• Independent Senator (National University of Ireland)
• Former Progressive Democrats TD for Dublin South East
• Left the Dáil on 24 May 2007 — General election
• Entered the Seanad on 25 April 2016 — General election
• Email me whenever Michael McDowell speaks (no more than once per day)

• Voting record
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Seanad: Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Oct 2025)

“I was interested by the Minister's evocation of the debate that occurred here when I introduced the Bill for what became the 2009 Act. He referred to the then Senator Norris's response and remarks. There was a vogue at the time to describe me in the media as a rottweiler. I have some very interesting cartoons over my mantelpiece at home showing me doing various things to other people's...”

Seanad: Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Oct 2025)

“Yes. I cannot remember who the judge was.”

Seanad: Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Oct 2025)

“That left the law in that condition. There were people who said this was a correct decision of Mr. Justice Ó Caoimh, and others who said it should be done by the Legislature and not by a High Court judge. There were suggestions that we were not to slavishly follow decisions of the House of Lords in England, whether we agreed with them or not, where they changed the substantive law of...”

More of Michael McDowell's recent appearances

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• Has spoken in 36 committee discussions and Dáil debates in the last year — average among Senators.
• People have made 0 comments on this Senator's speeches — average among Senators.
• 23 people are tracking whenever this Senator speaks — email me whenever Michael McDowell speaks.
• Has used three-word alliterative phrases (e.g. "public-private partnership") 1535 times in debates — well above average among Senators.
  (Yes, this is a silly statistic. We include it to draw your attention to why you should read more than just these numbers when forming opinions.)