Results 1-20 of 77 for 5 million speaker:Michael McDowell

Seanad: Restoration of Oireachtas Library and Reading Room: Motion (28 Nov 2023)

Michael McDowell: ...and Dáil Deputies, would be converted into a fifth committee room. I want to put on the record of this House that the fixed estimated costs for making that conversion involve an outlay of €3.7 million and that the annual extra cost for having it as a committee room would be €1.63 million, meaning that in the first year of operation this would cost more than €5...

Seanad: Restoration of Oireachtas Library and Reading Room: Motion (28 Nov 2023)

Michael McDowell: Apart from the scandalous cost involved in it, of over €5 million, I have to say that the whole project has been clouded in mystery and almost the subject of deception. The affected members of staff of the Oireachtas, the Library staff, were told that the Members were in favour of this project. As Members in this House will know, I wrote out to all the Members of both Houses of the...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022: Second Stage (5 Oct 2022)

Michael McDowell: ...length in this House before. I should acknowledge that fact. There are a number of issues, though, that I do want to raise. One has been raised by Senator Ward, namely, that in effect, section 52 now says that a person cannot become a judge if a working majority on the commission decides that they will not become a judge. Effectively we are giving to a working majority on the...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Jun 2022)

Michael McDowell: ...be erected in the area of Derrybrien. Local residents appealed the decisions to An Bord Pleanála but the local authority's decision was upheld by the board. In 2000, Saorgus applied to Galway County Council for a further 25 turbines, which would bring its total to 71. Initially, Galway County Council refused permission but on appeal the developers were granted planning permission...

Seanad: Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (23 Nov 2021)

Michael McDowell: ...the Senator is coming from with her amendment. All of this is going to kill off an entire sector. It will expropriate an entire class of landlords. Whether it is the Minister's amendment to section 5 or this amendment, I want to put on the record of the House that I know I am in what is perhaps a minority of one, but I think this Bill is a disastrous mistake. In five or ten years'...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (10 Nov 2021)

Michael McDowell: ...on a person (other than a person under the age of 18 years) for an offence under this section, shall specify as the minimum term of imprisonment to be served by the person a term of not less than 5 years, unless the court determines that by reason of exceptional and specific circumstances relating to the offence, or the person convicted of it, it would be unjust in all the circumstances to...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) (Amendment) Bill 2020: Committee Stage (8 Feb 2021)

Michael McDowell: ...). (4) Competent authorities and designated persons shall have regard to any guidelines issued by the Minister under this section when carrying out their functions or complying with their obligations under this Act. (5) Nothing in this section or in any guidelines issued under subsection (1) shall operate to derogate from or relieve the general duties of designated persons under this Act...

Seanad: Central Mental Hospital (Relocation) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (14 Dec 2020)

Michael McDowell: ...would have a shared responsibility to make sure that something was done about it. It was in that context that the proposal was made to sell Shanganagh Castle in south Dublin. Part of it was sold for €9 million to Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and part of it for €21 million to a private developer. That €30 million was eventually used to purchase the...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (11 Dec 2019)

Michael McDowell: ...to create. The Judicial Appointments Advisory Board costs virtually nothing to operate. The Minister has estimated that the proposed judicial appointments commission will cost approximately €500,000 a year to operate. That might sound like petty cash to some people, but it will come to €5 million over ten years. Senators can multiply as much as they like into the future....

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (11 Dec 2019)

Michael McDowell: ...The Minister said that he expects that everybody will agree with him. There are two issues to be put firmly on the record. The section that he now proposes must be seen in the context of section 51, which was also inserted and accepted by the him on Committee Stage. Section 51 states: "Where the Government decides to advise the President to appoint any serving judge who is a member of...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Nov 2017)

Michael McDowell: ...unit which is now going to stamp every State advertisement, in particular at politically sensitive times, that the good news is a Government of Ireland initiative. That is what the €5 million is being spent on.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Nov 2017)

Michael McDowell: ...' money on political propaganda. The phrase "Government of Ireland initiative" and the reference to the sponsoring Department is clearly a new departure which should be roundly condemned. The €5 million that has been wasted on this so-called unit should be spent on something else. There are many other candidates for that expenditure.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Nov 2017)

Michael McDowell: I am not putting the €5 million into that.

Seanad: Judicial Council Bill 2017: Second Stage (22 Nov 2017)

Michael McDowell: ...that recent experience shows that very good appointments can be made without the introduction of a very elaborate Judicial Appointments Advisory Board. The cost of the board, estimated at €1 million per annum, seems to be a waste. The real issue is excellence of choice by the Cabinet, excellence of advice by the Attorney General and the Minister for Justice and Equality as to who...

Written Answers — Garda Equipment: Garda Equipment (24 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: .... I would point out to the Deputy that in overall terms the Garda Fleet has never been more modern. The total spend for 2006 on the purchase of 1,378 new vehicles to upgrade the fleet was €27.45 million resulting in the renewal of over half of the entire Garda fleet in just a single year and further investment in new vehicles for the Garda will be made this year. Vehicles — DMR...

Written Answers — Garda Remuneration: Garda Remuneration (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the average salary of a Garda member, on the mid point of the Garda pay scale and including rent, boot, uniform and unsocial hours allowances, is €55,636. The salary scale in respect of each rank is as set out in the attached tables. The starting salary for a new member on attestation is €25,288. The pay and allowances made in respect of Garda...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (4 Apr 2007)

Michael McDowell: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the current strength of the Garda Air Support Unit is one (1) Inspector, five (5) Sergeants and nineteen (19) Gardaí. At present there are no civilian personnel attached to the Unit. There are three (3) aircraft, one (1) fixed wing plane and two (2) helicopters available to the Unit with a third helicopter due for delivery later this year. The...

Written Answers — Passports for Investment Scheme: Passports for Investment Scheme (8 Mar 2007)

Michael McDowell: ...to investment. This Statement indicated that the Minister would accept as fulfilling the requirements of "Irish Associations" in section 16(a) of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act, 1956, and would waive the residence condition at section 15(c) of the Act, applications in respect of which (a) the applicant acquired a residence in the State, had been resident in the State for two...

Written Answers — Anti-Racism Measures: Anti-Racism Measures (22 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: ...the National Action Plan Against Racism (NPAR). The plan, which provides strategic direction to combat racism and to develop a more inclusive, intercultural society in Ireland, was launched in 2005 and will run until the end of 2008. It is based on five pillars: protection, inclusion, provision, recognition and participation. The Strategic Monitoring Group, which includes...

Courts and Court Officers (Amendment) Bill 2007: Second Stage (21 Feb 2007)

Michael McDowell: ...is fulfilling this task admirably. Apart from judicial salaries which are paid from the central fund, I am responsible for ensuring the service is adequately funded and, in this regard, €102.8 million has been provided in 2007 for the Courts Service. This represents a 20% increase on 2006. Since its foundation, the service has made great progress in improving the stock of courthouses...