Results 1,641-1,660 of 1,683 for speaker:Derek McDowell

Seanad: European Communities (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (20 Nov 2002)

Derek McDowell: Will they be allocated among the existing constituencies or is it intended that a decision will be taken on a common form of election?

Seanad: European Communities (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (20 Nov 2002)

Derek McDowell: I am happy to be associated with the expression of thanks to the Minister. I said earlier that we had one major lesson to learn from the most recent referendum campaign and the experience of last year – the people and their support cannot be taken for granted. That is right. It also shows that there is room for idealism. I have always believed, as I have said a number of times in this House...

Seanad: Housing Grants: Motion. (20 Nov 2002)

Derek McDowell: I move: That Seanad Éireann condemns the decision of this Government to abolish the first-time buyer's grant, in the light of the crisis in housing affordability and the continuing increase in housing waiting lists, and supports the call by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions to restore the grant forthwith. The elimination of the grant is first and foremost a devastating blow to the...

Seanad: Housing Grants: Motion. (20 Nov 2002)

Derek McDowell: Not next year?

Seanad: Housing Grants: Motion. (20 Nov 2002)

Derek McDowell: That is reassuring.

Seanad: Community Employment Schemes: Motion. (13 Nov 2002)

Derek McDowell: A Chathaoirligh, you must forgive me for departing from the motion to address the most interesting remarks made by Senator White at the conclusion of her speech. Whatever she or the Taoiseach in some of his ramblings might believe, the neo-fascist and ultra-right nationalists with which the Fianna Fáil Party shares a group in the European Parliament will be very surprised to learn they are...

Seanad: Community Employment Schemes: Motion. (13 Nov 2002)

Derek McDowell: Senator Brian Hayes stated that the purpose of the motion is to seek clarity. Sadly, the debate has not even come close to delivering clarity. One can do almost anything with statistics. We need some clarity on where we currently stand. We now have roughly 25,000 people on community employment schemes. The Minister of State will say – correctly – that the reduction in the schemes was at...

Seanad: Crime Levels: Statements. (24 Oct 2002)

Derek McDowell: It is customary for a Minister to attempt to reply to most of the points raised. Although I kept careful note of the points to which I would like to reply, I would need an hour to do so. Senator Jim Walsh made a number of interesting points, one of which, which was echoed by other Senators, including Senators Mansergh and Terry, related to the interaction of the police force with local...

Seanad: Adjournment Matter. - Passports for Investment Scheme. (24 Oct 2002)

Derek McDowell: Before dealing with the case which is the subject matter of the Adjournment debate, I would like to bring to the attention of the Members of the House that the report of the review group on investment based naturalisation in Ireland was brought by me before Government in July 2002. I arranged for its publication on 4 August 2002 and a number of copies were placed in the Oireachtas Library at...

Seanad: Order of Business. (17 Oct 2002)

Derek McDowell: I have a brief response to Senator O'Toole's proposal. Does it not open the appalling vista that what happened in Yugoslavia could happen here? Something could be defeated simply by urging a certain number of people not to turn up and assuming the support of many other people who might have turned up in different circumstances. There is an argument there. I have two issues on the Order of...

Seanad: Order of Business. (17 Oct 2002)

Derek McDowell: It disturbs me as much as it does the Senator.

Seanad: Order of Business. (17 Oct 2002)

Derek McDowell: On a point of order, for the sake of clarity, as I understand it, the term "Leader of the Opposition" is one that is common to a foreign parliament. It is not common in these Houses. While Senator Hayes is the leader of the Fine Gael Party in the House, I do not think Leader of the Opposition is an appropriate title.

Seanad: Order of Business. (17 Oct 2002)

Derek McDowell: On a point of order, I did not want to interrupt the Leader but she said something I did not understand.

Seanad: Order of Business. (17 Oct 2002)

Derek McDowell: Out of courtesy I did not want to interrupt her.

Seanad: Order of Business. (17 Oct 2002)

Derek McDowell: She said she has sought a debate on the Flood report.

Seanad: Order of Business. (17 Oct 2002)

Derek McDowell: Does that mean time will be allocated for such a debate?

Seanad: Parliamentary Committees: Motions. (17 Oct 2002)

Derek McDowell: May I contribute now?

Seanad: Parliamentary Committees: Motions. (17 Oct 2002)

Derek McDowell: I echo what others have said but would like to take it a little further. It seems the order handed down to us does not, effectively, recognise the position and the role of Senators on the committees. It is right that the number of Deputies on legislative committees should be fixed; to reflect the balance in the other House, that must be the case. Senators attend merely to make an input, to...

Seanad: Parliamentary Committees: Motions. (17 Oct 2002)

Derek McDowell: Will the Leader not go back and say to the Government Whip the Seanad would like an input—

Seanad: Parliamentary Committees: Motions. (17 Oct 2002)

Derek McDowell: In effect, that means that if we agree to a system, we are stuck with it. I am not looking to be obstructive, but if possible, it would be better for us to delay until we next meet, until after we have had a meeting of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges in the meantime and tried to secure agreement from the Government Chief Whip to change the representation of the Seanad on the joint...