Results 1,801-1,820 of 18,761 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Seanad: Parole Bill 2016: Second Stage (Resumed) (9 Jul 2019)

Michael McDowell: I am one of the few people in the House who has never been scared of the idea that people with political accountability should in the end make far-reaching decisions about certain kinds of people who have been sentenced to prison for life. It has always surprised me that people should claim that it is wrong that somebody who is politically accountable should have the final say on such...

Seanad: Parole Bill 2016: Second Stage (Resumed) (9 Jul 2019)

Michael McDowell: -----the Bill should not be rushed through. I commend Deputy O'Callaghan on getting the Bill through the Dáil and to this point, but that does not mean that Members of this House should pass section 24 without knowing what it means.

Seanad: Parole Bill 2016: Second Stage (Resumed) (9 Jul 2019)

Michael McDowell: There is no need to rush this legislation.

Seanad: Parole Bill 2016: Second Stage (Resumed) (9 Jul 2019)

Michael McDowell: I am grateful for that. I may have had six or seven minutes.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Jul 2019)

Michael McDowell: This amendment proposes to delete lines one to four on page 35. We discussed this on the previous occasion.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Jul 2019)

Michael McDowell: I have said everything I needed to have said.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Jul 2019)

Michael McDowell: I have said everything I have to say about this amendment.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Jul 2019)

Michael McDowell: I move amendment No. 100a:In page 35, line 12, after "office" to insert the following:"(including informing applicants as to whether or not they have been selected by the Commission for recommendation to the Government)". Amendments Nos. 100 and 103 are related and I would have had no objection to their being discussed together, had they been moved. As I understand it, however, amendment...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Jul 2019)

Michael McDowell: The content of the two amendments is not related. I wish to make an important point before we proceed.It is my earnest hope and intention that Committee Stage will be completed next week. I say that in case anybody is under any illusion.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Jul 2019)

Michael McDowell: The amendment simply aims to make it clear that the reference to standards being observed by the commission would include informing applicants whether they had been selected by it for recommendation to the Government. That is for what it would provide.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Jul 2019)

Michael McDowell: I will not push the matter any further.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Jul 2019)

Michael McDowell: I move amendment No. 101:In page 35, line 19, after “shall” to insert “ensure it is compliant with section 7(1)and shall also”. This provision seeks to insert the words “ensure it is compliant with section 7(1)and shall also” after line 19 on page 35. The purpose of the amendment is to ensure the overriding requirement that appointments be made on...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Jul 2019)

Michael McDowell: I should add that the purpose of the amendment is to ensure that when the procedures committee is drawing up criteria for inclusion in the statement, it would repeat and make it very clear that the overall principle was one of making appointments on merit and that the requirements in respect of gender equality and to reflect social diversity were secondary to this principle. I want the Bill...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Jul 2019)

Michael McDowell: I move amendment No. 101a:In page 35, lines 38 and 39, to delete “recommendations made under section 56” and substitute “changes recommended under section 56(4)(a)”. Section 53(6)(d) states:In the preparation of the statement referred to in subsection (1)(b), the Procedures Committee shall, amongst other matters, have regard to ... (d) in the case of a statement...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Jul 2019)

Michael McDowell: Section 56(4) provides that “The Procedures Committee shall, following a review under subsection (1), make a report to the Commission of its findings including any recommendations relating to the implementation of this Act ... but not limited to, recommendations relating to ... the published statement”. This is the procedures committee report only to the commission. It is not...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Jul 2019)

Michael McDowell: I will explain why we tabled the amendment. If one looks at section 56, one will see that it requires the procedures committee to monitor and review implementation of the Bill. It states the review under subsection (1) shall be conducted two years after commencement of the section and thereafter from time to time as the commission so requests. One of the things on which the procedures...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Jul 2019)

Michael McDowell: They are related. I accept that.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Jul 2019)

Michael McDowell: I move amendment No. 102:In page 35, between lines 39 and 40, to insert the following:"(7) (a) Lay members of the Procedures Committee shall not take part in the preparation of a statement referred to in subsection (1)(b).(b) Lay members of the Procedures Committee shall not take part in the preparation of that part of the statement referred to in subsection (1)(a) which concerns— (i)...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Jul 2019)

Michael McDowell: This is the Scottish amendment.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Jul 2019)

Michael McDowell: With respect to the Minister, that is something of an exaggeration on his part. One of the functions of the procedures committee is a drafting function, the output of which will be sent to the commission in its entirety. It is not a question of anybody being excluded from making a decision on the matter in question. I am concerned with the question of who will draft matters to do with...