Results 1-20 of 723 for long speaker:Michael McDowell

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Mar 2024)

Michael McDowell: ...Article 23 of the Constitution, amend Government legislation or propose our own legislation but Dáil Éireann has the power to effectively reject our views after 90 days. That 90-day period is not very long. I mention that because I believe Ireland is developing and maturing into a different kind of democracy. The sad moment when Members of this House were forced to vote, by a...

Seanad: Special Measures in the Public Interest (Derrybrien Wind Farm) Bill 2023: Second Stage (20 Feb 2024)

Michael McDowell: ...French Government to smash up a bridge because it had done damage to a river in France? They would not, but in Ireland the power of the ESB was such that it clung onto its unauthorised development for so long and incurred fines for Ireland. A pathetic Government response kowtowed to the ESB, did nothing about this and allowed the ESB keep the benefit of its unlawful acts over the bones...

Seanad: An Bille um an Naoú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (An Teaghlach), 2023: Céim an Choiste agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha - Thirty-ninth Amendment of the Constitution (The Family) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 Jan 2024)

Michael McDowell: ..., came to my Department.This was in 2003, I would say. I told GLEN I could not give it a referendum, because it would be defeated and because I did not think my partners in government would be interested in such a referendum, but I would go along the lines of civil partnership. The group under former Deputy Anne Colley reported and that turned into the civil partnership aspect of the...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Jan 2024)

Michael McDowell: ...and the colleagues who have spoken already on this matter.Senator Norris was elected for the first time in 1987. Believe it or not, I was elected to Dáil Éireann in the same year. It seems a long time ago – a different century. He did something which I never did: that was, he held his seat for all the intervening period. From the moment that he was elected he...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Jan 2024)

Michael McDowell: ...laughing at himself. As has been said here today, he has championed the underprivileged. I can attest to that. He has represented the educationally underprivileged graduates of Trinity College a long time. Those of us who represent the graduates of NUI are glad that he has been here to see justice done for that group. He has, in addition, done so much for other causes – the...

Seanad: An Bille um an Naoú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (An Teaghlach), 2023: An Dara Céim - Thirty-ninth Amendment of the Constitution (The Family) Bill 2023: Second Stage (22 Jan 2024)

Michael McDowell: ...here? As the Minister knows, we doubled tax allowances and tax bands for married couples. Is it to be the case now that people who have made no commitment in the eyes of the State but who are just long-term cohabitants are entitled to double the tax allowances and double the bands? The Supreme Court's decision in Murphy was based on the family and protecting the family.From now on, will...

Seanad: An Bille um an Daicheadú Leasú ar an mBunreacht (Cúram), 2023: An Dara Céim - Fortieth Amendment of the Constitution (Care) Bill 2023: Second Stage (22 Jan 2024)

Michael McDowell: ...because there has to be five years of separation and second, the children of it have to be looked after. Why should those obligations not apply to somebody who is drifting out of a non-marital long-term relationship and deciding to marry some other person, walking away from one relationship into another? Why should the obligations not apply? Will the Minister give us some good reasons?...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 Dec 2023)

Michael McDowell: ...staff in the Seanad Office. I thank Orla Murray in the Leader's office. I thank our excellent Library and Research Service and reading room team. I thank also my backup team, especially Samantha Long, who does so much work to make our presence in this House meaningful. I thank all the parliamentary ushers for all their hard work, as well as the housekeeping staff, the catering staff...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Policing Matters: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Nov 2023)

Michael McDowell: .... In this context, I noticed an article in The Irish Timestoday about gardaí being worried about using batons because GSOC might get on their case and they might be suspended or under investigation for a long time. Would the Commissioner agree with me that somebody, whatever we want to call them, and in deference to Senator Ruane, I will not use the word, "thug", but I will use a...

