Results 18,461-18,480 of 18,736 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Seanad: Independent Monitoring Commission Bill 2003: Committee and Remaining Stages. (9 Dec 2003)

Michael McDowell: The terms of the section are correct and appropriate. We should not get into our heads the notion that the Good Friday Agreement has been betrayed, traduced, minimised or cast aside. It is the agenda for the future and will be implemented. It is the only show in town. Its strength lies in the fact that both Governments are totally committed to it. I am glad that, notwithstanding the election...

Seanad: Independent Monitoring Commission Bill 2003: Committee and Remaining Stages. (9 Dec 2003)

Michael McDowell: If I could briefly indicate a negative attitude towards this amendment, there may be occasions when reports come to hand in regard to which the two Governments may decide, for one reason or another, that to publish them within a month would not be helpful to the whole process. Obviously I would hope that the great majority of reports would not be in that category but there may be occasions...

Seanad: Independent Monitoring Commission Bill 2003: Committee and Remaining Stages. (9 Dec 2003)

Michael McDowell: I agree with the Senator. It would be in wholly exceptional circumstances that there would be any bona fide reason for not punctually publishing such a report.

Seanad: Independent Monitoring Commission Bill 2003: Committee and Remaining Stages. (9 Dec 2003)

Michael McDowell: I accept the amendment.

Seanad: Independent Monitoring Commission Bill 2003: Committee and Remaining Stages. (9 Dec 2003)

Michael McDowell: That is a good question. It is probable that the member in question could constitute himself as a technical group or something similar. A person can be a party to an agreement and I presume a generous view will be taken in this regard. If we consider the Technical Group in the Dáil, there may also be one in this House—

Seanad: Independent Monitoring Commission Bill 2003: Committee and Remaining Stages. (9 Dec 2003)

Michael McDowell: One does not have to be a registered political party. The word "party" in this context is probably closer to the meaning of being party to an agreement than to a political party.

Seanad: Independent Monitoring Commission Bill 2003: Committee and Remaining Stages. (9 Dec 2003)

Michael McDowell: That would be preferable.

Seanad: Independent Monitoring Commission Bill 2003: Committee and Remaining Stages. (9 Dec 2003)

Michael McDowell: Without any pretence at being disorderly, I thank Senators for facilitating the passage of the Bill and debating it so thoroughly and scrupulously. I also thank Senator Brian Hayes for his party's amendments. I tend to agree with Senator Mansergh, rather than Senator Brian Hayes, on the legitimacy or illegitimacy of Articles 2 and 3, which, like Senator Mansergh, I regard as having been put...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters. - Irish Prison Service. (19 Nov 2003)

Michael McDowell: The issue raised by Senator Wilson is extremely important and I am grateful to him for giving me the opportunity to address this House on it. One way or another, Loughan House will continue to provide facilities equivalent to those provided for prisoners today. Whereas Senator Wilson has quite properly said that nobody will lose their job, he is worried about the implications of transferring...

Seanad: Courts and Court Officers (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second and Subsequent Stages. (12 Nov 2003)

Michael McDowell: The maximum number of ordinary judges in the High Court is prescribed by law. Currently, the Courts and Court Officers Act 2002 provides that the number should not exceed 26. I should add, for reasons of clarity, that when I refer to ordinary judges of the High Court I refer to judges of the High Court other than the President of the High Court. Hence, the use of the word "ordinary" in this...

Seanad: Courts and Court Officers (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second and Subsequent Stages. (12 Nov 2003)

Michael McDowell: I thank the Members who contributed to this debate in such a constructive and supportive manner and those who attended the debate but did not contribute. I assume they support this Bill in a more practical way, by not delaying its passage.

Seanad: Irish Nationality and Citizenship and Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (22 Oct 2003)

Michael McDowell: I pay tribute to Senator Quinn for his considerable work in preparing this legislation, which deals with a matter on which I am already on record as holding views sympathetic to those underlying the Bill. The debate provides me with an opportunity to reiterate those views, which coincide in large measure with those of Senator Quinn. Senators have available to them the May 2000 report of the...

Seanad: Irish Nationality and Citizenship and Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (22 Oct 2003)

Michael McDowell: On the contrary, as regards some applications at least, it was considered by many to be a good scheme because of its job-saving and job-creating effect. My objections come from a number of angles. As I have stated previously both here and in the other House, I have a rooted objection in principle to the notion that citizenship can be bought or bartered for investments in the State by people...

Seanad: Irish Nationality and Citizenship and Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (22 Oct 2003)

Michael McDowell: It is a little more complex than that. I commend Senator Quinn for highlighting this issue. I thank him for the effort he put into this Bill. The kneejerk reaction of saying I will do it myself and voting against the measure would be, in these circumstances, ungracious and wrong. Even if I intend to compete with the Senator to have my Bill passed first in the fullness of time, I wish to...

Seanad: Irish Nationality and Citizenship and Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (22 Oct 2003)

Michael McDowell: What kind of Government did we have in those days?

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2003 [ Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil ] : Report and Final Stages. (4 Jul 2003)

Michael McDowell: I am here to report on the amendments made to the Bill in Dáil Éireann, both on Committee Stage, which was held on 26 and 26 June, and on Report Stage on 2 July. I propose to outline briefly the aim and content of the amendments, some of which take account of concerns which were already raised in the debates on the Bill in this House.

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2003 [ Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil ] : Report and Final Stages. (4 Jul 2003)

Michael McDowell: I welcome the comments and will respond briefly to the points made. I assure the House that much remains to be done with intoxicating liquor legislation. It is worth reiterating the following example in case anyone is thinking of investing heavily in the area. The position of theatres under the liquor licensing laws is highly unsatisfactory. Premises operate on theatre licences issued by the...

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2003 [ Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil ] : Report and Final Stages. (4 Jul 2003)

Michael McDowell: —frilly blind in the corner and carrying on as if nothing had happened. It means closure of the premises in its entirety.

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2003 [ Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil ] : Report and Final Stages. (4 Jul 2003)

Michael McDowell: Perhaps Senator Henry would convey to her colleague that if a closure order is made in respect of a supermarket which is licensed for the sale of alcohol, it will carry the consequence that the supermarket will be closed. That will not be a pretty picture. The false economy of allowing staff at a checkout counter to deal with alcohol could lead to terribly serious consequences for supermarket...

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2003 [ Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil ] : Report and Final Stages. (4 Jul 2003)

Michael McDowell: I thank Members of the House for their kind remarks and supportive approach to this legislation. I echo what Senator Moylan said about my officials who have played a very constructive role in enabling this legislation to be brought forward. They responded to the reports of the Intoxicating Liquor Commission, which only became available in April, in what I consider to be record time in the...