Results 1-20 of 18,724 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Seanad Select Committee on Subsidiarity (European Union Legislative Scrutiny): Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (3 Apr 2025)

Michael McDowell: It is not agreed, Chair.

Seanad Select Committee on Subsidiarity (European Union Legislative Scrutiny): Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (3 Apr 2025)

Michael McDowell: Just before the committee goes into private session, I want to put on the public record my deeply held conviction that the Oireachtas, and the two Houses of the Oireachtas, are not fulfilling their function in relation to subsidiarity issues or examinations. I also want to put on the public record my view that the sectoral committees, the formation of which at the moment is now delayed, are...

Seanad: Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2023: Second Stage (26 Mar 2025)

Michael McDowell: Agreed.

Seanad: Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2023: Second Stage (26 Mar 2025)

Michael McDowell: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Troy. I indicate my personal support for this legislation. I understand the reasons he and the Department have been obliged to address the issue in the wake of the Zalewski decision as it applied to the ombudsman's procedures. There is a tendency now to set up specialist tribunals and to divide up what used to be the administration of justice and...

Seanad: Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2023: Second Stage (26 Mar 2025)

Michael McDowell: We trust each other. We do not shout each other down. It is a joyful contrast to some other places. I will not put it any further than that.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Funding (19 Mar 2025)

Michael McDowell: I thank the Minister of State for being here today. My involvement in this matter arises from a representation made to me by a colleague at work, a parent who has children in the school and received a letter warning him that, as and from 1 April, the school will close its doors and that the parent might attempt distance education. One can imagine what that means for working parents, single...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Funding (19 Mar 2025)

Michael McDowell: I thank the Minister of State for her response. I want to emphasise that the Minister of State, as an educationalist, will appreciate that this kind of crisis should not take place. There should be an early warning system rather than a fire brigade action at the end of a period of time. My information is that the crisis emerging at this school was present for some time. I am glad to see...

Seanad: Health (Scoliosis Treatment Services) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (19 Mar 2025)

Michael McDowell: I welcome the Minister to the Chamber today and thank her for being present and for making it to this place after all her travels. This legislation is not some exercise in opportunism, nor is it intended to be part of a party-political blame game or a point-scoring exercise. It is simply a measure to ensure a tragedy which unfolded for very many children and their parents comes to a...

Seanad: Health (Scoliosis Treatment Services) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (19 Mar 2025)

Michael McDowell: I am accepting the amendment.

Seanad: International Women's Day - Women's Health: Statements (5 Mar 2025)

Michael McDowell: With the permission of the House, I wish to share my time with Senators Clonan and Keogan.

Seanad: International Women's Day - Women's Health: Statements (5 Mar 2025)

Michael McDowell: I am very glad to have the opportunity to contribute to this debate. I welcome the Minister. The progress on women's health issues that she outlined in her statement is very encouraging material. I compliment the Government on all of the initiatives it is taking in this area. I want this to be understood. Women's health is not only an issue for women. It is also an issue for men. Men...

Seanad: Public Transport: Motion (26 Feb 2025)

Michael McDowell: Do not worry, I will not take any offence.

Seanad: Public Transport: Motion (26 Feb 2025)

Michael McDowell: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, to the Chamber and congratulate him on his appointment. I welcome him back to this House to which he has given such great service over the years. I listened to Senator Clifford-Lee speaking about the MetroLink. She made the point, and is possibly correct, that from the point of view of Swords, which is an area in her would-be...

Seanad: Public Transport: Motion (26 Feb 2025)

Michael McDowell: -----for this transformative trip to Ranelagh. My public life will be well and truly over by the time that happens.

Seanad: Public Transport: Motion (26 Feb 2025)

Michael McDowell: The opportunity cost of going ahead with MetroLink is vast. The things we will not be able to do because we are making that choice are numerous. The huge improvement we could make in the capital's transport system is enormous and it is not going to happen now because all of our money is going to go into this single line from Dartmouth Square in Ranelagh to Swords via the airport. At the...

Seanad: Public Transport: Motion (26 Feb 2025)

Michael McDowell: The OPW can get the Senator very cheap ones.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (19 Feb 2025)

Michael McDowell: On this occasion, I wish to mention Ivan Farmer, a distinguished member of our staff who is about to leave us and go to Brussels for an important position. I wish to put on the record my group’s deep gratitude to him for all the work he has done for this House over the past five years. I raise the point that the south aspect of this House is, at night-time, adorned in the national...

Seanad: Election of Leas-Chathaoirleach (19 Feb 2025)

Michael McDowell: Two motions are being discussed before the House but if one is taken, the likelihood is the other will not be taken.That structure is forced upon us by what happened in this House approximately six months ago. Members of this House, particularly the newer Members, should know that on St. Brigid's Day 2018, Leo Varadkar came in here and promised us a vast raft of reforms. Every single one of...

Seanad: EU-UK Youth Experience Scheme: Motion (19 Feb 2025)

Michael McDowell: I congratulate the Leas-Chathaoirleach on her appointment. Although I had no hand, act or part in it, nothing gives me greater pleasure than to see her where she is at the moment. I welcome the Minister as a colleague and a friend, and as a person in whom I have the greatest confidence that his period as Minister will be effective and carried out with tremendous skill, and also that he...

Seanad: EU-UK Youth Experience Scheme: Motion (19 Feb 2025)

Michael McDowell: I drove them away.