Results 161-180 of 18,468 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Seanad: An Bille um an Daicheadú Leasú ar an mBunreacht (Cúram), 2023: An Dara Céim - Fortieth Amendment of the Constitution (Care) Bill 2023: Second Stage (22 Jan 2024)

Michael McDowell: I never said that women's place is in the home.

Seanad: An Bille um an Daicheadú Leasú ar an mBunreacht (Cúram), 2023: An Dara Céim - Fortieth Amendment of the Constitution (Care) Bill 2023: Second Stage (22 Jan 2024)

Michael McDowell: The Senator knows that. She knows it.

Seanad: An Bille um an Daicheadú Leasú ar an mBunreacht (Cúram), 2023: An Dara Céim - Fortieth Amendment of the Constitution (Care) Bill 2023: Second Stage (22 Jan 2024)

Michael McDowell: It is a crude smear.

Seanad: An Bille um an Daicheadú Leasú ar an mBunreacht (Cúram), 2023: An Dara Céim - Fortieth Amendment of the Constitution (Care) Bill 2023: Second Stage (22 Jan 2024)

Michael McDowell: It is not agreed.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 Dec 2023)

Michael McDowell: I propose an amendment to the Order of Business, that No. 11 be taken before No. 1. I also seek the leave of the House to introduce the Special Measures in the Public Interest (Derrybrien Wind Farm) Bill 2023. I sincerely thank the Bills Office for its co-operation in getting the Bill onto the Order Paper this week. Its purpose is to transfer the wind farm at Derrybrien from the ESB to the...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 Dec 2023)

Michael McDowell: I really believe that. I wrote an article in The Irish Timesin which I said "Biden has the lives of tens of thousands of people in his hands and he must take the responsibility if he transfers them into the cupped hands of Netanyahu." America must stand up to its responsibilities. It must. Otherwise, this catastrophe will grow and grow and the damage it will do to everybody will grow and...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 Dec 2023)

Michael McDowell: Oh well. Before No. 2, yes.

Seanad: Special Measures in the Public Interest (Derrybrien Wind Farm) Bill 2023: First Stage (14 Dec 2023)

Michael McDowell: I move: That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act, in the public interest, to assist in maintaining the security of the electricity supply system in the State, and for that purpose to provide for the transfer to the western development commission of the Derrybrien wind farm; to effect the transfer of shares in Gort Wind Farms Limited to the Western Development Commission; to...

Seanad: Special Measures in the Public Interest (Derrybrien Wind Farm) Bill 2023: First Stage (14 Dec 2023)

Michael McDowell: Next Tuesday.

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Dec 2023)

Michael McDowell: As somebody who has never filibustered in this House-----

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Dec 2023)

Michael McDowell: I feel I have to be brief.

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Dec 2023)

Michael McDowell: I will speak briefly about section 71. The governance framework provided for in this section is to be devised by the board. It seems that is a good idea but what I am increasingly worried about in respect of this Bill – I want to put it on the record – is the whole process of running An Garda Síochána is becoming more and more complicated. On the provisions of this...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 Nov 2023)

Michael McDowell: I advert to an issue arising out of the recent troubles in Dublin. People have been speaking about an expectation that the Judiciary will inflict tough sentences. The Judiciary will do what it will do. I draw attention to one simple fact, which is that, at the moment, there are waiting times of two years at least in some jury cases involving rape and matters like that. The Courts Service...

Seanad: Recent Violence in Dublin City Centre: Motion (29 Nov 2023)

Michael McDowell: I welcome the Minister. There are a few things I want to say. It seems there is now a decent Garda presence in Dublin city. I said at a meeting of the justice committee that my business means that I traverse the city up to four times a day, moving from here to there. I see the absence of policing in Dublin. Gardaí are not there. They are not visible. They are not out on the street...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Policing Matters: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Nov 2023)

Michael McDowell: I welcome the witnesses. I welcome Mr. Harris's statement in response to Deputy Brophy that he will not resign. He has my full confidence and support. Some of the people who have called for his resignation in recent times have used violent disorder as a political tactic in the past. I will put it no further than that. On a general issue, the Constitution does, as the Commissioner...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Policing Matters: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Nov 2023)

Michael McDowell: The public order Act also gives any member of An Garda Síochána the right to direct people to disperse and move away, failing which they will be arrested, in cases of disorder.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Policing Matters: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Nov 2023)

Michael McDowell: In legal history, there used to be something called reading the riot act. It was a warning to a riotous group that it must disperse or it would be dealt with. That should be used more often. It should have been used outside the gates of this House. The protesters should have been told to go away. That is not happening but it should be considered in future. As I double-job as a Senator...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Policing Matters: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Nov 2023)

Michael McDowell: The Commissioner mentioned the difficulties of Garda man hours being wasted on going through manual inspections of CCTV footage. Can civilian employees be used to do this task? Detectives do not necessarily need to be involved in watching the footage, if the people who are doing it know what they are looking for.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Policing Matters: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Nov 2023)

Michael McDowell: It seems to me, going back to the comments I made about Ballybrack, that respect for An Garda Síochána, in some quarters, has evaporated. An impunity has developed incrementally on the part of people who confront gardaí. They will get away with disorder and conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace. In this context, I noticed an article in The Irish Timestoday about...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Policing Matters: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Nov 2023)

Michael McDowell: I thank the Commissioner.