Results 161-180 of 18,437 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Seanad: Order of Business. - Criminal Justice (Public Order) Bill 2002: Report and Final Stages. (22 May 2003)

Michael McDowell: Yes, but one is dealing with the commonsense of the district court Judiciary and the Circuit Court on appeal. If an owner was to say he would be bankrupt if he had to close on Fridays and that he would have to issue redundancy notices, it might be that in the fullness of time he would have to contemplate the whole solvency of his business or whatever. This is not designed to deal with cases...

Seanad: Order of Business. - Criminal Justice (Public Order) Bill 2002: Report and Final Stages. (22 May 2003)

Michael McDowell: That is all this is about.

Seanad: Order of Business. - Criminal Justice (Public Order) Bill 2002: Report and Final Stages. (22 May 2003)

Michael McDowell: It can only be at a specified time or between specified times on a specified day or days during a specified period.

Seanad: Order of Business. - Criminal Justice (Public Order) Bill 2002: Report and Final Stages. (22 May 2003)

Michael McDowell: I doubt that it would have that effect. One can appeal it if it is unfair. One can sell the premises if it becomes that onerous.

Seanad: Order of Business. - Criminal Justice (Public Order) Bill 2002: Report and Final Stages. (22 May 2003)

Michael McDowell: If he does, the poor employee will lose out. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Seanad: Order of Business. - Criminal Justice (Public Order) Bill 2002: Report and Final Stages. (22 May 2003)

Michael McDowell: The Senator is correct. I did say I was going to do it. I am happy to confirm it is included in the proposal I will bring to Cabinet next Tuesday. The real question – this is where I have to make a political judgment – is whether it would be more in the interests of making the law work to have to bring this Bill back to Dáil Éireann again and join the queue, bearing in mind that it took...

Seanad: Order of Business. - Criminal Justice (Public Order) Bill 2002: Report and Final Stages. (22 May 2003)

Michael McDowell: No. It is an outside hope. Given the amount of rhetoric I hear about the fact that I am doing so little and saying so much, I say to both Houses of the Oireachtas, "Here is your chance, help me."

Seanad: Order of Business. - Criminal Justice (Public Order) Bill 2002: Report and Final Stages. (22 May 2003)

Michael McDowell: On a point of disorder, now that the Senator has raised the issue, the question of whether the Bill should be initiated in the Dáil or Seanad is a matter to which I had not given any consideration. If I were to get a promise of fair passage through this House—

Seanad: Order of Business. - Criminal Justice (Public Order) Bill 2002: Report and Final Stages. (22 May 2003)

Michael McDowell: I thank Members for their considerate approach to the Bill. In light of the length of time it has taken to pass the Bill, I would have preferred if the debate on it had been more evenly divided between both Houses. I am grateful to Members on all sides for understanding my position in this. It was somewhat egregious that, after 11 months, the Bill had not been finalised by the Dáil and that...

Seanad: European Convention on Human Rights Bill 2001: Second Stage. (18 Jun 2003)

Michael McDowell: I am very pleased to be in the Seanad this morning to discuss on Second Stage the provisions of the European Convention on Human Rights Bill 2001. As Senators may be aware, the proposals in the Bill arise from the Government's commitment in the 1998 Good Friday Agreement to bring forward measures to strengthen and underpin the constitutional protection of human rights in the State. The...

Seanad: European Convention on Human Rights Bill 2001: Second Stage. (18 Jun 2003)

Michael McDowell: I say that not complacently but to make the point that the reason this is so is that we have a written Constitution and that ordinary citizens bring the Oireachtas and the Government to court, and beat them, on a regular basis by reference to the same rights, however stated in the Constitution. Four of the cases involved what might be broadly described as sexual and family themes. I can say...

Seanad: European Convention on Human Rights Bill 2001: Second Stage. (18 Jun 2003)

Michael McDowell: This Bill, when it becomes law, will create a European Convention on Human Rights consciousness in our jurisprudence. It will be a rare case where the right to free speech or freedom of expression will be interpreted differently by the Supreme Court from a fair interpretation of the convention provisions. Where such cases arise, the individual will not have to go to Strasbourg to have the...

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2003: Second Stage. (18 Jun 2003)

Michael McDowell: I thank the Cathaoirleach and Members for the opportunity to introduce this Bill at short notice. As the House is aware, publication of the Bill was approved by the Government yesterday. The fact that we are discussing it here today is an indication of the priority the Government and this House attaches to its subject matter. I thank to the members of the Joint Committee on Justice, Equality,...

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2003: Second Stage. (18 Jun 2003)

Michael McDowell: When one is attacked from all sides, it reassures one that one is not at either extreme of the pendulum. Section 1 contains the Short Title, collective citations and construction and commencement provisions. It is my intention to phase in the implementation of the Bill because some people will have a moral entitlement to decent notice before it comes into operation. Section 2 contains...

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2003: Second Stage. (18 Jun 2003)

Michael McDowell: He must have had a very long arm if he could have had half the Odyssey written on it.

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2003: Second Stage. (18 Jun 2003)

Michael McDowell: You will have some religious publican with the calendar of saints' feast days.

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2003: Second Stage. (18 Jun 2003)

Michael McDowell: If it is in a separate room, it is no problem.

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2003: Second Stage. (18 Jun 2003)

Michael McDowell: Only the bar is covered by this.

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2003: Second Stage. (18 Jun 2003)

Michael McDowell: A separate room with a pool table in a licensed premises is not covered.

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2003: Second Stage. (18 Jun 2003)

Michael McDowell: It was 2.30 a.m. After 11.30p.m. there is a special exemption.