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

Michael McDowell: .... The committee to which this presentation, which is so incriminating, was made, has not made a decision on it. Add to that the simple arithmetic that my good parliamentary assistant, Samantha Long, asked every Member of the Oireachtas where they stood on this issue, and the great majority said they were against this step. In those circumstances, it is time not merely to cry halt but to...

Seanad: Vacant and Derelict Buildings: Motion [Private Members] (15 Nov 2023)

Michael McDowell: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. As a preliminary point, this problem has been here for a long time. I have been writing about it in various newspapers for ten years. I am glad to hear what was said by Senator Cummins about Waterford and I am glad that Senator Fitzpatrick is so upbeat about the improvements she sees there. However, the simple fact is we are not doing enough....

Seanad: Situation in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories: Statements (19 Oct 2023)

Michael McDowell: ...that a massive destructive campaign against the Gaza Strip, the destruction of the apartment blocks, the wiping out of infrastructure and the huge, imposed famine on a group of people will not have any long-term effect at all. On the contrary, it will have exactly the opposite effect of what is being proposed. To be positive for a second, Ireland supports the two-state solution and that...

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by An Taoiseach (28 Sep 2023)

Michael McDowell: .... There will be a political price to pay for reneging on the political promises he made to us on 1 February 2018. One just has to look at the newspapers today. I ask the Taoiseach to look at the newspapers today, to take a long, hard look in the political mirror and to ask himself whether there is not going to be a heavy political price for breaking commitments of that kind made in...

Seanad: Crime and Policing: Motion (27 Sep 2023)

Michael McDowell: ...where he has to take the flak for reforms that are badly needed. I remember when I proposed the introduction of a Garda Reserve, with all-party support, GRA representatives saying they would wait in the long grass for me. I ask people to remember that we must support the institutions of the State and the Commissioner of An Garda Síochána is one of them. He deserves support. He...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (4 Jul 2023)

Michael McDowell: That really does not explain anything. It 18 months' time or however long it takes to establish this commission, if this legislation survives an Article 26 reference, we do not know who the Minister will be. We are giving to whomever will be the Minister for Justice at that time, the right to appoint people before the establishment day to be members of the commission. Section 14 states: ...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (4 Jul 2023)

Michael McDowell: ...say, “I am going for a job; any chance that I will get it?” That is far less damaging to the process than saying that any other judge can get involved in lobbying on behalf of a particular judge as long as he or she is not instructed to do so by the judge himself or herself. That is a recipe for a mess. It is not well thought through. This is not casting the net too wide....

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (4 Jul 2023)

Michael McDowell: ...it from selecting somebody who is not on the list. That does not save the Government's discretion, which is a constitutional right and a constitutional duty. I cannot understand for a moment why we are going down this road. I notice that the long Title of the Bill makes references to the Council of Europe and GRECO. They are not empowered or in any position to amend the meaning of the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: EU Enlargement and the Western Balkans: Discussion (28 Jun 2023)

Michael McDowell: ...occur to me arising out of this morning's proceedings. First, hanging over the whole discussion is that it is almost impossible to see how much progress can be made on any of these fronts as long as the Ukraine war is going on because it is unfinished business. It is one in which Putin is advancing his agenda. If his agenda succeeds, people like the Serbs will take one view and if it...

Seanad: Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act 1998 and Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009: Motions (27 Jun 2023)

Michael McDowell: I support the motion. I have some sympathy with the Sinn Féin amendment but I think it will take longer than 12 months to get all the ducks in a row to do what is necessary. On the question as to whether further or different legislation is necessary, I want to say that the whole concept of scheduled offences is, and always has been, a slightly dubious one. The relevant provision of...

Seanad: Garda Reserve: Statements (31 May 2023)

Michael McDowell: ...Dáil Éireann, it received all-party support. The one group that was opposed to it at the time was the Garda Representative Association, GRA. One of its officers said he would be waiting in the long grass for me as a result of establishing it, words that I think were unfortunate at the time. Unfortunately, many members of the reserve found there were people waiting in the long...