I have never heard of any popular demand for this, I presume it is coming from a group of people who are engaged...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 Nov 2019)

Michael McDowell: Is it in order to single out a minority of birds for this kind of treatment?

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 Nov 2019)

Michael McDowell: Meanwhile, what about casinos?

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 Nov 2019)

Michael McDowell: In two years' time?

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Local Authority Housing Standards (27 Nov 2019)

Michael McDowell: No.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Light Rail Projects (27 Nov 2019)

Michael McDowell: The Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly, which includes Dublin, has made proposals on the regional spatial and economic strategy for 2019 to 2031, which is a 12-year strategy to consider and make provision for the extension of the MetroLink south to the Rathfarnham, Churchtown and Knocklyon direction on one arm and the UCD and Stillorgan direction on the other. I echo what Senator Boyhan...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Light Rail Projects (27 Nov 2019)

Michael McDowell: I am deeply disappointed with the answer given by the Minister of State. The Government is speaking with a forked tongue on this issue. The Taoiseach says he is open to persuasion on other routes. The proposal to extend the metro to Sandyford was stated to be something that would not be required for the next 20 years but now it appears the Government is quietly going back to its original...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Nov 2019)

Michael McDowell: Good man yourself.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Nov 2019)

Michael McDowell: In agreeing with what Senator Lawless has said about the question of votes for citizens, I want to point out that we have an opportunity to do something similar in respect of Seanad reform.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Nov 2019)

Michael McDowell: It is amazing that every avenue of reform is rejected. That is it. I would like to respond to Senator Bacik's remarks about gender equality by mentioning that last night we got the good news of a very worthy series of appointments to the Bench.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Nov 2019)

Michael McDowell: The Supreme Court is very different from what it was 15 or 20 years ago. That is all I will say on that matter.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Nov 2019)

Michael McDowell: I would like to contribute to the discussion about farmers. Senator Craughwell has mentioned Iran as a possible market for beef and lamb. I am sure it is. This country needs to be honest and truthful when it comes to the People's Republic of China.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Nov 2019)

Michael McDowell: We are going on our knees to appease a regime that is engaging in the most dramatic and repulsive deprivation of human rights of the past five, ten or 15 years. One million people are detained in re-education camps that are run in the most vicious and humiliating way. The camps are designed to obliterate the identity, language, religious beliefs and way of life of the detainees.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Nov 2019)

Michael McDowell: I am very grateful to the media for giving publicity to what is going on in China. All of this is being done as part of a policy that is approved by President Xi, whom we feted when he came to this country, and others in Beijing. We are on our knees trying to sell beef to these people. There has not been a whimper of protest from Iveagh House about the Uighur population being the subject...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Nov 2019)

Michael McDowell: I was the Attorney General.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Nov 2019)

Michael McDowell: I was the Attorney General.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Nov 2019)

Michael McDowell: I would love to hear Senator Buttimer's speech relayed to the people in the concentration camps. I would love to hear what they would have to say to the Senator.