Results 18,101-18,120 of 18,761 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage. (21 Apr 2004)

Michael McDowell: If the Deputies listen they will learn. At the time it was a matter of political judgment whether the introduction of the immigration issue into an already sensitive debate on the concluded Good Friday Agreement would be appropriate.

Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage. (21 Apr 2004)

Michael McDowell: In retrospect, it may be that the much lower volume of migration and asylum-seeking at the time led to a belief that the issue was of far less importance than the crucial task of securing a consensus, North and South, to the adoption of the Good Friday Agreement. I find it difficult to believe that anyone would now suggest that a similar amendment to Article 9 would contravene the Good Friday...

Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage. (21 Apr 2004)

Michael McDowell: People have criticised me for not producing evidence that this sort of abuse is occurring. Some have sought to go further and, head in the sand, deny that it is occurring at all. I am the first to admit that comprehensive figures are not within my remit to gather, coming as they do primarily from maternity hospitals whose first concern is quite properly for the health and well-being of the...

Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage. (21 Apr 2004)

Michael McDowell: That said, I have compiled sufficient information to provide clear and incontrovertible evidence that a disproportionate number of non-national mothers are giving birth to children in Dublin maternity hospitals and that a disproportionate number of non-national mothers are presenting to maternity hospitals at a late stage of pregnancy.

Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage. (21 Apr 2004)

Michael McDowell: I am appending to my speech——

Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage. (21 Apr 2004)

Michael McDowell: Will the Deputies listen? They will have plenty of time to contribute.

Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage. (21 Apr 2004)

Michael McDowell: If Deputies insist on being disorderly they are wasting their own time.

Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage. (21 Apr 2004)

Michael McDowell: I have appended to my speech statistical information——

Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage. (21 Apr 2004)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy does not realise how pathetic she sounds.

Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage. (21 Apr 2004)

Michael McDowell: The Deputy does not realise how pathetic she sounds. I am entitled to make a speech.

Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage. (21 Apr 2004)

Michael McDowell: I have appended all the statistical information the Deputy requires.

Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage. (21 Apr 2004)

Michael McDowell: No. There is a point of order.

Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage. (21 Apr 2004)

Michael McDowell: I know that under the rules of the House I am entitled to give way but I do not propose to do so, as the Deputies opposite will have plenty of time to make their own contribution. The tone of the debate this morning is childish and it is pathetic. It is setting a very bad example to the Irish people.

Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage. (21 Apr 2004)

Michael McDowell: I have no doubt that this display of petulance and childishness will be observed very carefully by the Irish people.

Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage. (21 Apr 2004)

Michael McDowell: I have indicated that I will not.

Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage. (21 Apr 2004)

Michael McDowell: I can assure the Deputy that her sweet and melodious tones will have plenty of time to make their contribution at a later stage of this debate. I have compiled sufficient information to provide clear and incontrovertible evidence that a disproportionate number of non-national mothers are giving birth to children in Dublin maternity hospitals.

Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage. (21 Apr 2004)

Michael McDowell: A disproportionate number of non-national mothers are presenting to maternity hospitals at a very late stage of pregnancy.

Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage. (21 Apr 2004)

Michael McDowell: I have appended all the statistical——

Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage. (21 Apr 2004)

Michael McDowell: The last interjection by Deputy Stagg tells it all. He refers to injury time and he is right. Game playing is what this is all about.

Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage. (21 Apr 2004)

Michael McDowell: The Members of the Opposition do not know how pathetic they sound.