Results 18,141-18,160 of 18,761 for speaker:Michael McDowell

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

Michael McDowell: The options are to run this as an issue on its own, to run it with an as yet uncertain presidential election later this year or to put it to the people while they are already going to the polls on the local and European elections. To the extent that racism is likely to feature at all in a referendum campaign, the first of these options is in fact the most likely to engender that sort of heat...

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

Michael McDowell: ——there is the potential to skew the debate in a most unfair fashion.

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

Michael McDowell: I would ask the Deputy to be presidential and allow me to speak.

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

Michael McDowell: No.

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

Michael McDowell: If the matter is to be put to the people along with a presidential election — about which there is a great doubt as there is no indication yet of any opposing candidate — there is the potential to skew the debate in a most unfair fashion, with the incumbent constrained by office to maintain a proper reserve on matters of political controversy while her opponents would be as free to shout...

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

Michael McDowell: A Leas-Cheann Comhairle, the sensible——

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

Michael McDowell: I made no comment on the behaviour of the President.

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

Michael McDowell: A Leas-Cheann Comhairle, I did not refer to the behaviour of the President.

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

Michael McDowell: I did not.

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

Michael McDowell: What I said a Leas-Cheann Comhairle——

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

Michael McDowell: Will Deputy Michael D. Higgins just keep quiet for a second?

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

Michael McDowell: What I said, and if the Deputies would listen——

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

Michael McDowell: I said as the House knows——

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

Michael McDowell: What I said was that it is a not a good idea to combine a controversial referendum with a presidential election because——

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

Michael McDowell: ——the incumbent in certain elections——

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

Michael McDowell: The Deputy is behaving disgracefully.

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

Michael McDowell: Deputy Michael D. Higgins knows well that I——

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

Michael McDowell: Deputy Michael D. Higgins is behaving disgracefully.

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

Michael McDowell: The Government's proposals will result in a fair and sensible citizenship law.

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

Michael McDowell: It will be a law that will acknowledge the role that non-nationals established here play in society by ensuring that their children born here have the entitlement to be Irish citizens.